Code of Colorado Regulations
700 - Department of Regulatory Agencies
716 - Division of Professions and Occupations - State Board of Nursing
3 CCR 716-1 - NURSING RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 3 CCR 716-1.2 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Universal Citation: 3 CO Code Regs 716-1 ยง 2
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024
A. STATEMENT OF BASIS: The authority for the promulgation of these rules and regulations by the State Board of Nursing ("Board") is set forth in sections 12-255-107(1)(a), (j), and 12-255-118, C.R.S.
B. PURPOSE: To specify procedures and criteria relating to the requirements for, approval of and withdrawal of approval of Nursing Education Programs.
C. DEFINITIONS
1. Advisory Committee: A committee formed by
the Nursing Education Program during Phase II of the Approval Process to
represent the interests of students, the Governing Body, potential nursing
employers and other community members affected by the Nursing Education
Program.
2. Approval: Official
recognition granted by the Board to Nursing Education Programs that meet
certain established standards and requirements under the Nurse and Nurse Aide
Practice Act and the Board's Rules and Regulations, as follows:
a. Interim Approval: Recognition by the Board
during the Approval Process that a Nursing Education Program may admit students
and implement the program, pending Full Approval.
b. Full Approval: Recognition by the Board
that a Nursing Education Program has completed the Approval Process and meets
the standards and requirements under the Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act and
the Board's Rules and Regulations. A Nursing Education Program with Full
Approval is the equivalent of an "approved education program" pursuant to
section 12-255-104(2),
C.R.S.
c. Conditional Approval:
Approval granted with conditions or provisions to a Nursing Education Program
that was previously granted Full Approval, but does not currently meet all
standards and requirements for Full Approval.
3. Approval Process: Board process consisting
of four specified phases of development of a Nursing Education Program as set
forth in Rule 1.2.
4. A Student
Admission: A Nursing Education Program has determined the applicant to the
Nursing Education Program to be qualified, sent an affirmative admission letter
to the applicant, the education program has received an affirmative indication
from the applicant that the admission offer is accepted, and the applicant is
enrolled by the Census Date. A Nursing Education Program's student admissions
is the total number of all applicants enrolled in the Nursing Education Program
by the Census Date as determined by the school for an academic year (August 1
to July 31 of the next year).
5.
Board: The State Board of Nursing.
6. Census Date: The date determined by the
school's Governing Body after which students' enrollment status changes are
final.
7. Clinical Experience:
Faculty planned, guided, and supervised learning activities designed to assist
students to meet the course objectives in a clinical setting. Clinical
Experience is obtained Concurrently with theory and applies nursing knowledge
and skills in the direct care of patients or clients. This experience requires
direct supervision by Faculty, Associate Nursing Instructional Personnel (ANIP)
or a Preceptor who is physically present or immediately accessible and must be
completed prior to graduation.
8.
Clinical Laboratory: Laboratory setting for practice of specific basic clinical
skills.
9. Clinical Setting: The
place where Faculty and students, via a written agreement, have access to
patients/clients for the purpose of providing nursing practice experience for
students. Students and Clinical Faculty do not assume full responsibility for
patient care.
10. Clinical
Simulation: A care setting utilizing human simulation experience to create
realistic, life-like scenarios where students engage in the practice of nursing
skills and theory for the purpose of teaching and evaluating students. All
simulation experiences shall be under the direction of licensed nursing Faculty
qualified to oversee and evaluate the outcomes of the simulation experience for
the student. The Faculty qualifications shall be documented in a manner
approved by the Board.
11.
Concurrent(ly): Simultaneous or immediately following and completed within six
months of the relevant theory content.
12. Curriculum: All courses required for
completion of an Approved Nursing Education Program.
13. Director of Nursing Education Program
(DNEP): A registered nurse licensed in Colorado employed by a Nursing Education
Program and granted the necessary authority by the program's Governing Body to
administer the Nursing Education Program.
14. Faculty: Individuals meeting the
requirements of the Board's Rules and Regulations, designated by the Governing
Body as having ongoing responsibility for curriculum development and planning,
teaching, guiding, monitoring, and evaluating student learning. Faculty also
includes the following:
a. Clinical Faculty:
Individuals meeting the requirements of the Board's Rules and Regulations and
having ongoing responsibility for evaluating student learning in the practice
setting. The Clinical Faculty assumes joint responsibility with the teaching
Faculty in guiding student learning. The ratio of faculty to student shall not
be more than 1:10.
b. Associate
Nursing Instructional Personnel (ANIP): Licensed nurses working under the
direction and supervision of nursing Faculty, who assist students in laboratory
and/or clinical settings and environments to meet specific nursing goals. The
ANIP to student ratio shall not be more than 1:10.
c. Preceptor: The Preceptor is a professional
or practical nurse who assumes joint teaching responsibility with a Faculty
member and should have a minimum of one year of clinical experience relevant to
the area(s) of responsibility. A licensed professional nurse may precept a
professional or practical nursing student. A licensed practical nurse may
precept a practical nursing student. It is expected that the licensed nurse
should be at or above the degree level of the Nursing Education
Program.
15. Final
Clinical Precepted Experience: Faculty planned, guided, and
Preceptor-supervised learning activities occurring at the end of the Nursing
Education Program after a student has received the theory and Clinical
Experience that is necessary to provide safe care.
16. Governing Body: The institution or
organization that offers a Nursing Education Program.
17. Nursing Education Program: A basic course
of study preparing persons for initial licensure as registered or practical
nurses. Some Nursing Education Programs may offer more than one type of nursing
certification or degree under the same Governing Body.
18. Site Visit: The Board's or Board's
staff's collection and analysis of information to assess compliance with the
Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act and the Board's Rules and Regulations.
Information may be collected by several methods, including, but not limited to:
review of written reports and materials, on-site observations, interviews, or
conferences; which are summarized in a written report to the Board.
19. Unencumbered: No current restriction on a
license to practice on any professional or practical nursing license.
D. PURPOSES OF NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM APPROVAL
1. To
promote and regulate educational processes that prepare graduates for safe and
effective nursing practice.
2. To
provide eligibility for admission to the licensing examination for
nurses.
3. To provide criteria for
the development and Approval of new and established Nursing Education
Programs.
4. To provide procedures
for the withdrawal of Nursing Education Program Approval.
5. To facilitate interstate endorsement of
graduates of Board-approved programs.
E. REQUIREMENTS FOR NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
1. All Nursing Education
Programs must be located in or otherwise accredited as a post-secondary
educational institution with state approval to grant the appropriate degree or
certificate.
2. A Nursing Education
Program applying to grant a baccalaureate degree or an associate degree in
nursing must be located in an institution accredited by a regional accrediting
agency or a national institutional accrediting agency at the time of
application. The accreditation must be recognized by the United States
Department of Education and the program must be eligible for national nursing
accreditation.
3. A Nursing
Education Program applying to grant a certificate in practical nursing must be
located in an institution accredited by a regional accrediting agency or a
national institutional accrediting agency. The regional accreditation or
national institutional accreditation must be recognized by the United States
Department of Education.
4. Any
Nursing Education Program that does not have National Nursing Accreditation
must prominently disclose to students in all publications describing the
nursing program that the lack of national nursing accreditation may limit
future educational and career options for the students. The disclosure must
precede any statement with plans to apply for programmatic
accreditation.
5. All Nursing
Education Programs that have received Full Approval by January 1, 2006, must be
accredited by a national nursing accrediting body recognized by the United
States Department of Education by January 1, 2010, or must have achieved
candidacy status leading to such accreditation and demonstrated satisfactory
progression toward obtaining such accreditation. Those Nursing Education
Programs that receive Full Approval after January 1, 2006, must provide
evidence of national nursing accreditation within four years of receiving Full
Approval by the Board.
6. The
organization, administration and implementation of the Nursing Education
Program must be consistent and compliant with the Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice
Act, the Board's Rules and Regulations, and all other state or federal
regulations. A Nursing Education Program's organization and administration must
secure, maintain, and be able to document the existence of:
a. A Governing Body, with post-secondary
accreditation from an accrediting body approved by the United States Department
of Education, that has the legal authority to conduct the Nursing Education
Program, determine general policy, and assure adequate financial
support.
b. Financial support and
resources sufficient to meet the goals of the Nursing Education Program.
Resources include, but are not limited to, financial, educational facilities,
equipment, learning aids, and qualified administrative, instructional and
support personnel.
c. An
organizational chart for the Nursing Education Program demonstrating the
relationship of the program to the Governing Body administration and clearly
delineating the lines of authority, responsibility, channels of communication
and internal organization.
d. A
DNEP appointed and accountable for the administration, planning, implementation
and evaluation of the Nursing Education Program, and granted institutional
authority to meet the requirements of the Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act,
the Board's Rules and Regulations, and all other state or federal regulations.
The qualifications and responsibilities of the DNEP shall be defined in writing
by the Governing Body and submitted to the Board.
e. A formal plan for orientation of the DNEP
and Faculty, which includes but is not limited to a Faculty handbook and other
policies necessary for the effective communication of the Nursing Education
Program curriculum.
f. Statements
of mission, purpose, and outcome competencies for Board Approval, established
and periodically reviewed by the Nursing Education Program in conjunction with
the Governing Body.
g. Standards
for recruitment, advertising, and refunding tuition and fees, which must be
consistent with generally accepted standards and applied by the Governing
Body.
h. Teaching and learning
environment conducive to student academic achievement.
i. Student policies that are accurate,
accessible to the public, non-discriminatory and consistently
applied.
j. Current, accurate,
clear and consistent information about the Nursing Education Program available
to the general public, prospective students, current students, employers and
other interested parties.
k.
Student access to support services administered by qualified individuals,
including, but not limited to: access to health care, counseling and
intervention for disabilities, academic achievement strategies, career
placement and financial aid.
l.
Records of all written complaints about the Nursing Education Program and how
the program addressed each complaint, which must be available for public and
Board review.
7. Faculty
composition of the Nursing Education Program must be as follows:
a. The number of Faculty shall be sufficient
to prepare the students to achieve the objectives of the Nursing Education
Program and to ensure patient/client safety.
b. There must be a minimum of two full-time
Faculty for a Nursing Education Program, one of whom may be the DNEP.
c. There must be a sufficient number of
Faculty for each specialty area to provide adequate supervision to Clinical
Faculty, ANIP and Preceptors.
d.
For professional Nursing Education Programs granting a baccalaureate degree in
nursing, all Faculty, excluding ANIP and Preceptors, must have a graduate
degree in nursing and twenty-five percent of the full-time faculty should have
a doctorate degree.
e. For
professional Nursing Education Programs granting an associate degree in nursing
all full-time Faculty, excluding ANIP and Preceptors, must have a graduate
degree in nursing and equal to or greater than fifty percent (>50%) of
part-time Faculty, excluding ANIP and Preceptors, must have a graduate degree
in nursing.
f. For Nursing
Education Programs granting a certificate in practical nursing, all Faculty,
excluding ANIP and Preceptors must have a Bachelor's degree in nursing and
equal to or greater than fifty percent of the Faculty, excluding ANIP and
Preceptors, must have a graduate degree in nursing.
g. DNEP and Faculty hired into a Board
approved Nursing Education Program after June 30, 2014, must meet the
respective qualifications as specified in Rule 1.2 , and the graduate degree in
nursing and/or bachelor's degree in nursing must be from a Nursing Education
Program with national nursing accreditation.
8. DNEPs must possess the following
qualifications:
a. An active Unencumbered
license to practice as a registered nurse in Colorado.
b. Documented knowledge and skills related to
teaching adults, teaching methodology, curriculum development, and curriculum
evaluation.
c. Two years of
full-time, or equivalent, clinical experience as a practicing registered
nurse.
d. Two years of full-time,
or equivalent, experience in teaching in an approved Nursing Education Program.
Such experience must be at or above the level of the Nursing Education Program
the individual will be directing.
e. To direct a practical Nursing Education
Program, a minimum of a graduate degree in nursing from a Nursing Education
Program with national nursing accreditation.
f. To direct a professional Nursing Education
Program, a minimum of a graduate degree in nursing from a Nursing Education
Program with national nursing accreditation.
9. DNEP responsibilities shall include:
a. Insuring and documenting the Nursing
Education Program's compliance with the Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act, the
Board's Rules and Regulations, and all other state or federal
regulations.
b. Providing a current
written job description to the Board for all Faculty positions.
c. Developing and maintaining the
relationship between the Nursing Education Program and the Governing Body,
including but not limited to acting as liaison with other programs within the
Governing Body and with other Nursing Education Programs.
d. Demonstrating leadership within the
Faculty for the development, implementation and evaluation of the curriculum
and other Nursing Education Program components.
e. Participating in the budget planning
process for and administering the Nursing Education Program budget.
f. Recruiting and selecting Faculty for
employment, designing and monitoring development plans for Faculty, conducting
performance reviews of Faculty, and participating in Faculty promotion and
retention.
g. Developing and
coordinating the use of educational facilities and clinical
resources.
h. Identifying and
advocating for services needed by students in the Nursing Education
Program.
i. Acting as liaison with
the Board.
j. Developing and
maintaining ongoing relationships within the community, including fostering the
Nursing Education Program's responsiveness to community/employer
needs.
k. Participating in
activities that facilitate the DNEP's professional expertise in the areas of
administration, teaching and maintenance of nursing competence.
l. Determining the need for additional
Faculty release time for administrative duties.
m. The Board recognizes that the foregoing
responsibilities may be delegated to other persons. However, the DNEP is
responsible to the Board for assuring compliance with these
requirements.
10. The
amount of time that the DNEP is released from teaching responsibilities for
nursing administrative duties must be adequate to meet the needs of the Nursing
Education Program and students. The minimum amount of release time allowed for
administrative responsibilities shall be:
a.
Sixty percent in a Nursing Education Program with sixty or fewer nursing
students.
b. One percent per
nursing student in a Nursing Education Program with more than sixty nursing
students.
c. Other related duties
may necessitate additional release time.
d. DNEP administering education programs
outside of those covered by Rule 1.2 or with greater than 100% release time
based on enrollments must calculate percent of release time to be delegated to
qualified nurse faculty based on the institution's calculation of full time
workload.
11. Nursing
Faculty must possess the following qualifications:
a. An active Unencumbered license to practice
as a registered nurse in Colorado.
b. Two years of full-time, or equivalent,
professional nursing clinical experience.
c. Faculty in a practical Nursing Education
Program must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing from a Nursing
Education Program with national nursing accreditation or a written plan
demonstrating ongoing progression in obtaining a bachelor's degree in nursing
from a Nursing Education Program with national nursing accreditation.
d. Faculty in a professional Nursing
Education Program must have a minimum of a graduate degree in nursing from a
Nursing Education Program with national nursing accreditation, or demonstrate
compliance with the following:
(1) If the
individual has a graduate degree in a field other than nursing, he or she must
have a bachelor's degree in nursing from a Nursing Education Program with
national nursing accreditation and demonstrate evidence that the graduate
degree is in a field relevant to the area of responsibility.
(2) If the individual has only a bachelor's
degree in nursing, he or she must submit to the Board a written plan
demonstrating ongoing progression in obtaining a graduate degree in nursing
from a Nursing Education Program with national nursing accreditation.
12. Responsibilities of
nursing Faculty will include but not be limited to:
a. Developing, implementing, evaluating and
updating the purpose, mission, and objectives of the Nursing Education
Program.
b. Designing, implementing
and evaluating the curriculum using a written plan.
c. Developing, evaluating and revising
student admission, progression, retention and graduation policies within the
policies of the Governing Body.
d.
Participating in academic advising and guidance of students.
e. Planning and providing theoretical
instruction and clinical or laboratory experiences that reflect an
understanding of the mission, objectives and curriculum of the Nursing
Education Program.
f. Planning,
monitoring and evaluating the instruction provided by ANIP, Clinical Faculty
and Preceptors.
g. Evaluating
student achievement of curricular objectives/outcomes related to nursing
knowledge and practice.
h. Faculty
assignments shall allow adequate administrative time for theory, laboratory and
clinical preparation.
13. Clinical Faculty must possess the
following qualifications:
a. An active
Unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in Colorado.
b. Documented one year experience in the area
of instruction.
c. Clinical Faculty
in a practical Nursing Education Program must have a minimum of a bachelor's
degree in nursing from a Nursing Education Program with national nursing
accreditation or a written plan demonstrating ongoing progression in obtaining
a bachelor's degree in nursing from a Nursing Education Program with national
nursing accreditation.
d. Clinical
Faculty in a professional Nursing Education Program must have a minimum of a
graduate degree in nursing from a Nursing Education Program with national
nursing accreditation, or demonstrate compliance with the following:
(1) If the individual has a graduate degree
in a field other than nursing, he or she must have a bachelor's degree in
nursing from a Nursing Education Program with national nursing accreditation
and demonstrate evidence that the graduate degree is in a field relevant to the
area(s) of responsibility.
(2) If
the individual has only a bachelor's degree in nursing from a Nursing Education
Program with national nursing accreditation, he or she must submit to the Board
a written plan demonstrating ongoing progression in obtaining a graduate degree
in nursing from a Nursing Education Program with national nursing
accreditation.
14. Associate Nursing Instructional Personnel
(ANIP) must possess the following qualifications:
a. For ANIP in a Clinical Simulation or other
simulated patient care environment and accountable for meeting assistive
instructional responsibilities under the supervision of nursing Faculty:
(1) In a practical Nursing Education Program,
an active Unencumbered license to practice as a practical or registered nurse
in Colorado.
(2) In a professional
Nursing Education Program, an active Unencumbered license to practice as a
registered nurse in Colorado.
(3) A
minimum of one year of clinical experience relevant to the area(s) of
responsibility.
b. For
ANIP in an actual patient/client environment and accountable for assistive
instructional responsibilities under the supervision of nursing Faculty:
(1) An active Unencumbered license to
practice as a registered nurse in Colorado.
(2) Must have a minimum of a bachelor's
degree in nursing from a Nursing Education Program with national nursing
accreditation.
(3) A minimum of two
years of full-time, or equivalent, professional nursing practice.
(4) A minimum of one year of clinical
experience relevant to the area(s) of responsibility.
15. Curriculum for a Nursing
Education Program must include the following components:
a. The curriculum for the Nursing Education
Program shall enable the student to develop the nursing knowledge, skills and
competencies necessary for the level of nursing practice of the Nursing
Education Program. For professional and practical Nursing Education Programs,
this includes skills in intravenous therapy, and theory and clinical experience
in the four recognized specialty areas of pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric,
and medical-surgical nursing.
b.
