National League for Nursing

About the NLN

National League for Nursing - Excellence Initiatives

Responsibilities of Consultants, Schools, Review Panel Members, and Members of The N.E.A.C. Executive Committee

Background
In September 2003, the NLN Board of Governors approved the NLN Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education Program as a way to recognize schools of nursing that have achieved a level of excellence in one of three areas: Creating Environments that Enhance Student Learning and Professional Development; Creating Environments that Promote Ongoing Faculty Development; and Creating Environments that Advance Nursing Education Research. Critical to the success of this program are the consultants who make the onsite visit to each school seeking designation as an NLN Center of Excellence, the school itself, the Review Panel, and the Executive Committee of the Nursing Education Advisory Council (NEAC).

These guidelines have been developed for all individuals involved in this process to clearly define the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of all participants. It is particularly critical to distinguish the Centers of Excellence program (and the role of the consultant, school, and Review Panel in that process) from accreditation (and the role of program evaluators, schools, Peer Review Panel members, and Commissioners) since these programs are so very different from each other. Thus, these guidelines clearly articulate what the Centers of Excellence consultant, applicants, Review Panel members and NEAC Executive Committee members are and are not expected to do prior to, during, and after the onsite visit.

Any questions about the roles and responsibilities of anyone involved in the Centers of Excellence process should be directed to Terry Valiga, EdD, RN, FAAN, NLN’s Chief Program Officer and staff to NEAC. Dr. Valiga can be reached at 212.812.0383.

THE CONSULTANT

The Centers of Excellence Consultant IS Expected to Do the Following:

Contact the dean/director/chairperson of the school to arrange dates and coordinate plans for the visit
Be as flexible as possible when arranging for the visit
Review the school's initial application prior to the visit
Participate in the consultant orientation process and seek clarification from NEAC members, if needed
Explain to the faculty any aspects of the NLN Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education program about which they may be unclear
Interpret the selection criteria so faculty at the school know what they mean
Help faculty identify how they are meeting each criterion
Help the school identify its unique or innovative qualities that will enhance the application
Dialogue with faculty (and others if appropriate) about how the school can best showcase its work and present evidence related to each selection criterion
Visit classrooms, clinical sites, and/or other settings that provide a context for understanding the school's activities related to the selection criteria
Assist faculty to develop creative and effective ways to prepare the final application
Suggest ways to prepare and present the final application
Act as a resource to the school during preparation of the final application
Provide the school with a written summary of the consultation visit that summarizes points discussed during the visit and recommends ways to prepare a strong final application
Submit this summary/report to the school's dean/director/chairperson within two weeks of the visit
Maintain confidentiality regarding discussions with faculty, personal opinions about the school, and disposition of the consultant report
Be creative and open to new ideas during discussions with faculty
Feel free to give personal opinions (i.e., consultants are not visiting to convey any particular “party line”)
Facilitate discussions with faculty, rather than talking to them or making presentations to them
Meet with college/university “officials” for a brief social visit if requested by the school
Act in ways that are consistent with the NLN's mission, goals, and values
Stress that there is no guarantee that the consultant's recommendations about Center of Excellence designation will be similar to the Review Panel's final recommendation or the Board’s decision
Provide feedback about her/his experience with the Centers of Excellence Program as part of the evaluation mechanisms that will be designed

The Centers of Excellence Consultant is NOT Expected to Do the Following:

Rearrange her/his entire schedule to accommodate limited dates suggested by the school for the visit
Review any material prior to the visit, other than the initial application
Provide consultation about accreditation criteria or general program development (e.g., whether or not the school should start a graduate program)
Review student or faculty records
Visit with campus “officials,” unless the school thinks this is particularly relevant to its application (A “social” visit may be arranged if this is usual practice in the institution when a guest is on campus.
Arrange formal meetings with alumni or clinical agency representatives
Review minutes of meetings
Make a formal presentation
Provide a recommendation about whether or not the school should receive designation as an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education
Make suggestions about the outcome of the application
Serve on the Review Panel
Accept an honorarium or any other gifts from the school

