Four Wright State nursing programs receive accreditations, including new doctorate degree

Four programs offered by Wright State’s School of Nursing, including the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and the new Doctor of Nursing Practice program, have been reaccredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Wright State University’s School of Nursing has reinforced its reputation as a premier nursing education destination by securing renewed — and in one case, new — accreditations across its comprehensive program offerings.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education granted accreditation to four programs in the School of Nursing:

• Baccalaureate degree program, for 10 years
• Master’s degree program, for 10 years
• Post-graduate Advanced Practice Registered certificate program, for 10 years
• New Doctor of Nursing Practice program, for five years, the maximum length for a new program

“The accreditation process ensures that Wright State’s nursing program meets quality standards and provides a high standard of education and training,” said Tara Konicki, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor and chair of the School of Nursing.

These accreditations are significant because they enable graduates to sit for licensure examinations and pursue advanced nursing degrees.

Wright State has arrangements with Premier Health, Kettering Health and Dayton Children’s Hospital that allow nursing students to work on site with a preceptor during their final semester through contingency-hire arrangements that often lead to employment upon graduation.

“We have a good working relationship with the local health care community,” Konicki said.

Nursing is the most popular major at Wright State. About 400 students major in nursing, with 300 to 400 more taking prerequisite courses required to enroll in the program. The School of Nursing graduates 180 to 200 students a year, making a substantial impact on the region’s health care staffing needs.

“Most of our graduates stay in Ohio,” Konicki said. “We have a big impact on the region’s nursing vacancies and the stability for the hospitals.”

Locally and beyond, she added, “hospitals are very interested in our graduates.”