Missouri Western nursing students helped administer flu shots and provide health education during the Student Wellness Fair Oct. 18, 2023, in the Fulkerson Center.
Nov. 27, 2023–The baccalaureate and master’s degree nursing programs at Missouri Western State University have been reaccredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for 10 years, the maximum length of time allowed for accreditation. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs are now accredited through Dec. 31, 2033.
“The outstanding care that our nursing graduates provide to patients throughout the region and the country is the best evidence of the quality of our nursing program,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Missouri Western’s president. “This accreditation provides additional assurance to students and employers that nurses who graduate from Missouri Western are well prepared for the challenges of today’s healthcare environment. I congratulate the Nursing Department faculty, staff and students for their outstanding work.”
The accreditation process is a thorough review of the nursing program based on four standards: mission and governance; institutional commitment and resources; curriculum and teaching-learning practices; and program outcomes. The nursing department began the process with a self-evaluation in 2021. CCNE then sent an accreditation team for an on-site evaluation earlier this year. Based on that team’s report, in October the CCNE Board of Commissioners ruled that all four standards had been met and there were no compliance concerns noted. 
“Accreditation is a painstaking process that takes a lot of work by a lot of people, including our faculty, staff, students and clinical partners,” said Dr. Heather Kendall, chair of the Department of Nursing. “It’s very gratifying that our work resulted in accreditation for the maximum of 10 years, and I think it says a lot about the quality of our program and the quality of our graduates.”
Nursing education at Missouri Western dates back to 1971, when a two-year associate degree program began accepting 15 students per year. The four-year program has been nationally accredited since it began in 1986, when it accepted 20 students per year. The pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program currently enrolls up to 120 students per year. The department also offers an RN to BSN track that allows current registered nurses to obtain their bachelor’s degree in an online, flexible format that accommodates working schedules. RNs can earn their BSN degree in as little as 12 months.
The Master of Science in Nursing was added in 2010, and offers concentrations in health care leadership and nurse educator. The College of Science and Health and the Craig School of Business also partner to offer a MSN/MBA degree.
For information about Missouri Western’s nursing program, visit missouriwestern.edu/nursing or call 816-271-4415. For more information about CCNE accreditation, visit aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation.
The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing at Missouri Western State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.