The American Academy for Preceptor Advancement With The College Network and LearnScale Solutions Is Developing Preceptor Standards

INDIANAPOLIS, IN--(Marketwire - Jun 14, 2012) - Following interest in creating national standards, The College Network® and LearnScale™ Solutions have been selected by the American Academy for Preceptor Advancement (AAPA) to help develop and deliver core curricula and examinations to certify that individuals have met appropriate national standards to become certified as preceptors.

Preceptors are in high demand, especially in the health care industry, but a lack of accepted national standards means that student clinical experiences can vary widely. The affiliation between AAPA, The College Network, and LearnScale will successfully prepare nurses and other healthcare providers for the rigors of their industry after completing their formal education and certified preceptors validate their abilities.

"Precepting is a unique specialty with its own core of knowledge and expertise associated with competent and engaged preceptors," said Dr. Diana Swihart, PhD, DMin, MSN, APN CS, RN-BC, Chief Executive Officer of the AAPA. "However, there is currently a lack of consistency in development, standards of practice, or national certification within the preceptor community. Though many exceptional training programs, internships, and certificates are in place in healthcare facilities and universities, certification is not. The American Academy for Preceptor Advancement is excited to work with The College Network and LearnScale to help fill some of the practical and pragmatic gaps in standardization and recognition by advancing preceptors through national certifications."

Through this relationship, the AAPA will contract with subject matter experts to develop content for core curricula covering three levels of certification. The College Network and LearnScale will work together to provide instructional design guidance for effective online learning and an online proctored testing environment.

"Research has found that many nurses leave the profession within a few years because they feel they weren't prepared to handle the pressures of nursing," said David Knight, Chief Operating Officer. "We have made the strategic decision to align our organization with the AAPA because we believe that certified preceptors can greatly impact the nursing shortage by ensuring that new nurses are better prepared for what they will face in the workplace."

About The College Network, Inc.
Since 1992, The College Network has provided educational solutions that allow individuals to advance their education and training with college degrees and professional certificates from highly acclaimed universities. As a leading eLearning and education services company and a partner with some of the nation's foremost institutions of higher learning, The College Network has allowed hundreds of thousands of adults to continue their education without interruption to their personal or professional lives. Visit www.collegenetwork.com or call 1-800-39-LEARN (395-3276) for more information.