phases of accreditation
phases of accreditation
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PHASES OF ACCREDITATION
INTRODUCTION
Accreditation in research is a vital process that ensures quality, reliability, and ethical
compliance in nursing studies. It is particularly important in MSc Nursing research as it
validates the scientific rigor and ethical considerations associated with healthcare studies.
Accreditation helps in maintaining research integrity, standardizing methodologies, and
ensuring that findings contribute meaningfully to the field of nursing.
The process of accreditation in subject research consists of multiple phases, each involving
rigorous scrutiny by regulatory bodies, institutions, and ethical review boards.
Phases of Accreditation in Research
Accreditation serves as a benchmark for research excellence, ensuring that studies conducted
within nursing and healthcare meet established standards. It safeguards the credibility of
research findings, making them more acceptable for implementation in clinical practice and
policy-making. Additionally, accreditation enhances the reputation of educational institutions
by affirming that their research adheres to global best practices and ethical guidelines.
The process of accreditation in subject research consists of multiple phases, each involving
rigorous scrutiny by regulatory bodies, institutions, and ethical review boards. Understanding
these phases is crucial for MSc Nursing students as they navigate the research landscape.
Mastering these accreditation procedures empowers nursing researchers to conduct studies
that are not only methodologically robust but also contribute to evidence-based nursing
practice and healthcare advancements.
ACCREDITATION
Accreditation in research can be categorized into different types based on the approving body
and the research area:
Facilitates Funding and Grants: Many funding agencies require research projects to be
accredited before approving financial support.
Accreditation in subject research generally follows a structured framework that includes the
following key phases:
At this initial phase, students identify a research problem, conduct a literature review, and
formulate research questions and hypotheses. Key components of this phase include:
Before proceeding with data collection, researchers must obtain approval from their
institution’s research committee or review board. This step ensures:
This is a critical phase where the research proposal undergoes scrutiny by an Institutional
Ethics Committee (IEC) or Institutional Review Board (IRB). The ethical review ensures:
❖ Compliance with ethical principles, including informed consent and participant safety.
❖ Protection of vulnerable populations in nursing research.
❖ Adherence to data privacy and confidentiality regulations.
❖ Consideration of potential risks and mitigation strategies.
At this stage, researchers analyze the collected data to derive meaningful conclusions. This
phase involves:
Before publication, research findings undergo peer review, which is a critical validation step.
This process includes:
For research to be recognized and widely accepted, accreditation from nursing regulatory
bodies or academic councils may be required. This includes:
The final phase involves sharing the research findings with the broader nursing community.
This can be achieved through:
Despite the importance of accreditation in nursing research, several challenges hinder its
smooth execution. Some common challenges and their solutions include:
Challenge: Ethical committees and accreditation bodies impose strict protocols, which can
delay the research process.
Solution: Researchers should engage with ethical boards early in the research phase,
thoroughly document all ethical considerations, and follow standardized templates for faster
approvals.
Challenge: Many researchers are unfamiliar with international standards set by WHO, INC,
and NMC.
Solution: Institutions should offer training workshops on accreditation guidelines, ethical
research practices, and compliance with international standards.
Challenge: Conducting accredited research requires funding for ethical approvals, peer
reviews, and compliance monitoring.
Solution: Researchers should seek grants from government and private organizations that
support healthcare research. Collaborations with institutions can also provide financial aid.
Challenge: The peer-review process can be lengthy, delaying accreditation and research
impact.
Solution: Choosing journals with faster review cycles, submitting to preprint repositories,
and engaging in open-access publication platforms can speed up dissemination.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2020). Nursing research: Generating and assessing
evidence for nursing practice (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
3. LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2021). Nursing research: Methods and critical
appraisal for evidence-based practice (10th ed.). Elsevier.
4. Babbie, E. (2020). The practice of social research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
5. Holloway, I., & Galvin, K. (2017). Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare (4th
ed.). Wiley Blackwell.
6. Munn, Z., & Jordan, Z. (2018). Systematic reviews and research synthesis: Best
practices in health and nursing research. JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis.