Michigan Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (MACN) commitment to collaboration, advocacy, and high academic standards begins with providing resources for Michigan’s academic nursing community, future students, practice partners, policy makers, and the public.
Chief Nurse Administrators
How do I become a member of MACN?
Institutions pursuing initial accreditation status are also welcomed, with ongoing support toward achieving accreditation within three years.
What are the benefits of membership in MACN?
Joining MACN offers valuable opportunities for networking, allowing members to connect with peers, mentors, and healthcare leaders. MACN is a powerful platform for advocacy, giving members a collective voice in shaping policies and standards for nursing in Michigan.
Does MACN hold regular meetings?
Members meet quarterly, allowing an opportunity for reviewing progress, setting goals, and addressing challenges in a timely manner. Regular touchpoints also foster accountability and provide opportunities to celebrate achievements, ensuring that everyone stays informed and engaged throughout the year.
Does MACN provide new dean mentoring?
Yes, new members are assigned a mentor by the MACN president. For academic nurse administrators, having a mentor in a leadership role offers tailored guidance on navigating the unique challenges of academic healthcare settings. Mentors can share insights on balancing administrative responsibilities while also supporting strategic career advancement within academic institutions.
What is MACN’s governance structure?
The governance structure of MACN is outlined in the bylaws
Faculty Resources
How can I learn more about the 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education?
A multitude of faculty resources are available on the AACN website. As a member of AACN, each chief nurse administrator and his/her faculty have access to a network of experts across the country who have implemented the essentials in the college or school of nursing.
What resources does MACN have for new (and experienced) nursing faculty?
As state members of AACN, the best resources for new and experienced faculty is found on the AACN website. The faculty resource page includes, among others, teaching resources, faculty tool-kits, learning modules, and leadership development.
How can I integrate MACN into my student learning or coursework?
Reviewing a website can be a rich and engaging student project that builds critical thinking, digital literacy, and communication skills. A few examples for integrating MACN into a student learning includes, developing a project that requires students to identify the current legislation relevant to nursing; Another example of a project includes evaluating the website’s credibility, bias, and reliability; a final idea could be to ask a BSN student to identify a nurse leader and interview them based on the MACN list of chief nurse administrators.
Student Resources
What bachelor's degrees in nursing (or higher) nursing programs are available in Michigan?
Multiple schools and colleges offer accredited bachelor’s degree programs in nursing. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission on Nursing Education (ACNE) accredit BSN programs nationwide. CCNE-accredited nursing programs in Michigan can be found on the CCNE website. ACNE accredited nursing programs in Michigan can be found at the ACNE website. Additionally, the Licensing and Regulatory Administration (LARA) of the Michigan government maintains a list of all pre-licensure approved programs in the state.
CCNE also accredits graduate programs, including Master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing practice (MSN and DNP). CCNE-accredited graduate nursing programs in Michigan can also be found on the CCNE website.
How do I choose a pre-licensure nursing school?
When picking a nursing program, make sure it’s accredited and has high NCLEX-RN pass rates—this shows the program meets national standards and prepares students well for the licensing exam. Look for schools that offer hands-on clinical experiences in real healthcare settings, so you can build your skills with patients. It’s also a good idea to visit the campus to see if the location, facilities, and overall environment feel like a good fit for you.
How do I know if a school or college of nursing is accredited?
If a nursing program is accredited, it is required to clearly state that status on its website and in official materials. Programs typically list their accrediting body (like CCNE) along with the dates of accreditation and renewal. If that information is missing or unclear, it could be a red flag, and it’s worth contacting the program directly or checking the accreditor’s website to confirm.
What are the requirements to become a chief nurse administrator (e.g., director, dean, program director, etc)?
The State of Michigan (rules) states that the program director of a registered nurse program shall hold a minimum of a graduate degree with a major in nursing. The title of “Program director” means a nurse who is delegated the authority and accountability for the nursing program by the sponsoring agency. (rules) Rule 305a. (1) Subject to subrule (2) of this rule, the program director and all nurse faculty members shall hold a current unrestricted license to practice as a registered professional nurse in this state. In Michigan, however, the majority of the colleges/schools of nursing that offer a bachelor’s degree or higher, the chief nurse administrator position (per job descriptions) requires a doctoral degree (e.g., DNP or PhD).
What is the difference between a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a PhD in nursing?
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.) are both terminal degrees in the nursing profession, but they serve distinct purposes and prepare nurses for different career paths.
Michigan Regulatory Resources
What are the didactic and clinical requirements to receive a Bachelor's degree in nursing?
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing sets the standards for Bachelor’s degrees in nursing. Information pertaining to a Baccalaureate Education in Nursing can be found at the Baccalaureate Education website. In addition, the CCNE Accreditation (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)) accredits the majority of baccalaureate nursing programs.
What is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)?
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is a bachelor’s degree-prepared registered nurse with additional graduate education in a specialized field of study. In Michigan, there are four recognized APRNs, as outlined in the Michigan Public Health Code (also referred to as a state practice act in other states); these include a nurse practitioner, a nurse midwife, a nurse anesthetist, and a clinical nurse specialist. The APRN Consensus model, a regulatory framework, provides guidance for US jurisdictions to adopt uniformity in the regulation of APRN roles, licensure, accreditation, certification, and education.
What are the requirements to receive an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) degree?
Similar to baccalaureate education, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (Nursing Education Pathways) (along with a few other nursing organizations) sets the standards for graduate nursing education. In Michigan, the Board of Nursing does not oversee the APRN program curricula; rather they rely on the AACN to oversee graduate nursing programs. Given the variety of APRN specializations at the Master’s and Doctorate levels in Nursing Practice, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), the AANA | American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, and the American College of Nurse Midwives have set additional requirements for these specialties.
Who accredits APRN programs in Michigan?
As with all APRN programs across the country, Michigan APRN programs are accredited by several national organizations based on the specialty or type of APRN in each program. The CCNE Accreditation (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)) accredits the majority of master’s and doctorate programs with nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist tracks. The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) accredits the nurse midwife master’s and doctorate in nursing programs, and the Council on Accreditation (CON) accredits nurse anesthesia APRN programs.
Which organizations provide board certification for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Michigan?
Multiple national professional certifying organizations provide board certifications for APRNs. The certification body used by each graduating APRN graduate student is linked to the specific role and population served, based on the APRN Consensus model. A list of certifying bodies by specialty is listed on this page.
Where can I obtain data on academic nursing?
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) provides a variety of data sources on academic nursing, as well as position statements and thought leadership reports. The documents can be found on the News and Data page of the AACN website.
MACN Scholarship for AACN Student Policy Summit
Each year, MACN provides financial support for up to five students to attend the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) policy summit.
Scholarship Description: The Michigan Association of Colleges of Nursing (MACN) offers up to five scholarships in the amount of $1000 each year to encourage attendance and participation in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Annual Student Policy Summit. Scholarship funds may be used to pay for conference registration, lodging, travel, and/or meal expenses.
Eligibility: The Student Policy Summit is open to baccalaureate and graduate students from AACN member schools only. Applicants must be in good standing and recommended by their school for participation; they must be attending a MACN school that is in good standing.
Selection Criteria: Applications must be submitted to the Chief Nurse Administrator (Dean/Director) of your school. Each Dean will nominate two students from their school for the MACN subcommittee to review, and the subcommittee will select five students from all the applications. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously attended the Student Policy Summit. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need (i.e, limited income or no professional development funds).
MACN reserves the right to redistribute funds if the scholarship is declined by the recipient.