BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University has received notification that its nursing programs have been granted continued accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
SBU hosted the ACEN for a multi-program, routine site visit in October 2019, and recently learned that the accreditation for the Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing programs will continue for eight years, with the next site visit planned for fall 2027.
“Participating in specialized accreditation for our nursing programs provides us the
opportunity to confirm our commitment to delivering quality nursing education,” said
Dr. Brittney Hendrickson, dean of the College of Health Professions. “It ensures we are continuously assessing
and improving our programs to meet expected standards.”
The need for registered nurses in our communities continues to grow. In a study published in the May 2012 edition of the American Journal of Medical Quality, each state's nursing shortage was graded using a reliably developed model. By 2030, Missouri is projected to have a shortage ratio of 27 RNs per 100,000 people. SBU is helping address the nursing shortage issue by preparing professional nursing graduates.
“Through maintaining accreditation, our students have greater marketability for employment as many employers require nurses to have completed their nursing education through an accredited nursing program,” Hendrickson said. “We strive to prepare our students to continue their education as they serve the healthcare community as servant leaders in a global society. Students who graduate from an accredited program have increased transferability to advance their education in the nursing field.”
For more information on the nursing programs at SBU, contact Charlie Hungerford, director of admissions on the Springfield campus, at (417) 447-8670 or chungerford@SBUniv.edu.
*Published: 6-16-2020