The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation recognized School of Health Sciences leaders for a “commitment to providing quality nursing education” by meeting five standards that guide the accreditation process.
Elon University’s nursing program has been awarded initial accreditation by an organization renowned for the rigorous standards it sets in evaluating the quality of education provided to nursing students at top colleges and universities around the globe.
The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation granted that initial accreditation to both programs offered through the university’s School of Health Sciences: a traditional, four-year program for high school graduates, and an accelerated 16-month program for those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field of study.
Programs accredited through the NLN CNEA reflect “outcomes that lead to the successful preparation of graduates prepared to enter the nursing workforce” with student-centered learning environments that facilitate professional development and ensure that “program curricula and accompanying teaching, learning, and evaluation strategies are up-to-date, evidence-based, flexible, and reflective of societal health care needs.”
The NLN CNEA evaluates programs on five standards that reflect cultures of excellence, integrity, diversity, and caring related to:
- Establishing program outcomes for benchmarking
- A mission and governance in alignment with the university’s mission
- Faculty opportunities for professional development
- Admission and retention of qualified students
- Up-to-date curriculum and evaluation processes that reflect societal and health care trends
The Department of Nursing at Elon University currently has 207 enrolled students, not counting 18 students who graduated in December 2024 through the accelerated program. The program is more than 90 percent female.
The program is based in the Gerald L. Francis Center and is comprised of 10 faculty members, two staff members, and the program director. The first two cohorts of the 16-month accelerated cohort have a 100% employment rate with graduates now working for health organizations such as Cone Health, Novant Health, Duke Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins.
The commission will review Elon University’s nursing programs again by September 2030.
“Congratulations on achieving initial accreditation status with NLN CNEA and your commitment to providing quality nursing education!” Teresa Shellenbarger, executive director of the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation, wrote in the official notification to Elon University leadership. “We look forward to the ongoing success of your nursing program.”
Elon University’s nursing program guides students toward five key outcomes:
- Use the nursing process to provide ethical, culturally sensitive and compassionate client centered care to diverse populations in various settings.
- Promote safety by utilizing evidence-based practice and quality improvement to deliver safe and effective care.
- Collaborate with clients, nursing and interprofessional teams to provide quality holistic care.
- Integrate informatics and technology to promote the art and science of quality nursing care.
- Expand knowledge of self-care and lifelong learning to enhance personal well-being and professional growth.
“Our faculty and staff strive to prepare future nurses who are compassionate and practice at the highest level,” said Associate Professor Cathy Quay, chair of the Department of Nursing. “We achieve this goal through a dedication to teaching excellence and to seeking out ways to continue to improve and grow professionally and personally.”
Our faculty and staff strive to prepare future nurses who are compassionate and practice at the highest level.
– Associate Professor Cathy Quay, chair of the Department of Nursing
“National accreditation is recognition of all that we do every day to better ourselves and to prepare the future nursing workforce. Every member of the department and our students contributed to this effort. The support of leadership at the School of Health Sciences, the university, and departments across campus were essential to getting us to this moment. I hope everyone at the university celebrates, as nursing accreditation will open doors for our students as they pursue excellence in their careers beyond Elon University.”
Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences, said Elon University is committed to educating and preparing skilled and compassionate graduates who will help address the nation’s ongoing nursing shortage.
“I am thrilled that Elon’s traditional and accelerated nursing programs have received initial accreditation for the maximum possible term of six years,” Lund said. “This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise, and hard work of our faculty and program leadership.”