(BOWIE, Md.) – Bowie State University’s undergraduate nursing program had its full accreditation reaffirmed through March 2023 after demonstrating significant enhancements to its program and curriculum.
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) extended the program’s full accreditation, indicating that it meets all the requirements of a quality nursing program with no stipulations. During the accreditation review, the Department of Nursing highlighted critical improvements in the first-time pass rate of students taking the NCLEX-RN licensure examination to become registered nurses, a key indicator of a program’s success.
“I commend the ongoing work to prepare our students to function as high-quality professionals in the medical community,” said Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux. “This achievement is another example of the university’s commitment to quality teaching and learning that is reflected in the Racing to Excellence Strategic Plan.”
Bowie State University enrolls more than 600 students in its undergraduate nursing program, which prepares them for one of the nation’s most critical and in-demand careers. Recent graduates work at local medical facilities, such as the MedStar Health DC Hospital System, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
At Bowie State, nursing students learn effective patient care using life-like mannequins in hospital and clinical settings in a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab housed in the Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing, a premier facility for transformational learning. The simulation lab is designed to flexibly change as new educational strategies emerge. Combined with hands-on experience gained in community-based internships, students prepare to graduate with the skills and knowledge to be an exceptional nurse.
“The faculty and staff of the Department of Nursing have worked diligently to strengthen the foundation of the undergraduate curriculum and provide additional support for our students to ensure that they demonstrate thorough preparation to enter the profession of nursing,” said Dr. Tanya Smith Brice, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “We anticipate seeing continued successes among our nursing students and graduates.”
Demonstrating a commitment to promoting academic excellence, the department provides a Nursing Student Success Center to closely monitor the progress of undergraduate students through the program and offers appropriate support. The center uses a student-centered approach that includes supplemental instruction, academic coaching and comprehensive NCLEX-RN examination preparation.
