MC School of Nursing Earns CCNE Accreditation

MC Dean of Nursing Kimberly Sharp

The Mississippi College School of Nursing recently received accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for its MSN program—a major step for the school’s newest program.

Its first-ever cohort earned their hoods and turned their tassels at the May commencement exercises in A.E. Wood Coliseum and are expected to complete their final certification preparation course later this summer.

“Accreditation is an essential part of any professional program,” said Dean of Nursing Kimberly Sharp, who was delighted by her school’s receipt of these necessary credentials. “The accreditation we have received from the CCNE is part of an ongoing process. The accreditation journey is never over, but we needed to receive our initial approval for the MSN degree.”

Now that the preliminary accreditation has been secured, the School of Nursing can begin to explore other concentrations for future students interested in earning a master’s degree in nursing from Mississippi’s oldest university.

Its flagship program, Clinical Nurse Leadership, is the first of its kind in the state, and Sharp said it spent many years in development. The graduate degree is designed for students who have a BSN and a current RN license.

“The MSN program needed to be created from scratch,” Sharp recalled. “We were required by IHL to hire CNL-prepared instructors several years before the program even began. MC’s administration has been very committed to the support and development of this new program track.”

The 36-hour program can be completed entirely online, although students must complete 400 hours of clinical practice to finish their degrees.

“This allows students to use those hours towards a Doctor of Nurse Practice degree at some point in the future,” Sharp stated. “The intent is to help working nurses progress in their workplace and bring their expertise to the bedside and improve patient care.”

Its online, accelerated format makes the program attractive to nurses who are already working in the field. It is also an appealing option for MC alumni, who are already well-acquainted with the School of Nursing’s continued success.

“I am glad that the school I love so much offers an excellent master’s program,” Alyssa Case, a 2019 graduate of the MC School of Nursing, said. “It would give me a stepping stone to further my education.”

CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate, professional education, and nurse residency programs.

For additional information, contact Kimberly Sharp at 601-925-3278 or ksharp@mc.edu, or visit https://nursing.mc.edu/degrees/online-msn.