Debbie Rahn, EdD, MSN, RN, Director of Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences (RHSHS), was recently elected as Chair of the Board of Commissioners of the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for a one-year term.
“It is my privilege to serve as Chair for the ACEN,” Dr. Rahn said. “It has been my professional mission to educate future healthcare providers and serving in this role will allow me the opportunity to support the goals of healthcare professionals across the country. I am proud to support them on their journey.”
The ACEN accredits all types of nursing education programs, including clinical doctorate/DNP specialist certificate, master’s/post-master’s certificate, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and practical nursing programs, as well as transition-to-practice programs located in the United States, U.S. Territories, and internationally. As a leading authority in nursing accreditation, and the only nursing program accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, the ACEN’s goal is to partner with programs to strengthen the quality of nursing education and transition-to-practice programs.
During her 23-year tenure at RHSHS, Dr. Rahn has helped to create dual admission programs for the Nursing, Surgical Technology (ST), Medical Imaging (MI), and Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) programs. Students are dually admitted to Alvernia University and receive a diploma from RHSHS and an associate degree from the university upon graduation. This provides them the opportunity to transition to the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program or Bachelor of Health Sciences program for MI, ST, or DMS.
Currently, Dr. Rahn serves as adjunct faculty in the MSN and DNP programs at Alvernia University, serves on the Pennsylvania Progression in Nursing Board, and the National Education Progression in Nursing Executive Board. She is also a member of the Reading Hospital Ethics Committee and the Reading Hospital ethics consultant team.
Dr. Rahn received her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Management with a focus in Higher Education from Drexel University, her Master of Science Degree in Nursing Education from Villanova University, her BSN from Penn State University. She is also a proud graduate of the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences Nursing Program.
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, Tower Health Transplant Institute, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians and providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for five consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.