HOW THE SELF-STUDY FORUM PREPARES FACULTY FOR A SITE VISIT
By Keri-Nunn Ellison, EdD, MSNEd, RN, CNE | Director | ACEN
Bridges, Volume XIII – Issue 4, November 2019
When it comes to preparing for an accreditation site visit, the ACEN provides a number of resources for faculty. Many resources are available on the ACEN website; however, one of the most effective strategies for preparing faculty for a site visit is to attend a Self-Study Forum. The Self-Study Forum is an intensive, day-and-a-half continuing education workshop designed to facilitate understanding of the ACEN Standards and Criteria, give guidance on how to write the Self-Study Report, and prepare the governing organization’s faculty for the onsite visit. The Self-Study Forum also provides an opportunity for attendees to network with other ACEN-accredited program faculty and administrators as well as the ACEN Directors.
The Self-Study Forum is an excellent opportunity to interact directly with both the ACEN Directors and your nurse faculty colleagues to gain a deeper understanding of each Criterion within the ACEN Accreditation Standards. During the Self-Study Forum, the Directors give real-life examples and interactive guidance on how to write the Self-Study Report and prepare for an accreditation site visit. Common challenges and Criteria frequently cited as areas needing development or as in non-compliance are emphasized throughout the Forum.
The purpose of the Self-Study Forum is to help participants develop an understanding of the Standards and Criteria and how they can apply the Criteria to their own programs. The Forum provides detailed information about the 2017 Standards and Criteria and helps attendees learn how to tell more effectively the program’s story of compliance. The presentation style is interactive. Learning exercises for each Standard are included throughout the Forum, including activities designed to increase familiarity with the Criteria, identification of strategies for maintaining compliance, and demonstrating said compliance to peers. A special focus of the Forum is on Standard 6 Outcomes, and participants are asked to bring their own Systematic Plan of Evaluation (SPE) so the ACEN Directors can help attendees to evaluate their plan through comparison to the ACEN Criteria.
Self-Study Forums are beneficial for nurse administrators, faculty, staff of ACEN-accredited programs (or Candidate programs), and anyone considering ACEN accreditation. The Self-Study Forum is recommended for any program preparing for an initial or continuing accreditation site visit, or for programs on Conditions, Warning, or Good Cause. While attendance is beneficial for a program at any stage in the accreditation process, the most benefit can be gained by attending 2–3 years prior to the next scheduled site visit. Self-Study Forums are typically held 2–3 times each year in different locations around the United States. Please click here for the upcoming offerings. We hope to see you at a Self-Study Forum soon!