The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (Board) is empowered by the State Legislature (Miss. Code [1991 Supp.] § 37-129-1, et seq.) and required to establish by rules and regulations and promulgate uniform standards for accreditation of Schools of Nursing in the State of Mississippi in so far as concerns the eligibility of graduates of such schools to take the examination prescribed by law to become registered nurses authorized to practice the profession of nursing as registered nurses in Mississippi, and in so far as concerns student nurses attending such schools being eligible to participate in any of the following student nurse scholarship programs or other program of assistance now existing or hereafter established by legislative enactment.
The Board is also required to issue to such Schools of Nursing upon an annual basis certificates of accreditation as may be proper under such standards.
The Board, in recognizing that each unit in nursing offering nursing degree programs has individual characteristics and goals, maintains that each shall implement its own philosophy, purposes, and objectives. All programs in nursing shall be based on sound educational principles under the guidance of a competent faculty. The total program of nursing education shall meet the required standards of accreditation as prescribed by the Board.
Mississippi nursing schools (units in nursing) should prepare students for nursing careers according to the type of program that they offer. Rigid conformity to a specific and fixed curriculum is not expected. Rather, the Board approves programs which are of superior caliber and encourages creative and intelligent experimentation based on sound principles.
In carrying out its statutory responsibilities with regard to nursing degree program accreditation, it is the intent of the Board to ensure that all such programs in the State under its jurisdiction meet State accreditation standards in a consistent manner. Many changes have occurred in nursing education since Mississippi's nursing school accreditation law was enacted. The number of programs has increased and the quality of nursing education has improved substantially. All nursing degree programs in Mississippi not only meet mandatory State accreditation standards, but also have achieved or are in the process of achieving accreditation by one of the three national, non-profit accrediting bodies, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)), and National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). The Board recognizes that ACEN, CCNE, and/or NLN CNEA accreditation for Mississippi nursing programs is desirable because of the quality of standards, emphasis placed on outcomes, and importance in the national marketplace for recruiting faculty and students.
Visit the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid website or contact the office to learn more about these scholarship opportunities for nursing students:
Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing Clinical Courses in Mississippi by Out-Of-State Programs
Out-of-state undergraduate and/or graduate nursing education degree programs offering clinical experiences in Mississippi are expected to maintain the standards required of the Mississippi-based programs. The Board of Trustees of Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) is empowered and required to establish rules and regulations and promulgate uniform standards for accreditation of schools of nursing in the state of Mississippi in accordance with (a) and (b), Miss. Code (2008 Supp.) §37-129-1, et seq. Mississippi IHL reserves the right to withdraw approval of if adherence to these standards is not maintained. To receive approval for clinical experience offerings in Mississippi by nursing programs whose administrative control is located outside of Mississippi, complete and return the application with supporting documentation along with required fees a least four (4) months prior to the scheduled initiation of offering to the following:
