PUC’s BSN Program Earns Top Marks after ACEN Accreditation Evaluation

Pacific Union College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program has again demonstrated its excellence, earning full accreditation and 100% compliance from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) through 2033—the maximum length of time between evaluations.

ACEN—which evaluates and accredits nursing education programs based on quality and excellence standards—conducted a thorough, three-day review of PUC’s RN-BSN program the week of March 10. The scheduled visit was the culmination of a year-and-a-half of preparation by the department’s faculty and leadership, spearheaded by Sandra Ringer, director of the RN- BSN program, and Kimberly Dunker, dean of Nursing, Health Science, EMS & Global Health.

Dunker emphasized the role of teamwork in achieving these outstanding results. “We could not have done this without the RN to BSN team. This was a true collaboration, with faculty contributing to every part of the process. It’s all about shared governance and having input together. You cannot achieve 100% compliance without having a team like we had—they just rocked it.”

ACEN accreditation includes an in-depth review of five key standards, including administrative leadership and resources, faculty qualifications, student support services, curriculum quality, and the program’s effectiveness in preparing graduates for the workforce.

In addition to meeting rigorous academic quality standards, the ACEN accreditation highlights how PUC’s RN-BSN program prepares students for career growth. “We look at how the degree translates into real-world benefits—things like promotion opportunities, increased salary, and greater responsibilities,” Dunker added. “That kind of success speaks to the quality and value of our program.”

PUC’s RN-BSN program is tailored to provide working adults, who are already registered nurses, with the opportunity to return to the classroom in a flexible, online setting and launch them with a competitive degree in their field. Upon entry into the program, students with completed prerequisite courses can earn their BSN in just 3-5 quarters.

Visit our website for more information on PUC’s RN-BSN program.