It’s not unusual for athletes with a history of performing at the highest levels to be rewarded with a ten-year contract. Elite performance was one of the factors behind an announcement by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing that Gannon University's Villa Maria School of Nursing was issued three certificates of accreditation for 10 years, the maximum time period for which accreditation is granted.
The certificates were for the baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master's degree program in nursing and the post-graduate advanced practice registered nurse certificate.
The School’s list of accomplishments is long, as is its history. The Villa Maria School of Nursing was one of the first generic baccalaureate programs in Pennsylvania, admitting its first students in 1952, and has maintained consistent accreditation since 1965.
Most recent data shows that graduates achieved a 93 percent first-time pass rate on the Nursing State Board Exam (NCLEX-RN), and enjoyed a nearly 100 percent placement rate within months of graduation.
"The news from the CCNE is hugely gratifying and is a testament to the hard work and high standards that we have upheld in the Villa Maria School of Nursing for decades. "
Certification is effective as of March 26, 2015 and extends to Dec. 31, 2024. The next site evaluation at Gannon for the purpose of accreditation of the nursing school will take place in spring of 2024.
"The news from the CCNE is hugely gratifying and is a testament to the hard work and high standards that we have upheld in the Villa Maria School of Nursing for decades. We thank our University and community partners for their support of our programs in the latest accreditation visit," said Kathleen T. Patterson, Ph.D., director of the nursing school.
The CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices.