NZNO College and Section Accreditation Process

NZNO has 23 specialty practice groups within the wider organisation.  The larger groups with more formal structures and systems have had the title “College” conferred while the smaller groupings are entitled “Sections”.

A number of NZNO Colleges and Sections have voluntary professional credentialing systems to recognise that a nurse has attained a set of predetermined standards within the specialty area of practice and demonstrates continued maintenance and development of professional standards through a systematic and regular review process.

The accreditation process uses the College or Section standards of practice and the Nursing Council's competencies for registration as the basis for establishing the criteria and requirements for accreditation.  The level at which accreditation is targeted is proficiency within the parameters described by Benner (1984).  Some accreditation processes may recognise an expert level as well.  Booklets stipulating the requirements are available for applicants.  Accreditation is run as a cost-neutral process and so application fees cover the costs of the assessment processes.

Nurses are required to submit written evidence demonstrating that the stipulated criteria have been met.  An accreditation board of peers reviews the application and determines whether the criteria have been reached.  Boards generally sit once or twice a year.  A certificate of accreditation is provided to successful applicants.  It is valid for a period of 5 years.

Currently accreditation is in place for practice, peri-operative, emergency and diabetes nurses.

The Practice Nurse Accreditation programme has been approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand for the purpose of competence based practising certificates.  Those accredited through approved accreditation programmes will have been deemed to have met the requirements for an annual practising certificate and will not be required to provide further audit information to Council for this purpose.  NZNO is considering which other accreditation programmes will make application for Council approval.

August 2008