ELIGIBILITY FOR SELECTION AS A PEER EVALUATOR
Peer evaluators make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. Peer evaluators are the subject matter experts, knowledgeable about common, contemporary, and best practices within the various program types, appropriate curricula, and conventions and current trends in healthcare, nursing education, and/or nursing practice. Eligibility to serve as an ACEN peer evaluator is dependent on the following requirements:
See ACEN Policy #1 Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest
See ACEN Policy #2 Representation on the Site Visit Teams, Evaluation Review Panels, and Board of Commissioners
Required Academic Credentials to be a Peer Evaluator for:
Clinical Doctorate and Master’s Programs
– Earned doctoral degree from an accredited college/university and a graduate degree with a major in nursing or related field from an accredited college/university
Baccalaureate, Associate, Diploma, and Practical Programs
– Graduate degree with a major in nursing or related field from an accredited college/university
Nurse Clinician
– Graduate degree with a major in nursing or related field from an accredited college/university
Required Experience:
Nurse Educator
- Currently hold a full-time faculty, part-time faculty, or administrative appointment in an ACEN-accredited program.
- Previously held a full-time faculty or administrative appointment in an ACEN-accredited program and now holds a part-time faculty or administrative appointment in an ACEN-accredited program.
- Held a full-time faculty, part-time faculty, or administrative appointment in an ACEN-accredited program and is retired for no more than two years from this position.
- Held a full-time faculty or administrative appointment in an ACEN-accredited program and then held a part-time faculty or administrative appointment in an ACEN-accredited program and is retired for no more than two years from the part-time position.
- Knowledge of postsecondary and/or higher education; curriculum and instructional methods; current issues in nursing education and practice.
- Expertise in communication, group dynamics, information literacy, use of technology, best practices in educational and clinical settings.
- Contributions in scholarship/research, practice, community service, professional service.
Nurse Clinician
Full-time or part-time time position in a clinical practice environment
- Knowledge of current nursing practice, contemporary issues in healthcare settings, transition of new graduates into nursing practice.
- Expertise in communication, group dynamics, information literacy, use of technology, best practices for patient health and safety.
- Contributions in scholarship/research, practice, community service, professional service.
SELECTION, APPOINTMENT, PREPARATION, and MORE
Peer Evaluator
Selection
All peer evaluators are selected through mechanisms and criteria established by the ACEN.
Individuals interested must complete a peer evaluator application. After ACEN staff review of submitted materials, selected individuals will be invited to become peer evaluator and must participate in the peer evaluator professional development offered by the ACEN.
Appointment
Peer evaluators are eligible to serve for an indefinite period of time if they receive ongoing positive site visit performance evaluations and remain current with the accreditation process.
Continuing Eligibility
A peer evaluator who:
• Retires may continue to serve up to two (2) additional years if she/he remains current in nursing education and the accreditation process.
• Is no longer affiliated with a nursing education program or nursing service will be ineligible to continue as a peer evaluator.
• Accepts a position in a nursing program not accredited by the ACEN will be ineligible to continue as a peer evaluator.
Evaluation
Peer evaluators are evaluated by the members of the site visit team and the nursing education unit following each site visit.
Preparation
Briefing sessions are conducted by telephone conference call for all peer evaluators prior to the assigned visit each accreditation cycle.
Honorarium
An honorarium will be provided to the peer evaluator after a visit is completed.
Evaluation Review Panel Members
Selection
Members of the ERP and alternate members are program-specific and appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The ACEN professional staff review candidates based on information from current members of the ERP, peer evaluators, Commissioners, and accredited programs and recommend their names to the Board of Commissioners. Members of the ERP and alternate members must be eligible peer evaluators.
Appointment
Members of the ERP serve indefinitely.
Preparation
Members of the ERP are expected to participate in a briefing session held to orient new Panel members and update the continuing Panel members.
Appeal Panel Members
Selection
Members of the Appeal Panel must have knowledge of and experience with the peer-review process. The nurse educator and nursing clinicians/practitioners members must be currently eligible peer evaluators. Commissioners cannot serve on the Appeal Panel.
Appointment
The Appeal Panel consists of individuals drawn from a Board of Commissioners-approved list of the individuals qualified to serve as members of the Appeal Panel. See ACEN Policy #10 Appeal Process and Submission and Review of New Financial Information Subsequent to Adverse Action.
For consideration in becoming a Peer Evaluator, you may use the link below: