ACCREDITATION & EVALUATION
ACCREDITATION
Introduction
All professionals have one thing in common, that is concern for the quality of their service, which is ensured by developing and enforcing the standards. Two important ways of setting standards are accreditation of the education programme and the professional licensure.
The programme of action of the national policy on education 1986, has proposed the establishment of an accreditation and assessment council (ACC) for maintaining and raising the quality of the institution of higher education. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a committee with Dr. Vasant Gowarker as the convener in November 1986. Institutional accreditation originated in the USA.
Definition
“Accreditation is the process whereby an organization or agency recognizes a college or university or programme of study as having met certain predetermined qualifications or standards” (Selden, 1962).
Accrediting is carried on mainly by voluntary organizations. Although these organizations are advisory in nature and do not have legal power to control institutions of higher education they do exert pressure.
Purposes of Accreditation
For the maintenance of adequate administration requirement.
Maintaining a uniform standard for nursing education and nursing service.
Stimulation of institutional self-improvement by evaluation and inspection.
It safeguards the institution from social education and political pressures.
It helps in the registration of nurses.
It prescribes the syllabus.
It grants recognition to school and colleges.
It guides the school / college of nursing, according to recommendation and criteria.
It also services to prepare the competent to serve the public.
Functions of Accreditation
1.It aims to protect the autonomy of various health service progremmes. Eg: Nursing education and medical education.
2.It preserves the quality of nursing education.
3.It protects the public from ill prepared nurses.
4.It protects the institutions unsound and unsafe political pressure.
5.It helps the practitioner for the broad scope of nursing practice.
Regional Accreditation Agencies
Regional agencies are concerned with as institution as a whole. They are general in nature. They are concerned with appraising the total of the institution of higher learning and with safeguarding the quality of education and foundation of professional programmes in colleges and universities. Each agency establishes criteria for the evaluation of institution in its region.
It receives those institutions periodically and publishes from time to time a list of those institution which it has accreditated.
Professional Accrediting Agencies
Professional accrediting agencies are specialized and each is concerned with particular profession.
State Accrediting Agencies
Accreditation in certain stages may be the function of state agencies. It assumes the responsibility mainly for teacher education. State universities commissions and other agency are authorized in some state to evaluate college, to give initial approval to institutions to higher learning to formulate standards, to issue licenses and to have various other responsibilities.
Many state agencies accept the accreditation of regional and national accrediting agency as a basis for their approval of the institutions.
National Accrediting Agencies
In 1904 started with the accreditation of medical school. Membership in some agencies composed number of some combination of nurses and doctors.
National Commission of Accreditation
As the number of accreditation agencies were established to control the activities of accreditation agency.
Functions of National Commission of Accreditation
To study and investigate the accreditation agency.
Publish a list of accreditating agencies, it has approval.
To collect and publish information on higher education, that is pertinent to accreditation.
Important Features of the Accreditation Programme
The accreditation and the assessment council is proposed as a voluntary body of member institutions.
There are two categories of accreditation – institutional of professional. The important concern of the accreditation and assessment council is to develop an institutional accreditation mechanism. Institutional accreditation is a means for the self-regulation of the academic institution.
Institutional accreditation is done in two parts. The first part starts with self-study by the institution, involving in this activity all of its major constituents including facility, students and the institutional management.
The second part of the institutional accreditation process involves an outside evaluation by a team of professional educators constituted independently by the accrediting agency.
The institutional accreditation process involves the judegement of the responsible members of the profession to see whether the institutional goals conceived are appropriate that is the educational programme is intelligently planned and competently conducted, the institution is fulfilling the professional goals and has the adequate resources to run the programme to be effective in imparting quality education.
In order to be accredited an institution must fulfill the criteria set by the accrediting agency. The institution will be assessed in each of the principle areas of the institutional functioning and responsibility as follows:
A.Institutional mission and objectives.
