Averett nursing program accreditation could help fill crucial need in Southside

DANVILLE (WSLS10) - Averett University's Baccalaureate Nursing Program is finally accredited.

Since its creation in 2012, the university has been working towards accreditation and said it typically takes about four years to complete the process.

All nursing programs are required by Virginia Board of Nursing to be accredited.

The accreditation is retroactive, so anyone who has already graduated from the program will be covered just like future graduates.

Mary Lou Dunn, one of the program's associate professors, said there is a big need for nurses in the area and hopes that being accredited will allow the university to better help fill the need.

Currently, the university's two nursing tracts, the baccalaureate program and the online BSN, have about 100 students total.

"We should see an increase in enrollment and applications because accreditation is something that every student wants from their nursing school," Dunn explained.

The accreditation is good for five years, the maximum length that a new program can receive. Dunn said faculty have already begun preparing for re-accreditation even though it's still five years away.