Theory and Concurrent Clinical Experience shall provide the students the
opportunity to acquire and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competencies
for safe and effective nursing practice.
c. The curriculum must:
(1) Reflect consistency between the mission,
outcomes, curriculum design, course progression, and learning outcomes of the
Nursing Education Program.
(2) Be
organized and sequenced logically to facilitate learning.
(3) Facilitate seamless academic progression
between in-state Nursing Education Programs.
(4) Provide Clinical Experience and Clinical
Simulation to prepare the student for the safe practice of nursing. This
experience must be Concurrent with theory and include:
(a) For practical Nursing Education Programs,
a minimum of 400 clinical hours.
(b) For professional Nursing Education
Programs, a minimum of 750 clinical hours.
(c) For Nursing Education Programs that have
national nursing accreditation, each clinical course may be formulated to
include a combination of Clinical Experience, and Clinical Simulation
components and the syllabus will identify the number of hours for each
component. The Clinical Simulation component shall not exceed fifty-percent of
clinical clock hours for each clinical course in the four recognized specialty
areas of pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric, and medical surgical
nursing.
(d) For Nursing Education
Programs that are seeking national nursing accreditation, each clinical course
may be formulated to include a combination of Clinical Experience, and Clinical
Simulation components and the syllabus will identify the number of hours for
each component. The Clinical Simulation component shall not exceed twenty-five
percent of the clinical hours for each clinical course.
(e) For Nursing Education Programs that have
national nursing accreditation and that meet the International Nursing
Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) standards, each
Clinical Simulation clock hour may be considered the equivalent to up to two
clock hours of clinical. See Policy 60-08.
(f) For Nursing Education Programs that are
seeking national nursing accreditation and that meet INACSL standards, each
Clinical Simulation clock hour is equivalent to one clock hour of clinical. See
Policy 60-08.
(5)
Provide theoretical instruction to prepare the student for the safe practice of
nursing. This theoretical instruction must include:
(a) For practical nursing programs, a minimum
of 300 theory hours.
(b) For
professional nursing programs, a minimum of 450 theory hours.
(6) Practical Nursing Education
Programs must include didactic instruction in nursing and clinical practice
caring for stable patients with predictable outcomes.
(7) Professional Nursing Education Programs
must include didactic instruction in nursing and clinical practice caring for
multiple patients with both predictable and unpredictable outcomes.
(8) Utilize a variety of teaching/learning
strategies.
(9) Contain written
content outlines for each course.
(10) Include written statements of specific,
measurable theoretical and clinical outcomes/competencies for each
course.
(11) Be planned,
implemented and evaluated by the Faculty with provision for student
input.
(12) Include regular review
of the rigor, currency, and cohesiveness of nursing curriculum by
Faculty.
(13) Include courses
appropriate for the level of nursing practice of the Nursing Education Program,
including, but not limited to:
(a) Curriculum
developed by nursing Faculty that flows from the nursing education unit
/mission into a logical progression of course outcomes and learning activities
to achieve desired program objectives/outcomes.
(b) Curriculum that provides a biological,
physical, social and behavioral sciences foundation for safe and effective
nursing practice.
(c) Curriculum
that provides for critical thinking, clinical decision making, professional
ethics, values, accountability, delegation, and interdisciplinary
collaboration.
(d) Curriculum with
didactic content and Faculty supervised Concurrent Clinical Experience in the
promotion, prevention, restoration and maintenance of health in
patients/clients across the life span and in a variety of types of healthcare
settings.
(e) Curriculum
encompassing nursing regulation, professional standards, legal and ethical
issues, nursing history and trends and nursing informatics.
(f) Curriculum that provides the student
knowledge and skills to develop competencies in the delivery of safe
patient-centered care, utilizing best evidence and quality improvement
processes.
d.
The Nursing Education Program, by design and as implemented, shall include:
(1) Learning strategies that promote the
development of safe clinical practice and leadership and management skills
consistent with the level of licensure.
(2) Learning experiences and methods of
instruction consistent with the written curriculum plan.
(3) Practice learning environments that are
selected and maintained by Faculty and that provide opportunities for the
variety of learning options appropriate for contemporary nursing.
16. Evaluation plans
for a Nursing Education Program must be ongoing, reflect input from students
and the community, and evidence relevant decision-making. The Nursing Education
Program must have a written systematic plan for evaluation of:
a. Organization and administration of the
Nursing Education Program;
b.
Nursing Education Program mission;
c. DNEP performance;
d. Faculty performance;
e. Curriculum objectives and
outcomes;
f. Adherence to program
requirements; and
g. Measurement of
program outcomes, including performance of graduates.
17. Records and reports for a Nursing
Education Program shall be maintained and submitted as follows:
a. The Nursing Education Program must provide
for a system of permanent records and reports essential to the operation of the
Nursing Education Program, including:
(1)
Current and final official records for students;
(2) Current records of Nursing Education
Program activities such as minutes and reports; and
(3) Faculty records that demonstrate
compliance with Faculty qualification requirements under this Section (E) of
Rule 1.2.
b. The Nursing
Education Program must submit an annual report to the Board on a
Board-authorized form.
c. Before
planned Student Admissions are increased by twenty-five percent or more from
the most recent Board approved admission request, the Nursing Education Program
must submit a report to the Board that substantiates all requirements of
Section (E) of Rule 1.2 have been met.
d. Three weeks prior to all scheduled Site
Visits, the DNEP shall submit a self-study report to the Board. If nationally
accredited, the Nursing Education Program must submit the self-study reports
prepared for the national accreditation Site Visit.
e. The Nursing Education Program shall submit
copies of all progress reports required by the national accrediting
agency.
f. Any other reports as may
be determined by the Board.
18. The Board may limit the number of
students admitted to a Nursing Education Program. In making this determination,
the Board may consider factors, including, but not limited to: the number of
qualified Faculty, adequate educational facilities and resources, and the
availability of relevant clinical learning experiences.
F. ESTABLISHING A NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM (PHASES I THROUGH III)
1. All
educational institutions intending to establish a Nursing Education Program in
Colorado must comply with the Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act, the Board's
Rules and Regulations, and all other state or federal regulations for
establishing a Nursing Education Program. New Nursing Education Programs must
have initial accreditation as set forth in Sections (E)(2) and (E)(3) of Rule
1.2.
2.
Phase I of the
Approval Process: Initiating a Nursing Education Program. The Governing
Body wishing to establish a Nursing Education Program must comply with the
following requirements:
a. The Governing Body
must inform the Board of its intent to establish a Nursing Education Program
and submit documentation of intent.
b. The documentation of intent to establish a
program shall include the following information:
(1) Name, address and current
accreditation(s) of the Governing Body.
(2) Mission of the Governing Body.
(3) Relationship of the proposed Nursing
Education Program to the Governing Body.
(4) Type of proposed Nursing Education
Program.
(5) Rationale for
establishing the Nursing Education Program.
(6) Timetable for development and
implementation of the Nursing Education Program.
(7) Evidence of adequate financial support
and resources for the planning, implementation and continuation of the Nursing
Education Program.
(8) Budget for
DNEP, Faculty and support positions.
(9) Availability of adequate academic
facilities. At a minimum, such facilities need to include space for classroom
instruction, academic advising, Clinical Laboratory and clinical and/or
Clinical Simulation and library resources.
(10) Perceived problems in planning,
implementing and continuing the Nursing Education Program.
(11) Proposed job description and
qualifications of the DNEP.
(12)
Any additional information requested by the Board.
(13) Signature of the Governing Body
officers.
c. The
Governing Body shall submit to the Board the results of a current feasibility
study that includes objective data regarding the following:
(1) Documented need for the Nursing Education
Program, including evidence of potential employment opportunities and nursing
manpower needs in the geographic area served.
(2) Ability to hire a qualified DNEP, Faculty
and support staff.
(3)
Qualifications of and the number of persons in the potential student
pool.
(4) Availability of relevant
clinical opportunities. The Nursing Education Program must submit a signed
commitment from the individual who does clinical placement at each clinical
entity, which includes the type(s) of learning opportunities, average daily
census, maximum number of nursing students that can be accommodated,
appropriate location of the clinical entity in relationship to the school, and
any limitations or restrictions imposed by the clinical entity.
d. The Governing Body of the
Nursing Education Program must apply on a Board-approved application
form.
e. The Board shall review the
submitted documentation of intent at the next regularly-scheduled Full Board
meeting and respond in writing within two weeks of such meeting.
f. If the Board determines that the Nursing
Education Program has successfully met the requirements of this Section (F)(2)
of Rule 1.2 , the Board shall grant Phase I recognition and advise the
Governing Body, in writing, that it has permission to proceed with further
program development.
g. If the
Board determines that the Nursing Education Program has not successfully met
the requirements of this Section (F)(2) of Rule 1.2 , the Board shall advise
the Governing Body, in writing, of the specific deficiencies.
3.
Phase II of the Approval
Process:Program development phase. Upon receipt of written verification
of Phase I recognition from the Board, the Nursing Education Program enters
Phase II, or the program development phase, of the Approval Process.
a. At the beginning of Phase II, the
Governing Body shall employ a qualified DNEP.
b. The DNEP shall:
(1) Assemble an Advisory Committee.
(2) With the advice and counsel of the
Advisory Committee, provide for the development of a Nursing Education Program
that meets the requirements of Rule 1.2.
