ANCC and WGU to Partner on Use of Nurse Credentialing Exams

Western Governors University Will Conduct Pilot Program Using ANCC Certification Tests for Master’s Degree Competency Assessments

SALT LAKE CITY, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Western Governors University (WGU), www.wgu.edu, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), www.nursecredentialing.org, have agreed to work together on a pilot program that will evaluate the use of ANCC’s Nurse Executive Certification examination as the exit exam, the final milestone required for successful completion of WGU’s master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and Management. The two-year program will allow online, competency-based WGU to utilize a recognized, industry-standard examination as part of its degree program. In addition, it will provide ANCC with data regarding the qualification for certification of students who complete their master’s degrees in nursing using this type of academic model.

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As part of the pilot program, ANCC and WGU will also develop opportunities for nurses who have already earned the Nurse Executive Certification to accelerate completion of their master’s degrees through WGU.

ANCC Executive Director Jeanne Floyd, PhD, RN, CAE, commented, “The collaboration with WGU is an excellent opportunity for ANCC to align its certifications with the needs of nursing school graduates. This program would provide a comprehensive assessment of students’ knowledge and abilities culminating with their ANCC Nurse Executive certification.”

“At WGU, our degree programs frequently require students to demonstrate competency in their fields by successfully completing assessments and exams developed by professional accrediting agencies,” said WGU President Robert Mendenhall. “ANCC sets the standard for nurse credentialing throughout the world, so using the Nurse Executive Exam for our M.S.N program will help ensure that our graduates are well prepared to be leaders in the field of nursing.”

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), provides individuals and organizations throughout the nursing profession with the resources they need to achieve practice excellence. ANCC’s internationally renowned credentialing programs certify nurses in specialty practice areas; recognize healthcare organizations for promoting safe, positive work environments through the Magnet Recognition Program(R) and the Pathway to Excellence(TM) Program; and accredit providers of continuing nursing education. In addition, ANCC provides leading-edge information and education services and products to support its core credentialing programs. www.nursecredentialing.org

About Western Governors University (WGU)

“[WGU is] the best relatively cheap university you’ve never heard of.”

- TIME magazine (Nov. 2008)

WGU is the only accredited online university in the U.S. offering competency-based degree programs. The private non-profit university has been a leader in online education for more than 10 years. WGU is the recipient of the USDLA 21st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning for 2008, awarded in recognition of WGU’s success in expanding access to higher education. WGU has been honored as one of the 2008 Top 20 Military Friendly Colleges and Universities by Military Advanced Education magazine. WGU sponsors the Online Student Survival Guide, a blog that addresses many of the questions and daily concerns online students from any online college or university face.

Now serving more than 11,000 students, WGU was founded by 19 U.S. governors, and is supported by more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, BearingPoint, Dell, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, HCA, Microsoft, Oracle, Qwest, SunGard Higher Education, Sun Microsystems, and Zions Bank. WGU offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, information technology, teacher education, and health professions, with students in all 50 states. More information is available at www.wgu.edu.

Contacts for media inquiries:

WGU: Joan Mitchell – Director of PR

801-428-5463

jmitchell@wgu.edu

ANCC: Wendy Ellman – Manager, Marketing & Business Operations

301-628-5216

wendy.ellmman@ana.org

Contact for WGU enrollment information:

866-225-5948

SOURCE Western Governors University