Joint Commission Cuts Standards by 50%: What Nurses Needs to Know About the Big Cut
Big news, nurses: The Joint Commission is making major changes to its accreditation process, and it’s the biggest shift we’ve seen since Medicare came on the scene back in 1965. They’re cutting standards by half—yep, you read that right. Instead of 1,551 standards, facilities will only need to meet 774. This overhaul, called “Accreditation 360,” is all about reducing headaches around compliance while still keeping patient safety and quality care front and center.
Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, President and CEO of The Joint Commission, said this change marks a fundamental shift in how accreditation works. And while that sounds fancy, what it really means for nurses is possibly fewer hours spent buried in documentation.
Standards Slimmed Down: Why It Matters for Nurses
Here’s the deal: Nursing teams often carry the weight of meeting accreditation requirements, especially when it comes to all those daily documentation tasks. With fewer standards, there’s hope that some of that paperwork burden will ease up. The new framework organizes standards into 14 National Performance Goals (NPGs), which focus more on outcomes than processes. If you’re a nurse who loves evidence-based practice (and honestly, who doesn’t?), this shift aligns with the way we approach patient care—less “Check this box,” more “Let’s make sure this patient gets better.”
The Joint Commission didn’t just toss out standards willy-nilly, though. Each one was evaluated for redundancy, practicality, and evidence-based relevance. For example, some older requirements, like smoking-related standards, were scrapped because universal hospital smoking bans made them unnecessary. You might be thinking, “Wait, we were still tracking that?” Yep, but not anymore.
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This isn’t the first time the Commission has trimmed things down, either. Back in July 2023, they shaved off 200 standards for ambulatory and behavioral health centers, critical access hospitals, labs, and nursing homes. It seems that was just a warm-up for this larger overhaul.
Less Paperwork, More Patient Care
For nursing leaders, the changes are a mixed bag. On one hand, this is an opportunity to simplify protocols and focus education efforts on the new standards. On the other hand, adapting to the new framework will take some work upfront. But here’s the silver lining: If we can spend less time glued to our computers trying to satisfy redundant standards, that means more time at the bedside—something we’re all craving, especially in the face of documentation fatigue.
As Becker’s Hospital Review puts it, this new approach shifts attention from “inspecting structure and process” to prioritizing measurable outcomes. Translation? Less emphasis on checking off tasks and more focus on whether patients are actually improving. This is great news for nurses, since our practice already centers around outcomes—whether it’s monitoring wound healing, improving mobility, or evaluating pain management.
And one more thing: Starting in July 2025, all Joint Commission standards will be publicly available and searchable online. That means patients will have more transparency around quality measures at their hospitals. Sure, it adds some accountability, but it also highlights the important work we do every day.
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What’s Next for Nurses?
For nurse educators, preceptors, and leaders, this is a chance to rethink training programs. The streamlined standards don’t lower the bar for quality care—they just focus on what really matters. This could mean less emphasis on process-heavy tasks in orientation and more time spent teaching skills that directly impact patient outcomes.
On the unit level, nursing teams will likely be involved in rolling out new systems and workflows that align with the revised requirements. Yes, it’ll take some effort upfront to retrain staff and tweak protocols, but the long-term payoff could be worth it. Imagine fewer hours spent deciphering accreditation checklists and more time delivering the care that brought us into nursing in the first place.
The Joint Commission’s decision to cut its standards reflects a broader understanding in healthcare: More rules don’t necessarily mean better results. For those of us working on the frontlines, this shift feels like a nod to the idea that quality care isn’t just about following a mountain of regulations—it’s about practical implementation that works for real patients and their real needs.
So, what do you think, nurses? Could this be the beginning of a less paperwork-heavy shift in our profession? Whether you’re cautiously optimistic or still skeptical, this change is going to impact all of us. Let’s hope it means more time for what matters most—our patients.
🤔 Nurses, what do you think? Let us know in the discussion forum below.
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