DES MOINES, Iowa (November 10, 2026) – The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has granted continued accreditation for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in the Joyce E. Lillis College of Nursing at Mercy Health Sciences University. The accreditation runs for 10 years, the longest term CCNE awards, and extends through December 31, 2036.
“Iowa needs nurses who are both highly skilled and deeply committed to the people they serve,” said Dr. Adreain Henry, OD, EdD, MBA, President and CEO of Mercy Health Sciences University. “A full 10-year accreditation with no compliance concerns affirms the quality of the programs offered by the Joyce E. Lillis College of Nursing and continues the Sisters of Mercy’s legacy of meeting community needs through education and service.”
“This continued accreditation confirms that our bachelor’s programs meet the highest national standards and that our graduates are prepared to deliver safe, compassionate care from their first day in practice. We could not be prouder of our faculty, students, and our community partnerships,” said Dr. Vincent Salyers, EdD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, FNAP, Dean of the Joyce E. Lillis College of Nursing.”
The CCNE Board of Commissioners found that the program substantially complied with all four accreditation standards. It found no compliance concerns related to any key element. The decision follows a comprehensive self-study and an on-site evaluation in March 2026. During the evaluation, a team of nursing education experts from CCNE reviewed the program’s mission and governance, institutional resources, curriculum, and student outcomes.
Students in the Joyce E. Lillis College of Nursing develop their critical thinking, clinical reasoning and competence through a variety of high impact practices including simulation, skills labs, and clinical placements with healthcare partners across central Iowa. For students and families, CCNE accreditation is an assurance of quality. It also supports graduates’ pathways to licensure, graduate study, and employment with leading healthcare systems.
About Mercy Health Sciences University
Mercy Health Sciences University, formerly Mercy College of Health Sciences, is a health sciences specialty university rooted in the Catholic heritage of the Sisters of Mercy. Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, Iowa, Mercy Health Sciences University offers master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees, certificates, and continuing education courses. Through our unique hands-on learning, unparalleled clinical rotations, and accelerated education offerings, our students are prepared to enter the workforce quickly with the critical skills necessary to make an immediate impact in their chosen healthcare careers. Guided by our Core Values of Knowledge, Reverence, Integrity, Compassion, and Excellence, Mercy Health Sciences University has been transforming students into successful healthcare professionals for 127 years.
