Nursing Organizations

The Carr College of Nursing sponsors several student organizations to encourage and recognize the continued success of Harding nurses and to promote a community of faculty, staff and students in the Carr College of Nursing.

Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN)
Governs nursing in Arkansas. Their mission is to protect the public and act as their advocate by effectively regulating the practice of nursing. Applications for state nursing licensure may be obtained from ASBN.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
Vision: Nurses are leading efforts to transform health care and improve health. Mission: As the collective voice for academic nursing, AACN serves as the catalyst for excellence and innovation in nursing education, research and practice. Values: Leadership, innovation, collaboration, integrity and agility.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Mission and Purposes: The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. The Commission ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing. The Commission serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and entry-to-practice nurse residency programs.

CCNE accreditation is a nongovernmental peer review process that operates in accordance with nationally recognized standards established for the practice of accreditation in the United States. Accreditation by CCNE is intended to accomplish at least five general purposes:

1. To hold nursing programs accountable to the community of interest — the nursing profession, consumers, employers, higher education, students and their families, nurse residents — and to one another by ensuring these programs have mission statements, goals and outcomes that are appropriate to prepare individuals to fulfill their expected roles.
2. To evaluate the success of a nursing program in achieving its mission, goals and expected outcomes.
3. To assess the extent to which a nursing program meets accreditation standards.
4. To inform the public of the purposes and values of accreditation and to identify nursing programs that meet accreditation standards.
5. To foster continuing improvement in nursing programs — and, thereby, in professional practice.

Harding Nursing Student Association (HNSA)
The purposes of the Harding Nursing Student Association are to assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality health care; to provide programs representative of fundamental and current professional interest and concerns; and to aid in the development of the whole person, and his/her responsibility for the health care of people in all walks of life.
Contact Kim Cooper - kcooper2@harding.edu - Box 12265
Kim Swenson - kswenson2@harding.edu - Box 12265

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
All boards of nursing are members of this organization. The NCSBN oversees the development of the National Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and has publications available.

National League for Nursing
Dedicated to excellence in nursing education, the National League for Nursing is the preferred membership organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education.

Members include nurse educators, education agencies, health care agencies and interested members of the public. The NLN offers faculty development programs, networking opportunities, testing and assessment, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 28,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members.

Founded in 1893 as the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses, the National League for Nursing was the first nursing organization in the United States. Today the NLN is a renewed and relevant professional association for the 21st century. Cited by the American Society of Association Executives for the "will to govern well," the NLN is committed to delivering improved, enhanced and expanded services to its members and championing the pursuit of quality nursing education for all types of nursing education programs.

The National League for Nursing, headquartered in New York City, is led by a board of governors elected at large by the membership for three-year terms. The volunteer president of the board works closely with the NLN's chief executive officer.

Sigma Theta Tau International Epsilon Omicron Chapter
Sigma Theta Tau International Epsilon Omicron is a nursing honor society with more than 400 chapters. Harding's chapter, Epsilon Omicron, was installed in 1982. The purpose of the society is to recognize superior achievement, recognize the development of leadership qualities, foster high professional standards, encourage creative work and strengthen commitment to the ideals and purposes of the nursing profession.
www.nursingsociety.org
Contact Kim Cooper - kcooper2@harding.edu - Box 12265
Kim Swenson - kswenson2@harding.edu - Box 12265