UOG Nursing Program earns Eight-Year accreditation extension

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing extended the University of Guam's Bachelor of Science in Nursing accreditation for eight years. It's an achievement that the university said comes at a “pivotal” time in nursing education at the institution.

The accrediting body's evaluation of the baccalaureate nursing program returned “no findings,” which UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez said reaffirms the program's “high quality” and reflects the dedication of faculty and staff in preparing nursing students for the profession.

“Guam needs highly skilled nurses, and UOG is committed to providing the innovative education and training that will prepare more of them right here at home,” Enriquez added.

The reaffirmation comes as the university positions itself to nearly double nursing student capacity in 2027 with the newly opened Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health Nursing Hub.

“The new Nursing Hub expands the clinical learning experiences available to UOG nursing students through 11 hospital simulation beds, high-fidelity patient simulators, specialized skills laboratories, modern medical equipment and immersive virtual reality technology. Designed to replicate a modern hospital environment, the facility allows students to practice complex clinical scenarios and strengthen their clinical judgment in a controlled setting before caring for live patients,” UOG said.

According to UOG, this, combined with the program's continuing accreditation, strengthens the university's ability to educate more nurses locally.

“We want students from Guam and throughout our region to know that they can receive an excellent nursing education here at home and graduate prepared to make an immediate difference in the communities that need them,” School of Health Dean Yvette Paulino said.

A release from UOG said that since 2022, the university has “graduated 639 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates and 17 associate degree in nursing graduates, averaging approximately 26 graduates annually. The program has also achieved a first-time NCLEX licensure pass rate of nearly 100% over the past decade.”

“Now, with the Nursing Hub, we have an opportunity to build on that foundation, expand how our students learn, and take nursing education at UOG to the next level,” Paulino added.

The ACEN Board of Commissioners has scheduled its next evaluation visit for spring 2034.

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University of Guam nursing students participate in hands-on clinical training using high-fidelity patient simulators at the Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health Nursing Hub, which opened in August. The state-of-the-art facility provides students with advanced simulation technology and realistic hospital environments to develop essential nursing skills, strengthen clinical decision-making, and prepare for patient care in real-world settings. Photo courtesy of the University of Guam. — University of Guam nursing students participate in hands-on clinical training using high-fidelity patient simulators at the Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health Nursing Hub, which opened in August. The state-of-the-art facility provides students with advanced simulation technology and realistic hospital environments to develop essential nursing skills, strengthen clinical decision-making, and prepare for patient care in real-world settings. Photo and caption courtesy of the University of Guam. · University of Guam

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