An Exploration of

Regulatory Agencies
In Nursing
NURS 5327 - Group 3
Qian Gao
Codi Harris
Tricia Hester
Shiying Huang
Jingle Xu
Goal: Gain an improved understanding
of 3 main nursing regulatory agencies
that provide oversight and accreditation
 Presentation Objectives
1. Identify the roles of 3 regulatory nursing agencies
2. Identify the services that each agency is responsible for
3. Accreditation: mandatory or voluntary
4. What programs these agencies are qualified to accreditate.
5. Why seek accreditation by these agencies.
Texas Board of Nursing

Source from: https://www.bon.texas.gov

Click to see the video

The Role of Boards of Nursing

(NCSBN Marketing, & Communications Department, 2010)

The Texas Board of Nursing services

Licensing

Nursing Program
Approval Information

Enforcement
Licensing Services includes: (Texas BON, 2018)

● Approval of an applicant to sit for the national licensure examination

● Issuance of a license following successful examination
● Issuance of a temporary license by endorsement pending complete verification in all states of
licensure
● Issuance of a permanent license upon completion of all application requirements
● Renewal of a nursing license
● Approval of full APRN licensure following completion of all application requirements
● Renewal of APRN license
● Establishing a registry of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who practice in outpatient settings,
which are not otherwise regulated, will be completed with the renewal process on a biennial basis
(effective 09/01/2000)
Nursing Program Approval (Texas BON, 2018)
● Annual review of approval status of all nursing education programs
● Survey visits to non-nationally accredited programs at least once every 6 years.

Enforcement (Texas BON, 2018)

● conducting investigations of complaints against nurses

● adjudicating complaints.
Information Services (Texas BON, 2018)

● The Nursing Practice Act

● BON Rules
● Guidelines
● BON Position Statements
● The agency's physical location, disciplinary, and licensure
information
 www.acenursing.org

twitter.com/acenursing?lang=en

Figure 1. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Adapted from Accreditation Commision for Education
in Nursing [ACEN]. (2013). Mission purpose goals. Retrieved from https://www.acenursing.org/mission-purpose-goals/
 The role of the ACEN is to provide specialized accreditation for all levels of
nursing education and transition-to-practice programs (ACEN, 2013)

● Supporting nursing education and transition-to-practice programs in obtaining and maintaining

accreditation
● Promoting peer review
● Advocating for self-regulation
● Fostering quality, equity, access, opportunity, mobility, and preparation for practice, or transition-to-
practice, at all levels of nursing preparation
● Developing standards and criteria for accreditation

Figure 2 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Adapted from Accreditation Commision for Education in Nursing
(ACEN). (2013). Program. Retrieved from https://web.cvent.com/event/63f6d7ba-4943-46d4-b1e7-2f21d71fb9de/summary
 ACEN Oversight and Regulation (ACEN, 2013)

● specialized accrediting agency for nursing education programs located in the United States and its territories as
well as international nursing education programs
● accredits nursing education programs in secondary, postsecondary, and hospital-based governing organizations
that offer certificates, diplomas, or degrees.
● serves as a Title IV-HEA Gatekeeper for some practical nursing programs and hospital-based nursing education
programs
● accredits non-credit transition-to-practice programs for all levels of nursing practice.
● accredits transition-to-practice programs offered by academic institutions
ACEN accreditation is a voluntary peer-review process
intended to enhance quality improvement in nursing
education (ACEN, 2013).

Educational programs the agencies are qualified

to accreditate:

● clinical doctorate/DNP specialist certificate, master’s/post-master’s

certificate, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and practical nursing
programs.
● secondary, postsecondary, and hospital-based governing organizations
that offer certificates, diplomas, or degrees.
● some practical nursing programs and hospital-based nursing education
programs eligible to participate in financial aid programs
● United States and its territories as well as for international nursing
education programs .