B.Evaluation and planning
C.Organization and governance
D.Programme of instruction
E.Special activities
F.Faculty
G.Student services
H.Library and learning resources
I.Physical resources
J.Financial resources
K.Advertising and publication
The accreditation agency is not simply a body of assurance of the educational quality it is a process which encourages institutional improvement through continual self-study and evaluation and it also develops guide lines for assessing institutional effectiveness.
Before an institution is accredited, a provisional one-year candidate status is given to the institutions after satisfying certain criteria and this can be extended to 3 years.
Accreditation bodies have the right to review the member institutions at any time and can drop any institutions of their recognization at any time which shows serious weaknesses.
The annual dues from the candidate and accredited institutions support accreditation associations.
The accrediting bodies elect the accreditation commission, the bodies which make the final decisions on accreditation after receiving the institutional self-study report and the evaluation report of the evaluation team.
Though the accrediting agency are non-governmental, their accreditation has come to be recognized as a necessary qualification for the federal government, which in turn recognizes for a period of 4 years duration those accrediting agencies which it finds to be reliable indicator of educational quality.
Purposes of Accreditation
1.To ensure safe practice of nursing by setting standards for schools and colleges preparing the professionals.
2.To encourage study and self-evaluation within the educational units for the development and improvement of the educational programme.
3.To ensure maximum benefit for the students and to protect the students interests.
4.To ensure the graduates of the accredited schools the eligibility for admission to the licensing examinations.
5.It acts as a monitoring and controlling agency.
6.To provide a list of accredited schools of nursing and this assist students and counselors in selection of schools, which offer accredited programmes in nursing.
Policies for Accreditation
Board Approval of the Initial Development of the Nursing Program
1.Letter of intention should be submitted to the board describing the reasons for establishing the school and the predicted timetable of development.
2.Qualification forms to be submitted to the board, by the full time person responsible for the program, who is qualified with the Master Degree in nursing accredited by the national leaguer for nursing and with appropriate preparation for administration in nursing education. Faculty qualification is to be on file in the board office on all nurse faculty members.
3.The nurse director or chairman of the department nursing be employed on a full time basis for one academic year before the admission of students to the nursing program. This period is known as the “planning year”. There should be funds available for the departure chairman to have nurse faculty members participate in developing the philosophy, objectives and course content in the nursing subjects prior to their full appointment of the faculty.
Board Approval for the Admission of Students
1.A statement describing the philosophy, objectives nature of organization and administration should be submitted to the board, at least three weeks prior to the board meeting at which time the program will be reviewed. This must occur at least 6 months to the admission of the first batch.
2.The statement should contain descriptions of the following as well:
a.Student body (number to be admitted to the first batch maximum number to be admitted with projected time table containing source of qualified students desiring this type program).
b.Faculty: Number to be employed, dates of appointment, for faculty recruitment, qualification or appointed members.
Note: not more than 10 students should be the responsibility one faculty member in a clinical area at any one time.
c.Curriculum, educational and clinical facilities
d.Projected budget for a five year period
e.Plans for evaluation.
Further Procedures regarding Board Approval
1.An application for accreditation should be filled with concerned authority
2.Request will be reviewed at regular board meeting and institution advised of board actions.
3.Initial accreditation is granted for a period of one year, after which time an evaluation visit is made, the evaluation determined on the basis of the total programme in relation to the stated purposes and the degree to which these have been achieved.
4.Renewal accreditation is based on survey visits, conference and correspondence during the period, the annual report etc.
Process of Accreditation
1.Applying for the institution to be accredited.
2.Preparing a report by the institutional head according to the criteria and format sent by the accrediting agency. This report is referred to as self-study.
3.Visit to the site by the inspectors appoint by the accrediting agency to verify the self study report.
4.Preparing a report by the visitors.
5.Report made by the visitors along with the institutional report is sent to the review board of council.
6.The board of review on the basis of all data and reports makes the final decisions whether accreditation should be granted or not.
Criteria for Accreditation: report of the inspection of the college held on,
1.Type of training given
2.Date of previous inspection
3.Recognition of the college by the government order no., date and no. of seats sanctioned for the year. Number of the students admitted for the year after the cost date of inspection and regarding the detail of staff qualification.
Register no, registration valid, non-nursing teachers, other staff members, physical facilities available in the school.
No. of classrooms
Demonstration room
Library
Office of principal, tutors
Laboratory
Process of Registration of School/Colleges
Trial Basis – recognition given on the temporary basis based on the application submitted plus pending inspection and is done after the favourable report of accreditation.
Permanent recognition – after the inspection and evaluation that is when the school / college meet all the criteria prescribed by the INC permanent recognition is given.
Services rendered by accredited:
Registration and admission of students. Accredited institutions are also expected to counsel students as to assist them in proper selection of the subjects.
Distribution of study materials
Organization of personal contact program
Registering students for external examination.
Distribution of marks sheets and certificates.
The School and Colleges are expected to Keep Ready the following:
i.General Information
b.The name of the university it is affiliated.
c.Date of establishment of program
d.Date recognition by state nursing council, INC or university
e.Number of students graduating per year
i.Philosophy
Aims and objectives of the institution and departments
ii.Organization and Administration
Organization chart of institution and colleges
Placement of principal
Line of authority
Teaching staff and non-teaching staff
iii.Teaching Staff
Internal lectures
External lectures
Staff selection procedures
Staff development programme
Seminars attended
iv.Administration and Physical set up
Office and room for principal
Staff, clinical staff, number of classrooms, nutrition lab etc.
Hostel, cafeteria, dining hall, reading hall, toilet facility etc.
Number of books, periodical
v.Finance
Total budget sanctioned
Drawing offices – separate and combined
vi.Committees
Advisory committee, development committee, student welfare committee
vii.Staff Teaching
Monitoring technique
viii.Construction and Institution Facilities
Syllabus, prospectus, application forms, bond paper, etc.
ix.Health Facilities for Students and Staff
1.Medical checkup
x.Clinical set-up
2.Community experience, family people co-curricular activities
3.Research of students, application forms and bond paper signed
4.Attendance registers, practical record, leave record
5.Evaluation form, master plan, examination results and assignments
6.Drug study, lesson plans, nursing care plans and clinical presentation
xi.Accrediting agencies – INC, KNC and Universities
A. Indian Nursing Council
Introduction: Indian nursing council is considered to be the statutory body that influences nursing education at the national level. The INC was constituted to establish a uniform standard of education for nurses, midwives, health visitors and auxiliary nurses. the Indian nursing council act was ordained in 1947.
Composition and constitution: The Indian Nursing council consists of the following members:
1.Elected members – 25
2.Nominated member – 4
3.Ex-officio members – 33
Elected Members – 25
a)Nurses from state council
b)Heads of institutions giving training for degree. Nursing and certificate courses – 2
c)Head of an institution training health visitors – 1
d)Medical council of India – 1
e)Central council of Indian Medical Association – 1
f)TNAI – 1
g)State Nursing Councils (ANMS) – 3
h)Parliament – 3
i)Nominated members – 4
j)Government of India nominee
Ex-officio Members - 33
k)Director general of the health sciences – 1
l)The chief Principal / matron – 1
m)The chief Nursing superintendents
n)The Director of maternal and child welfare
o)The Chief administration medical officers of each state
p)Superintendent of nursing services
Composition
Nurses – 30, Doctors – 24
The president shall be elected by the members of the council among themselves. Members of the council are elected by the state council
Philosophy
INC, states that, nursing is the unique function of the nurse, that is to assist the individual, sick or well in the performance of those activities contributing to health or recovery, that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge.
Keeping this in mind, the nursing is a formal educational preparation, which should be based on sound educational principals. It recognizes the programmes as the foundation on which the practice of nursing is built and on which depends further professional education. It recognizes its responsibility to the society for the continued development of students as individuals, nurses and citizens. The INC recognizes the necessary of developing a deep pride in the nursing profession among students to enable to further profession among the students and to enable further professional growth.
Aims of INC
To establish uniform standard of training throughout the state
Prohibit training centre, which are in adequate
Prohibit practice of nursing by non-qualified nurses
Functions and Role of INC
The INC provides a framework for nursing in India. It has many roles
1.Prescribing of Syllabi
INC is prescribing syllabi and curriculum for various courses of nursing and conducting qualifying examination based on the development in science and technology. Syllabi have also been prescribed for all post certificate courses, degree courses, diploma and for health visitor courses.
2.Inspection
Inspections are done and granting of recognition based as the requirements, their set up and the strength of the institutions. They also have full freedom to withdraw recognitions. A right of appeal against any disciplinary action takes by the council is provided for in the acts.
Nature of Inspections by INC
There are three types of inspections by INC since 1996.
a.First Inspections
Institutions are inspected by the INC when they apply for starting a course in nursing.
This is the first step towards INC recognition.
The schools that seek recognition are required to submit
1Permission letter for state government
2Permission letter for state nursing councils
3A copy of the inspection report of the state nursing council
b.Re-Inspections
These are done for those institutions which are found unsuitable on first or subsequent inspection by INC.
Once the institution takes necessary steps to remove the deficiencies and informs the INC’s reinspection is done within one year or earlier.
c.Periodic Inspections
Once an institution is give recognition by INC the institute is required to send an annual inspection fee regularly. The INC inspects the institute generally after 3 years.
Karnataka Nursing Council
The Karnataka Nursing Council was started in the year 1961
Function of KNC
1.Regulation of training programmes
2.Supervision of practice and profession
3.Accrediting the training institutions
4.Implementing and prescribing syllabus and curriculum
5.Registration and granting certificates
6.Take action against malpractices
Accrediting the Nursing institutions
By an inspection committee – constituted with several members reports of adequacy of training programmes.
For various courses and conduct qualifying exam.
Registering and Granting Certificate to Qualified Person to Practice Nursing
The council maintains a register of nurse, midwives, register.
ANM register known as Karnataka state nurses. The state registration councils are autonomous to a great extent except that they do not have powers to prescribe syllabi for the various training courses, recognize examining bodies and to negotiate reciprocity.
Registration in state nursing council is very necessary for every nurse. It is necessary to be registered in order to function officially as a professional nurse.
Affiliations
Meaning connect as a member or branch. When all the required clinical experiences cannot be provided in the parent hospital it becomes necessary for the nursing school to select another hospital to which students may be sent to acquire further experience. Such a hospital is known as an affiliating agency and the types of experience for which a nursing school commonly affiliates are the nursing of children, nursing of tuberculosis and other communicable disease patients, psychiatric nursing and the nursing of men.
Criteria for the selection of an affiliating agency
1.The primary reason for its selection should be its ability to provide the experience required by the students
2.The staff of the hospital should be prepared to recognize that the students are being posted there as a part of their planned, educational programme, and that though a certain amount of service can be expected from them while they are gaining the required experience, their educational needs should receive their rightful place.
3.The nursing care given, and the physical facilities, staffing and equipment of the hospital should be of the same standard as required in the parent hospital.
4.The living arrangements for the students should be provided on the same principles as in the school hospital. Where residents is not part of the agreement, there should be satisfactory transport arrangements which will save the students from under fatigue and inconvenience.
5.The agency should be able to take in students on a regular basis in mutually agreed times.
6.The agency should be prepared to accept responsibility for the education and welfare of the students in accordance with a written agreement entered into by the school and the agency.
Affiliation Agreement
Factors to be considered
In a written statement or letter of arrangement with the affiliating agency attention should be focused on the experience required and on the special needs of the students created by their separation from the school.