Recognizing Achievement
Thanks to the work of our dedicated volunteers, CCNE accredits more than 2,200 nursing programs at 974 institutions. This snapshot highlights the collective work and accomplishments of CCNE evaluators in 2023.
2023 By the Numbers
- 153 baccalaureate and graduate programs reviewed
- 18 entry-to-practice nurse residency programs reviewed
- 11 nurse practitioner fellowship/residency programs reviewed
- 118 team leaders trained
- 18 entry-to-practice nurse residency evaluators trained
- 10 nurse practitioner fellowship/residency evaluators trained
Highlights
- “The members of the team worked together well. Everyone contributed to the review process and development of the narrative. As a new CCNE evaluator I found the team members very supportive and I appreciated their mentoring.” – Team Member, Spring 2023
- “I thought our team worked well and I enjoyed all of my colleagues. The team leader was effective in her communication and management of issues as they arose. She was also extremely knowledgeable and supportive. – Team Member, Spring 2023
- “I thoroughly enjoy my role as a team leader and/or team member on evaluation visits. The manner in which teams come together so rapidly always amazes me and the development of collegial relationships is a bonus.” – Team Leader, Fall 2023
- “Excellent. Collegial. Team members were professional and kind during all interviews. Team members were prepared for the evaluation and completed their assigned sections of the team report. The entire team collaborated in preparing the exit report. Wonderful experience with this team.” – Team Leader, Spring 2023
- “We were able to thoughtfully reflect on who we are, what outcomes we want, and how to move our programs forward.” – Program Official, Spring 2023
- “The team members were thorough, professional and excellent to work with during the on-site evaluation. The constructive feedback will contribute to our programs’ ongoing improvement. Thank you for the evaluation of our programs.” – Program Official, Fall 2023
Becoming an Evaluator
CCNE’s work depends on the dedicated service of its pool of on-site evaluators. These volunteers participate as members of a team to evaluate nursing programs according to CCNE’s standards for accreditation. Each team brings knowledge of academic and professional practice and provides significant input into the peer-review accreditation process of baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing and nurse residency programs.
CCNE periodically recruits and trains new evaluators to familiarize them with policies, procedures, and standards unique to specialized accreditation. Trainings are conducted separately for education and residency evaluators.
The educator who serves on the evaluation team has depth of knowledge in one or more areas of nursing expertise and is familiar with nursing education and program development. He or she is responsible for helping the team understand the special nature of nursing education and the importance of preparing safe and effective nurses. Educators assist the team in evaluating curricula, faculty roles and qualifications, internal governance, student services, and student and faculty outcomes.
The practicing nurse who serves on the evaluation team a) regularly engages, as his or her primary professional role, in nursing practice; or b) has worked full-time in nursing practice for a minimum of 10 years and maintains currency in practice by providing nursing care at least 200 hours per year. The practicing nurse has knowledge about nursing in general and depth of knowledge in at least one area of nursing practice relevant to the program(s) under review.
The practicing nurses who serve on the evaluation team have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing, and a graduate degree (in nursing or another field). The practicing nurses are employed by a healthcare organization that offers an entry-to-practice nurse residency program and have experience in administration of or teaching in an entry-to-practice nurse residency program.
The educator who serves on the evaluation team is typically doctorally prepared and has breadth of knowledge about the delivery of nursing care. The educator also has meaningful participation in an entry-to-practice nurse residency program that is offered through a partnership between a healthcare organization and an academic institution.
The practicing nurses who serve on the evaluation team have a graduate degree in nursing and certification as a nurse practitioner. The practicing nurses are employed by a healthcare organization, have meaningful participation in an NP fellowship/residency program, and have experience in administration of or teaching in an NP fellowship/residency program.
The educator who serves on the evaluation team is typically doctorally prepared and has breadth of knowledge about the delivery of nursing care. The educator also has meaningful participation in an NP fellowship/residency program that is offered through a partnership between a healthcare organization and an academic institution.
In their work as CCNE representatives, evaluators are expected to:
- Travel to different states and regions of the country. CCNE accredits programs in all 50 states and in the U.S. territories, so evaluators should have reasonable access to an airport and should be comfortable flying nationally. CCNE is not able to honor requests to limit assignments to certain regions of the country.
- Use current technology, such as laptop computers, printers, tablets, electronic documents, and word processing software. These tools are used in preparation for and during the on-site evaluation.
- Provide ample availability and commit to serving on at least one on-site evaluation each year, if asked.
- Work collaboratively with other CCNE representatives in the preparation and conduct of the on-site evaluation.
- Engage in professional writing for the purpose of summarizing the team’s findings in the team report.
- Participate in continuing education activities offered by CCNE, including evaluator trainings and/or webinars.
Diversity in our roster of education and residency evaluators is essential in representing today’s nursing students. To that end, CCNE seeks nursing professionals who represent a variety of institutional affiliations, experience, ethnicities, genders, ages, and regions.
New evaluators are trained on an as-needed basis. When the evaluator application opens, CCNE will email the materials directly to individuals who have expressed interest or been nominated through the Evaluator Interest Form. All individuals who are selected to represent CCNE as evaluators must participate in a CCNE evaluator training program, during which they are oriented to the accreditation review process.
Evaluator Interest Form