(3) Prepare a written report for Board
consideration that evidences the following:
(a) Manner and extent of utilization of the
Advisory Committee.
(b)
Demonstration of support and approval of the Governing Body.
(c) Compliance with all requirements of
Section (E) of Rule 1.2 , including but not limited to a fully-developed
curriculum as outlined in Section (E)(15) of Rule 1.2.
(d) Description of approaches to perceived
problems in planning, implementing and continuing the Nursing Education
Program.
(e) Newly identified
problems perceived in the implementation and continuation of the Nursing
Education Program.
c. The Nursing Education Program must apply
on a Board-approved application form.
d. The Board will review the required
documentation to determine if all requirements are met.
e. If the Board determines that the Nursing
Education Program has successfully met the requirements of this Section (F)(3)
of Rule 1.2 , the Board shall grant Interim Approval and authorize the Program
to begin Phase III of the Approval Process. The Board shall advise the
Governing Body, in writing, that it has permission to admit students and
implement the Nursing Education Program as set forth in Section (F)(4) of Rule
1.2.
f. If the Board determines
that the Nursing Education Program has not successfully met the requirements of
this Section (F)(3) of Rule 1.2 , the Board shall advise the Governing Body, in
writing, as to what specific requirements have not been met. The Nursing
Education Program may revise the written report and request reconsideration for
Interim Approval within no more than one year from the date the Board advises
the Nursing Education Program that all requirements for Interim Approval have
not been met. During the period in which the Nursing Education Program is
attempting to meet such requirements, the Board may require additional written
reports, at its discretion.
4.
Phase III of the Approval
Process (Nursing Education Programs with Interim Approval): Upon receipt
of written verification of Interim Approval, the Nursing Education Program
enters Phase III of the Approval Process.
a.
The Nursing Education Program with Interim Approval shall submit semiannual
reports to the Board regarding the progress and problems of program
implementation, evidence of adequate clinical placements, adequate qualified
faculty to meet the curriculum, and initial implementation of a systematic
evaluation plan.
b. The Board may
review the semiannual reports and may require additional information.
c. Written and published admission policies
of the Nursing Education Program with Interim Approval must be consistent with
the policies of the Governing Body and meet generally accepted education
standards.
d. The Board shall
conduct a Site Visit within 180 days of admission of students to the Nursing
Education Program.
e. Within ninety
days of the Site Visit, a written report of the Site Visit shall be submitted
to the Nursing Education Program for comment. Such comments shall be submitted
by the Nursing Education Program within thirty days of the date of the report.
The Site Visit Report and comments will be presented to the Board at the next
regularly-scheduled Full Board meeting.
f. Within nine months of graduation of the
initial class, the Nursing Education Program shall submit data and analyses
obtained through the Nursing Education Program evaluation process.
g. At a time not to exceed one year following
the graduation date of the initial class, the Nursing Education Program must
request Full Approval. The Nursing Education Program must submit a self-study
of program components and outcomes.
h. The Nursing Education Program must submit
the request for Full Approval on a Board-approved application form.
i. Students admitted to a program with
Interim Approval shall be permitted to take the licensing examination at the
appropriate time, provided the Nursing Education Program continues to maintain
Interim Approval.
j. The NCLEX pass
rate for Nursing Education Programs for first-time takers must be at or above
seventy-five percent in order to obtain Full Approval.
k. The Board may withdraw Interim Approval
when a Nursing Education Program fails to maintain the Nursing Education
Program as approved or fails to qualify for Full Approval within one year
following the graduation date of the initial class. The Board shall advise the
Governing Body, in writing, of specific deficiencies.
l. If the Board determines that the Nursing
Education Program has successfully met the requirements of this Section (F)(4)
of Rule 1.2 , the Board shall advise the Governing Body, in writing, that the
Nursing Education Program is granted Full Approval.
G. FULL APPROVAL OF A NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM (PHASE IV)
1.
Nursing Education Programs with Full Approval shall be reviewed by the Board
once every five years.
2. For
Nursing Education Programs accredited by a national nursing accrediting agency
recognized by the United States Department of Education, the Board may accept
national nursing accreditation site visits in lieu of a Board Site Visit.
Nursing Education Programs with Full Approval and national nursing
accreditation may follow the accrediting body's on-site evaluation schedule.
Board joint reviews are at the discretion of the Board. The Board reserves the
right to conduct a separate Site Visit if issues or information are identified
that in the opinion of the Board warrant separate review.
3. Within ninety days of the Site Visit, a
written report of the Site Visit shall be submitted to the Nursing Education
Program for comment. Such comments shall be submitted by the Nursing Education
Program within ninety days of the date of the report and on a Board approved
form. The Site Visit report and comments will be presented to the Board at the
next regularly-scheduled Full Board meeting for which the comments were timely
submitted in advance of the external agenda deadline.
