NLN Designates Four Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education™ for 2007-2010

Centers selected for creating environments that promote student learning and professional development announced at special presentation during NLN's Annual Education Summit in Phoenix, September 26-29.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 15, 2007 -- In a special presentation during its annual four-day Education Summit, the National League for Nursing announced the four schools of nursing to receive the organization's prestigious designation as a Center of Excellence™ (COE) for 2007-2010. Three of the four -- Community College of Philadelphia, Department of Nursing; the University of South Dakota, Department of Nursing; and Villanova University College of Nursing -- were in the inaugural group designated in 2004. After a rigorous review of their applications, these schools were approved by the NLN Board of Governors to continue their designation. The fourth school named this year is Saint Xavier University School of Nursing in Chicago.

All four schools were lauded for creating environments that promote student learning and professional development, one of several categories for which schools of nursing can apply. Since 2004, the NLN has designated 11 schools of nursing as COEs based on their sustained excellence in promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty, advancing the science of nursing education, or promoting student learning and professional development. They must also have a proven commitment to continuous quality improvement.

"It was past time for the nursing education community to recognize those schools whose faculty are doing the outstanding work that sets them apart from others," said Dr. Beverly Malone, CEO of the NLN. "It is our hope that by publicly acknowledging these best academic practices, we will succeed in setting the bar higher in nursing schools across the board to ensure that those entering the profession will be as well prepared as they can for the 21st-century health care needs of the American people."

In keeping with the NLN mission to continually advance excellent nursing education, throughout the three years that schools carry the COE designation, they are expected to be available to other schools seeking to move their own programs toward distinction. Summed up NLN chief program officer Dr. Terry Valiga, "Through the Centers of Excellence designation, nursing's most exciting programs are made known to the entire academic community and inspire other schools to strive for excellence."

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities please contact Karen R. Klestzick, chief communications officer of the NLN, at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education offering faculty development, networking opportunities, testing and assessment, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 23,000 individual and 1100 institutional members.

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