RCN to accredit undergraduate nursing at Northumbria University

Published: 11 July 2012

Embargo: 00:01, Wednesday, 11 July 2012

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has today announced that its Centre for Professional Accreditation has approved professional accreditation for pre-registration nursing courses at Northumbria University, the first such accreditation ever offered by the RCN.

Universities and colleges providing courses for nurses are accredited by the nursing regulator the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), meaning that an undergraduate who successfully completes an approved programme can then be approved by the NMC as a registered nurse. The RCN’s professional accreditation is in addition to this approval, and focuses on the University’s preparation of nurses for the challenges they face once qualified.

Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“I am very pleased that the RCN has been able to provide this accreditation for a pre-registration course for the first time. It’s important to remember that while the regulator approves courses, we as a professional body can offer insights and expertise which can help new nurses thrive and give excellent care as soon as they qualify. 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. In this case, Northumbria University’s application was approved by a panel of three experts.
The courses at Northumbria were particularly commended for –
• Being contemporary and informed by current national nursing policy
• Showing strong evidence for the engagement of stakeholders, including patients, in programme development
• Practice assessment which is innovative and inclusive
• Explicitly meeting the RCN eight Principles of Nursing Practice
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. While the RCN often accredits post-registration education and continuing professional development (CPD), this is the first time it has accredited a pre-registration programme.

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Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
Or the Northumbria University press office on 0191 227 4905.

2. The peer reviewers who assessed the course were: Jean Morrissey, Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing / Psychotherapist & Supervisor, Qualifications: RGN, RMN, BEd, MSc Dip Superv and Ms. Doreen Crawford MA, PGCE, BSc (Hons) RSCN, RGN, ENB's, Senior Lecturer - De Montfort University, Chair RCN Children and Young People Acute Care Forum, Consultant Nurse, Editor, Nursing Children and Young People

3. The Principles of Nursing Practice are set out here http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/practice/principles

4. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interests of nursing staff and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations