Responses of baccalaureate and graduate programs to the emergence of choice in nursing accreditation.

Specialized accreditation in nursing is a widely recognized and respected hallmark of program quality. The advent of a second specialized accrediting agency for baccalaureate and higher degree programs in nursing prompted a survey of these programs to determine their choice of nursing accreditation agency, factors influencing their choice, their perceptions of the value added by nursing accreditation, and the difficulties encountered with the accreditation process. These study variables and the relationships between choice of accrediting agency and types of degree-granting nursing education programs offered by the institution, agency membership in the National League of Nursing (NLN) or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), expected date of next accreditation visit, geographic region, public versus private status, and type of institution (Carnegie classification) were analyzed. Findings revealed that nearly a quarter (24%) of respondents intend to continue with the NLN Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), whereas 30% indicated they have already switched to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or intend to do so prior to their next accreditation cycle. However, nearly a quarter (24%) of respondents said they plan to be accredited by both agencies for the immediate future, and 21% indicated they are still undecided. Study findings suggest an end to single-source accreditation, and the beginning of a new market-oriented approach.