Nursing commission invites public comments for accreditation

Northwest Missouri State University and the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) are seeking public comments from stakeholders as the University pursues continued accreditation for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs.

While accreditation is critical for ensuring the quality of its nursing programs, and graduating from an accredited program can be essential for future employment and continuing education opportunities, Northwest will host NLN CNEA representatives for a site visit Oct. 1-3, 2025.

In addition to comments from the public, NLN CNEA has invited students to share their experiences with Northwest nursing programs to provide valuable insights for stakeholders.

Northwest relaunched its BSN program in 2018 and achieved accreditation through NLN CNEA in 2020. The University began offering its MSN program in 2020, achieving NLN CNEA accreditation for it in 2021.

The BSN program enables registered nurses to complete their bachelor's degree in an online format that is conducive to the working nurse’s schedule. Earning a BSN degree offers significant benefits, including enhanced patient care through advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices, critical thinking and leadership skills, leading to improved outcomes and higher-quality care. It also expands career opportunities, qualifying nurses for management, public health and specialized roles, while increasing earning potential as organizations recognize and reward the advanced skills BSN-prepared nurses bring to their teams.

The 30-hour online MSN program consists of 15 hours of core classes with the remaining 15 hours completed in one of two tracks – nurse executive and administration, or nurse educator. Pursuing an MSN degree provides nurses with the specialized knowledge and leadership skills needed to advance their careers. The nurse executive track prepares nurses to influence healthcare policies, manage teams and drive organizational success, while the nurse educator track helps address faculty shortages by equipping nurses to educate and mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals.

To learn more about Northwest’s online nursing programs visit http://online.delicious-drop.com/programs/healthcare/.

The Northwest Missouri State University bachelor’s degree in nursing and master’s degree in nursing programs are pursuing accreditation from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20037; phone 202.909.2487. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments in writing directly to NLN CNEA (cneaaccreditation@nln.org) no later Sept. 17, 2025.

To learn more about NLN CNEA, visit http://cnea.nln.org/.