Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing CASN Accreditation Bureau Report to Council Carroll L. Iwasiw RN, BN, MScN, EdD Chair, CASN Accreditation Bureau Lise Talbot inf., psy, PhD Director of Accreditation November 18, 2009

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians Overview  Mandate and membership of the CASN Accreditation Bureau (CAB)  Recent activities of the CAB  Recent challenges  Your questions and feedback

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians MANDATE AND MEMBERSHIP CAB Report to Council

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians CASN Accreditation Bureau (CAB) “Decision –making body for the CASN Accreditation Program” (VIII, 8-9)  Operational, NOT policy-making committee

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians Membership  5 full-time faculty members  1 representative of a service agency  1 academic representative  1 community representative  1 consumer representative (student or graduate)  1 non-voting regulatory representative  (College of Nurses of Ontario has an observer for the Ontario decisions )

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians RECENT ACTIVITIES: REVIEW OF PROGRAMS CAB Report to Council

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians April March 2009  9 reviews:  13 educational units  24 programs  31 reviewers participated

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians RECENT ACTIVITIES: FORMALIZATION OF DECISION – MAKING GUIDELINES CAB Report to Council

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians 7-Year Term of Accreditation  All Standards are met and there is evidence of a vision and capacity to sustain momentum for the next 7 years.  There are:  No major vulnerabilities  No unmet designations in any of the Key Elements.  No recommendations

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians 7-Year Term of Accreditation with Recommendations  Recommendations are made to highlight Standards or Key Elements that require attention to ensure ongoing success for the next 7 years.  Recommendations are generally  related to vulnerabilities  to continue ongoing work or to address specific vulnerabilities.

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians 5-Year Term of Accreditation  All Standards are currently met, but there is a concern about the vision and/or capacity to sustain momentum beyond 5 years.  Or Standards are all met but there are vulnerabilities that may influence the unit/ and/or program beyond 5 years.  Or there are partially met or unmet Standards that influence the ability of the unit and/or program to deliver excellence.  The Bureau does not feel a need to indicate recommendations

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians 5-Year Term of Accreditation with Recommendations  All Standards are currently met but there is a concern about the vision and/or capacity to sustain momentum beyond 5 years.  Or Standards are all met but there are vulnerabilities that may influence the unit/program beyond 5 years.  Or there are partially met or unmet Standards that influence the unit and/or program ability to deliver excellence.

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians 5-Year Term of Accreditation with Recommendations  Recommendations are generally related to partially met or unmet Standards or Key Elements as well as vulnerabilities (e.g., there are ongoing or impending environmental changes that could impact the educational unit and/or program that could influence the ability to meet the Standards).

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians Interim Reports  An interim report is deemed necessary because the Bureau feels the need for assurance that recommendations have been carried out and there is evidence that the vulnerability(ies) has/have been addressed.  A report can be required with 7- or 5-year terms of accreditation.  Generally, the report is due within 2 years.

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians Interim Report and Visit  An on-site visit is deemed necessary because the Bureau feels the need for external validation that recommendations have been carried out and there is evidence that the vulnerability(ies) has/have been addressed.

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians Deny Accreditation  Unmet or partially met Standards jeopardize the sustainability of the educational unit and/or program and there is lack of insight, leadership, and/or capacity to lead change.

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians RECENT ACTIVITIES: 1. SCHOLARSHIP-REPORTING TEMPLATE 2. REPORT ON CRITERIA OF QUALITY IN DISTANCE PROGRAMS CAB Report to Council

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians Scholarship-Reporting Template  Template for reporting scholarship has been developed to:  standardize reporting  reduce redundancy in reporting  make the categories of completed scholarship more evident

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians Distance Programs  Concern identified in the CAB that the information received about distance education programs has not addressed features unique to distance programs  Report prepared on criteria for assessing quality in distance education programs, with recommendations

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians RECENT CHALLENGES CAB Report to Council

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians Challenges  Changing personnel in the Accreditation Office  Growing workload related to proliferation of programs  How to address emerging issues (e.g., assessment of distance programs)

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians YOUR QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK CAB Report to Council

…to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians  Questions  Feedback  Strengths of the accreditation program  Ideas re how the program could be more productive for the Schools  Views re benchmarking: minimal standards or best practices (excellence)?