THE SCHOOL

The School Applying for Designation as an NLN Center of Excellence IS Expected to Do the Following:

Collaborate with the consultant to confirm dates for the onsite, 1-2 day visit
Collaborate with the consultant to make travel, hotel, ground transportation, and meal arrangements
Be as flexible as possible when arranging for the visit
Pay the consultant's travel, hotel, ground transportation, and meal expenses in a timely manner
Dialogue with the consultant prior to the visit to determine the activities in which she/he will be involved during the visit
Encourage faculty (and others, if desired) to talk openly with the consultant in order to (a) fully understand the Centers of Excellence Program, (b) fully understand the selection criteria in the school's chosen area of designation, and (c) take fullest advantage of her/his ideas and suggestions
Arrange for the consultant to meet with individual or groups of faculty, students, and any other individuals or groups (within reason) that may be relevant to the school's application
Provide the consultant with information about the school as requested
Decide who are the best persons to meet with the consultant
Determine what materials would support the consultant’s ability to fully understand the program and provide feedback about the application criteria
Think about ways to frame questions about the criteria in order to facilitate documentation and full disclosure of evidence
Pursue a brief follow-up with the consultant after the visit, if needed
Provide feedback about the school's experience with the Centers of Excellence Program as part of the evaluation mechanisms that will be designed

The School Applying for Designation as an NLN Center of Excellence is NOT Expected to Do the Following:

Provide luxury accommodations or travel arrangements for the consultant
Make student or faculty files available to the consultant
Give the consultant an honorarium or any other gift
Share the consultant's report with anyone, unless the school chooses to do so

THE REVIEW PANEL

Members of the Review Panel for the NLN Centers of Excellence Program ARE Expected to Do the Following:

Review all final applications in advance of the meeting
Participate in a face-to-face meeting to review, discuss, and make recommendations on each application
Judge the extent to which each school has met the criteria for the selected area, based solely on the evidence provided by the school in its final application
Recuse themselves from the discussion of any school where there is or may seem to be a conflict of interest (e.g., their own school, a competitor school, a school to which they provided individual consultation, etc.)
Make recommendations to the NLN President about the Center of Excellence designation for each application
Maintain confidentiality regarding material contained in all applications, discussions about each school, and recommendations regarding each application
Destroy all application, discussion, and recommendation material prior to leaving the face-to-face meeting
Act in ways that are consistent with the NLN's mission, goals, and values
Provide feedback about the Review Panel's experience with the Centers of Excellence Program as part of the evaluation mechanisms that will be designed

Members of the Review Panel for the NLN Centers of Excellence Program are NOT Expected to Do the Following:

Use any criteria other than those identified to judge the extent to which each school has met the criteria for the selected area
Discuss applications with the consultants or any individuals outside the Review Panel itself
Reveal the Review Panel's recommendations
Offer opinions about the faculty or the institution that are not relevant to the application
Act as consultants to the school during the 12-month period following the Review Panel’s recommendation

THE NURSING EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL (NEAC) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Members of the NEAC Executive Committee ARE Expected to Do the Following:

Serve as consultants
Explain the Centers of Excellence Program as needed
Act in ways that are consistent with the NLN's mission, goals, and values
Serve as resources to consultants, schools and the Review Panel, should any questions arise
Collaborate with NLN staff to facilitate all processes related to the Centers of Excellence Program
Provide feedback about their experience with the Centers of Excellence Program as part of the evaluation mechanisms that will be designed
Provide guidance to the Excellence in Nursing Education Task Group as that body designs and implements evaluation mechanisms related to the Centers of Excellence Program

Members of the NEAC Executive Committee are NOT Expected to Do the Following:

Review any consultant reports other than those they prepare themselves
Serve on the Review Panel