The commission believes that quality nursing education provides the foundation for safe and effective nursing practice. Nursing education shall be accessible and promote student and faculty diversity. While the commission has established minimum standards for approved nursing education programs, it believes that each nursing education program should have flexibility in developing and implementing its philosophy, purposes, and objectives. Such development and implementation should be based not only upon the minimum standards for approved nursing education programs, but also upon sound educational and professional principles for the preparation of registered nurses, practical nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and other nurses who pursue graduate nursing degrees and postgraduate degrees and certifications to meet current and future nursing needs of the public. The commission believes that there must be congruence between the total program activities of the nursing education program and its stated philosophy, purpose and objectives.

The commission further believes that the standards for approved nursing education programs are useful for promoting self-evaluation and peer evaluation, which may lead to further program development and ongoing continuous quality improvement.