UPEI faculty nationally recognized
Nursing school earns seven-year accreditation
UPEI’s faculty of nursing has been granted the maximum seven-year accreditation from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, the national accrediting body for nursing education in Canada. Accreditation is recognized worldwide as an important, objective method to assess professional education programs. As part of the CASN accreditation process, the faculty of nursing prepared self-study reports and underwent a rigorous on-site visit by members of the CASN accreditation bureau review team. Gulrose Jiwani, dean of nursing, said the accreditation is the result of “exemplary” leadership from faculty and staff. “It takes a community to build strong programs, and our team has created just that for the faculty of nursing.” Suzie Durocher-Hendriks, chairwoman of the accreditation bureau, wrote to Jiwani indicating UPEI had been granted accreditation for its faculty of nursing educational unit and its five undergraduate programs: bachelor of science in nursing; accelerated bachelor of science in nursing; bachelor of science in nursing, advanced standing; bachelor of science in nursing, first-year entry from licensed practical nursing (LPN) and bachelor of science in nursing, second-year entry from LPN. Earlier this year, the UPEI senate and board of governors elevated what was formerly known as the UPEI school of nursing to the UPEI faculty of nursing, recognizing the expansion of nursing programs, stellar research and scholarship and curriculum grounded in the philosophy of primary health care as reasons for the change. With yearly enrolment exceeding 300 students, the faculty is now home to 45 professionals, including tenure-track faculty, adjunct graduate faculty, clinical and sessional instructors, co-ordinators and administrative assistants dedicated to advancing the faculty of nursing’s mission and vision.