RCN to accredit undergraduate nursing

Published: 11 July 2012

The Royal College of Nursing has, for the first time, approved professional accreditation for a pre-registration nursing course.

The course at Northumbria University will be academically accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The RCN’s professional accreditation focuses on the university’s preparation of nurses for the challenges they face once qualified.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said: “By accrediting this course, we are helping to shape the professional standards of tomorrow’s nurses. Being a good nurse takes commitment, time, hard work and good role models, and it would be a mistake to think this is easy. Nurses need support from experienced nurses from the moment they enrol to their early years as a registered nurse, and this accreditation reflects that.”

Accreditation involves peer review by expert representatives drawn from clinical, management and educational fields of practice who have the appropriate professional background and experience.

Further information

The RCN Centre for Professional Accreditation approves learning and development initiatives for other organisations who want to guarantee that their initiatives are up to date, of the highest quality, effective in educating nurses and the wider health care family, and promote best practice. Find out more in RCN accreditation.