Macon Cove Campus
5983 Macon Cove
Memphis, TN 38134-7693

Union Avenue Campus
737 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103-3322

Fayette Center

Gill Center

Millington Center

Southeast Center

Whitehaven Center

901/333-STCC * www.southwest.tn.edu

DATE: April 19, 2002
CONTACT: Calvin Burns, (901) 333-5338 or Marilyn Duncan, (901) 333-4247

Southwest's Nursing Program Gets An A+ in Accreditation Review

The Nursing Program at Southwest Tennessee Community College received high marks in earning continuing accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Southwest's Nursing Department was awarded an eight-year accreditation, which is the maximum duration that may be awarded by the NLNAC.

Based in New York, the NLNAC is the accrediting arm of the National League for Nursing. It is the leading accrediting body for all types of nursing education programs in the nation.

Members of the NLNAC made a site visit to Southwest October 16-18, 2001, at which time they reviewed every aspect of Southwest's Nursing Department, including program-policy development, curriculum development, recruitment of qualified faculty and staff, and the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment.

When advised of the continuing accreditation of the Nursing Program on April 4, Southwest President Dr. Nathan Essex said "We are delighted to see the Nursing Program receive affirmation of its accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Continuing accreditation through 2009, certainly represents a significant accomplishment."

Dr. Essex gave a special commendation to the following administrators: Dr. Andrea Miller, Provost; Dr. Shiphrah Williams-Evans, Chair and Professor, Department of Nursing; and Glen Swinny, Dean of Allied Health and Health Sciences.

Southwest's Department of Nursing was established in 1979, and is located on what is now the Union Avenue Campus of the College, and is designed to prepare graduates for immediate licensure and employment. Over the past two years, Southwest's nursing graduates have maintained a 92 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam for Nurses.

Last year, Southwest's nursing graduates did extremely well on the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The Southwest graduates had a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN during the first reporting period, and a 96 percent pass rate during the second reporting period.

Since 1979, the Department of Nursing has developed formal partnerships with the nursing programs at the University of Memphis, Baptist College of Health Sciences, Union University, and the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The program has prepared more than 2,000 well-trained nurses and other health care professionals for the Mid-South health care system.

For additional information about the Department of Nursing at Southwest, call the College at (901) 333-5425.

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution.