Thiel College nursing program awarded national nursing education commission accreditation

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- The nursing program at Thiel College has recently been granted accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education retroactive to the site visit in April 2024. This significant milestone demonstrates the program’s commitment to high-quality nursing education and ensures Thiel College nursing graduates are prepared to excel in their careers.

The accreditation is retroactive to CCNE’s on-site evaluation in April 2024. As a result, all graduates of the nursing program since the April evaluation are now considered to have graduated from an accredited program. The College will graduate its first cohort of seven Bachelor of Science in nursing students in December and three more will graduate in May. The College’s nursing program has 59 students.

“The CCNE accreditation is a testament to the dedication of our nursing faculty and staff, who have worked tirelessly to build a program that meets the highest standards of nursing education,” Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Greg Q. Butcher, Ph.D. said. “This accreditation not only affirms the quality of our program but also enhances the opportunities for our graduates as they enter the healthcare workforce.”

The CCNE, a national accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, evaluates nursing programs based on their ability to provide effective educational strategies that prepare students for professional nursing practice. Achieving accreditation from CCNE assures the public and prospective students that the Thiel College nursing program meets or exceeds the standards for nursing education and continuous improvement.

This accreditation is good news as statistics show Pennsylvania is experiencing a nursing shortage. A November 2022 industry survey by The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) showed vacancy rates of 30 percent for RNs providing direct care, which is a 10 percentage point increase since 2019. A separate HAP report from January 2023 showed that Pennsylvania could have a shortfall of more than 20,000 RNs by 2026.

“The accreditation is an important milestone for our program, and it shows the level of commitment we have to providing a comprehensive and rigorous education for our nursing students,” Thiel College Director of Nursing Nicole Olshanski, D.N.P. said. “Our students work incredibly hard, and this achievement reflects the quality of both their work and our curriculum.”

Thiel College’s nursing program offers students a pathway to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and prepares students for a rewarding career in healthcare, a field that is experiencing tremendous growth and demand, Olshanski said.

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