Northwest nursing programs are reaccredited through 2035

Above, a Northwest RN-BSN student works with a patient at Mosaic Medical Center-Maryville. Recently, Northwest’s RN-BSN and MSN online programs were reaccredited through 2035. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)

Northwest Missouri State University’s nursing programs have achieved accreditation into the next decade.

The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) Board of Commissioners voted this month to grant accreditation to Northwest’s Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) online program and its online master’s degree (MSN) programs in Nurse Executive and Nurse Educator for the maximum term, effective Oct. 31, 2025, through Oct. 31, 2035.

“Earning the maximum term of accreditation affirms Northwest’s commitment to academic excellence, continuous quality improvement and preparing nurses who are ready to meet the evolving needs of healthcare,” Dr. Brooke McAtee, the director of nursing at Northwest, said. “Accreditation provides assurance to students, employers and the public that our programs meet rigorous national standards and are focused on producing highly competent nursing professionals.”

The Board of Commissioners’ decision was based on a review of the program’s self-study report, an on-site program evaluation team report, and the NLN CNEA Program Review Committee’s report, which determined the program is compliant with NLN CNEA’s Standards of Accreditation. Programs accredited by NLN CNEA also are required to complete an annual report.

About Northwest nursing programs

Northwest relaunched its RN-BSN program in 2018 and achieved accreditation for the first time through NLN CNEA in 2020. The University began offering its MSN program in 2020, achieving its first NLN CNEA accreditation in 2021.

The RN-BSN program enables registered nurses to complete their bachelor’s degree in an online format that is conducive to the working nurse’s schedule. Earning a BSN degree offers significant benefits, including enhanced patient care through advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices, critical thinking and leadership skills, leading to improved outcomes and higher-quality care. It also expands career opportunities, qualifying nurses for management, public health and specialized roles, while increasing earning potential as organizations recognize and reward the advanced skills that advanced nurses bring to their teams.

The 30-hour online MSN program consists of 15 hours of core classes, with the remaining 15 hours completed in one of two tracks – nurse executive or nurse educator. Pursuing an MSN degree provides nurses with the specialized knowledge and leadership skills needed to advance their careers. The nurse executive track prepares nurses to influence healthcare policies, manage teams and drive organizational success, while the nurse educator track helps address faculty shortages by equipping nurses to educate and mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals.

To learn more about Northwest’s online nursing programs, visit https://online.nwmissouri.edu/programs/healthcare/.

About the National League for Nursing

The National League for Nursing is dedicated to excellence in nursing and is regarded as the leading voice for faculty and leaders in nursing education. It offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants and public policy advocacy to nearly 45,000 individuals and more than 1,000 institutional members representing nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education, health care organizations and agencies.

CNEA accreditation helps programs focus on continuous improvement and ensures they are addressing the needs of employers. To learn more about NLN CNEA, visit https://cnea.nln.org/.