Shorter University’s Ben and Ollie Brady School of Nursing has reached an important milestone by receiving a 10-year reaccreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The action by CCNE extends the accreditation of Shorter’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program through June 30, 2027.

“Ten years is the maximum length of accreditation awarded by CCNE for BSN programs,” said Roxanne Johnston, dean of Shorter’s Brady School of Nursing. “This is a significant achievement for our program and is an important seal of quality that prospective students and program partners can look to when they consider nursing programs.

“At the Brady School, we are blessed to be part of such a vibrant medical community in Rome and Northwest Georgia, which offers our students quality opportunities for clinical experiences in a wide array of medical settings. We are grateful for the support we receive from our medical community and proud to have Shorter nursing graduates serving at Floyd Medical Center, Redmond Regional Medical Center, Cartersville Medical Center, and Gordon Hospital and with the Harbin Clinic and other medical offices.”

Shorter University President Dr. Donald Dowless said the university’s BSN program aligns closely with the heart of Shorter’s mission as a Christ-centered university. “Through the Brady School of Nursing, we offer a distinctive nursing education that equips students with the education and clinical skills they need to be successful nurses. Our program is unique in that it also places a strong emphasis on the mission and calling of serving others with the love of Jesus Christ through their work as nurses. All of our nursing students take part in an international missions experience during their junior year, and many tell us that this is a life-changing experience for them as they truly see how they can live out their calling.”

Shorter nursing students have served at orphanages and medical clinics in Bulgaria, Haiti, and, for the past two years, in Costa Rica. The 2018 trip will be to Haiti.

Dr. Donald L. Martin, Jr., Shorter’s executive vice president and provost, added, “When the site team came from CCNE, they had no recommendations for change. Our nursing program is in the best shape in its history as far as the quality of faculty but also in the quality of student.”

In recent years, the Brady School has increased its admissions criteria and now requires students to complete the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) exam before they are admitted to the program, Mrs. Johnston said. The curriculum has been modified to increase the simulation and laboratory time within the program, particularly in areas such as pharmacology, and to include a required self-driven review that prepares students for success on the NCLEX test, which is required to receive nursing certification.

“Once students complete the virtual ATI and achieve ‘Green to Go’ status, there’s a high probability that they will pass the NCLEX,” Mrs. Johnston said. “We are working hard to prepare students for success in the nursing field.”

Shorter began offering the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in the fall of 2010. The program was first accredited by CCNE in 2012, having received a five-year accreditation; five years is the maximum length of accreditation given by the accrediting body for a first-time accreditation.

Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. According to its website, CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and post-baccalaureate nurse residency programs.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christ-centered, four-year liberal arts university committed to excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its list of best Southeastern Colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 40 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, and master’s programs. Learn more about Shorter at www.shorter.edu.

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