ACEN Accreditation
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is recognized as a primary accrediting body for nursing education by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. To help ensure programming is consistent and offers a quality education, many states have mandated that programs receive recognition from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
All Florida nursing programs offering pre-licensure associate degree education are mandated by the state Board of Nursing to attain accreditation. All four Fortis Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs in Florida have accreditation conferred by ACEN. These include Fortis College in Cutler Bay, Fortis College in Orange Park, Fortis Institute in Pensacola and Fortis Institute in Port St. Lucie.
In order to receive accreditation, these institutions have applied for and undergone a rigorous and comprehensive review process that evaluated the quality and effectiveness of their nursing education programs. ACEN accreditation is only granted after a two-year review that includes a self-study document, site visit, and a satisfactory assessment by a panel of experts from the accrediting agency.
What does accreditation really mean to a student?
Choosing an ACEN-accredited program means that you want the advantages of a quality education that that will prepare you to take the NCLEX licensing exam and, after passing the exam, enter the career. Your Fortis nursing education program will give you the academic, laboratory and essential clinical experiences necessary for you to be well-prepared for the licensing exam.
Our aging population means that the need for nursing will continue to increase. According to the US Census, the population aged 65 and over is estimated to grow to 83.7 million, almost double its population from 2012. At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for an additional 203,700 new RNs each year through 2026 to care and support this aging population.
Fortis’s nursing programs are designed to meet this growing need. “The United States will need more skilled, well-trained nursing professionals to provide the increasingly complex care this population requires in the coming years,” said Dr. Sheila Burke, vice president of Nursing for Education Affiliates.
About Fortis Nursing Programs
One of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S., Education Affiliates, Inc. operates St. Paul’s Schools of Nursing, Denver College of Nursing, and Fortis Colleges & Institutes who, together, educate more than 4,000 nursing students nationwide, and operate more than 25 nursing programs in 10 states. Denver College of Nursing is accredited by ACEN as are Fortis Colleges and Institutes in Indiana, Utah and Ohio, in addition to Florida.
Fortis’s nursing programs educate students in response to society’s increasingly complex healthcare needs and provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. After graduation, a Fortis nurse can pursue a career as an entry-level registered nurse in a variety of healthcare settings. Incorporating hybrid courses and online instruction, students have more options when scheduling classes. To learn more about preparing for a career in nursing, contact (855) 436-7847 for more information.