University of Northwestern School of Nursing receives full accreditation

The baccalaureate nursing program at University of Northwestern – St. Paul is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation).

ST.PAUL, MN (06/09/2015)(readMedia)-- At their meeting April 28–30, the CCNE Board of Commissioners acted to grant accreditation to the baccalaureate degree program in nursing at University of Northwestern – St. Paul. The accreditation extends for 5 years, effective as of September 8, 2014 (the first day of the program's CCNE on-site evaluation) through June 30, 2020.

Northwestern offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing that is both biblically based and focused on patient-centered care. Courses are in flexible formats with a combination of online and classroom instruction. Additionally, in 2014 the program had a 100% pass rate of the NCLEX-RN Licensing Exam.

CCNE describes accreditation of the program as, "an indication of confidence in the ability of the educational institution to offer a program of quality, deserving of public approbation."

Dr. Ginger Wolgemuth, Chief Administrator and Assistant Dean of the School of Nursing describes the impact that accreditation will have on nursing students who attend Northwestern: "Acceptance into graduate programs of nursing is often dependent on graduation from accredited undergraduate BSN programs. Employers of nurses are usually interested and may even require the hiring of only nurses who have graduated from an accredited nursing program."

"We are thankful to receive accreditation and have confidence in the strength of Northwestern's program and students. With accreditation, our students will be able to serve in multiple settings including homes, churches, communities and around the world."

University of Northwestern – St. Paul (formerly Northwestern College) is a nondenominational Christian university in St. Paul, Minn. With a biblical worldview integrated into all programs, UNW provides a unique educational experience for students who want to combine faith and education. UNW offers 70+ areas of undergraduate study, six master's degrees, and online and early college programs. Northwestern Media, a ministry of the university, operates 15 Christian radio stations throughout the Midwest with a total listenership of more than one million listeners. Visit unwsp.edu for more information.