Figure 3. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Adapted from Accreditation Commision for Education
in Nursing (ACEN). (2013). Mission purpose goals. Retrieved from https://www.acenursing.org/mission-purpose-goals/
Figure 1. Commission on Collegiate Nursing education. Adapted from Commission on Collegiate Nursing education
(CCNE). (2019). Mission and purposes. Retrieved from https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE-Accreditation/About
 The role of CCNE

The role of CCNE is to ensure the quality and integrity of baccalaureate,

graduate, and residency programs in nursing and improve the public's
health. It encourages and supports nursing education programs to perform
self-assessments to grow and improve their collegiate professional
education.
The Commission serves the public interest by assessing and identifying
programs that engage in effective educational practices.

● To hold nursing programs accountable to the community of interest – the

nursing profession, consumers, employers, higher education, students and
their families, nurse residents – and to one another by ensuring that these
programs have mission statements, goals, and outcomes that are appropriate
to prepare individuals to fulfill their expected roles.
● To evaluate the success of a nursing program in achieving its mission, goals,
and expected outcomes.
● To assess the extent to which a nursing program meets accreditation
standards.
● To inform the public of the purposes and values of accreditation and to
identify nursing programs that meet accreditation standards.
● To foster continuing improvement in nursing programs – and, thereby, in
professional practice.
 Accreditation

“In nursing, the purpose of accreditation is to ensure that nursing education

programs across the United States are being held to common standards of quality.
This furthers the profession and greatly enhances the overall quality of care
administered by nurses.” (nursing CAS, 2018)
 Why Nursing Programs Seek Accreditations

The Texas Board of Nursing

● The approval is mandatory by statute (Texas BON, 2013)

● In order for nursing graduates to be eligible to take the National Council Licensure
Examination (NCLEX) in the state of Texas (Texas BON, 2013)

● In order for nursing graduates to be eligible to apply for licensure in the state of Texas
(Texas BON, 2013)
Why Nursing Programs Seek Accreditations

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

In short, because it helps students through further fostering excellence by

ensuring that a program is meeting standards of educational quality
specific to nursing education through the peer review process (ACEN,
2013).
Why Nursing Programs Seek Accreditations
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

● Has been recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national

accreditation agency.
● In order for increasing the employment competitiveness of graduates
because potential employers want candidates who have completed an
accredited program
● Accreditation is worthwhile for programs or schools because the
designation provides a level of prestige and helps them attract excellent
prospective students.
Regulatory Agency Mandatory or Voluntary Educational Programs Agencies are
Accreditation Qualified to Accreditate

The Texas BON Mandatory (Texas BON, Professional and vocational schools of
2013) nursing in the state of Texas (Texas
BON, 2013)

ACEN Voluntary (ACEN, 2013) All levels of nursing programs, non-

credit and credit transition-to-practice
programs, (ACEN, 2013)

CCNE Voluntary (CCNE, 2019) Baccalaureate, graduate and

residency programs (CCNE, 2019)

Legend: ACEN The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing; BON Board
of Nursing; CCNE The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Regulatory Agencies Play a Vital Role in Nursing (Grimm, 2014)

● Ensure the public’s right to quality healthcare service

● Support and assist professional members
● Set and enforce standards of nursing practice
● Monitor and enforce standards for nursing education
● Monitor and enforce standards of nursing practice
● Set the requirements for registration of nursing professionals
References
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). (2013). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from
https://www.acenursing.org/faq/#Q3

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). (2013). Mission purpose goals. Retrieved from
https://www.acenursing.org/mission-purpose-goals/

Grimm, N. (2014). Healthcare regulation: Who does what? Retrieved from

http://www.yourtrainingprovider.com/blog_main/bid/203291/health-care-regulation-who-does-what

NCSBN Marketing., & Communications Department, (2010). The role of board of nursing. Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/517.htm

Nursing CAS. (2018). What's the deal with accreditation? Retrieved from
https://www.nursingcas.org/whats-the-deal-with-accreditation/

Texas Board of Nursing. (2013). Education - formal education programs for students. Retrieved from:
https://www.bon.texas.gov/education_programs.asp

Texas Board of Nursing. (2018). Enforcement. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/board_services_enforcement.asp

Texas Board of Nursing. (2018). Information. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/board_services_information.asp

Texas Board of Nursing. (2018). Licensing services. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/board_services_licensing.asp

Texas Board of Nursing. (2018). Nursing program approval. Retrieved from https://www.bon.texas.gov/board_services_approval.asp