4. If the Board determines that all
requirements of this Section (G) of Rule 1.2 have not been met, the Board may,
in its discretion, initiate the process of withdrawal of Full Approval, or
allow the Nursing Education Program to continue for a specified period of time
not to exceed one year.
H. WITHDRAWAL OF FULL APPROVAL OF A NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
1. After
consideration of available information, the Board may determine that a Nursing
Education Program's Full Approval should be completely withdrawn and the
Nursing Education Program closed, or that the Nursing Education Program should
be placed on Conditional Approval, for any of the following reasons:
a. The Nursing Education Program does not
meet or comply with all the provisions contained in the Nurse and Nurse Aide
Practice Act, the Board's Rules and Regulations, or other state or federal laws
or regulations.
b. The Nursing
Education Program has been denied, had withdrawn, or had a change of program
accreditation by a:
(1) National nursing
accrediting body approved by the United States Department of
Education;
(2) Regional
institutional accreditation agency; or
(3) National institutional accreditation
agency.
c. The Nursing
Education Program has provided to the Board misleading, inaccurate, or
falsified information to obtain or maintain Full Approval.
d. The Nursing Education Program has a NCLEX
pass rate average which falls below seventy-five percent for eight consecutive
quarters. The NCLEX pass rate for Nursing Education Programs for first-time
writers must be at or above seventy-five percent.
2. Following a decision to place a Nursing
Education Program on Conditional Approval or otherwise withdraw Full Approval,
the Board shall notify the Governing Body, in writing, of specific deficiencies
within fourteen days of the Board decision.
3. The Nursing Education Program shall have
ninety days from the receipt of the notice of deficiency referenced in Section
(H)(2) of Rule 1.2 to provide written documentation that the deficiencies have
been corrected or to provide a written plan of correction.
4. The Board may then refer the matter to the
Office of the Attorney General for institution of formal proceedings in
accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and the Nurse and Nurse Aide
Practice Act. The matter shall be governed by Section (J) of Rule
1.2.
5. A Nursing Education Program
with Conditional Approval must submit status reports, on a schedule determined
by the Board, concerning correction of the identified deficiencies.
6. If the Board finds that a Nursing
Education Program with Conditional Approval has not corrected the deficiencies
or met the required conditions within the time period established by the Board,
the Board may withdraw Conditional Approval and close the Nursing Education
Program.
7. If the Board withdraws
Conditional Approval and closes the Nursing Education Program, the Board shall
notify the Governing Body and the DNEP in writing of the grounds for closure
within fourteen days of the Board decision.
I. RESTORING FULL APPROVAL TO A NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
1. After
demonstrating compliance with the Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act, the
Board's Rules and Regulations, and all other state or federal regulations, a
Nursing Education Program with Conditional Approval may petition the Board in
writing for restoring Full Approval.
2. The decision to restore Full Approval
rests solely with the Board.
3. If
the Board does not restore Full Approval, the Nursing Education Program may
petition the Board for an extension of Conditional Approval not to exceed one
year. As part of its petition, the Nursing Education Program must submit a
corrective action plan that includes a time table to correct the identified
deficiencies.
4. This Section (I)
of Rule 1.2 does not apply to programs closed by the Board. Such closed
programs must submit initial application and comply with Rule 1.2.
J. DENIAL OR WITHDRAWAL OF APPROVAL OR RECOGNITION OF A NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
1. Until a Nursing Education Program obtains
Full Approval, it shall be treated as an applicant for purposes of the
Administrative Procedure Act and Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act, and any
request for a hearing contesting the Board's denial or withdrawal of Phase I,
Phase II or Phase III recognition of the Approval Process shall be governed by
section 24-4-104(9),
C.R.S.
2. A Nursing Education
Program with Full or Conditional Approval shall be treated as a licensee
pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
3. The Board may withdraw a Nursing Education
Program's Full Approval or Conditional Approval prior to hearing if the Board,
after full investigation, determines that it has objective and reasonable
grounds to believe and finds that the Nursing Education Program has been guilty
of deliberate and willful violation or that the public health, safety, or
welfare imperatively requires emergency action, and incorporates the findings
in a written notice to the Nursing Education Program. Full investigation means
a reasonable ascertainment of the underlying facts on which the Board's action
is based.
4. The Nursing Education
Program must inform its enrolled students and all students applying to the
Nursing Education Program of any change in the program's Approval status within
two weeks of the date of the Board's notification to the Nursing Education
Program of the change in status. The Nursing Education Program's notification
must, to the extent possible, include notification of whether such students or
prospective students will be eligible to take the licensure
examination.
K. VOLUNTARY NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM CLOSURES
1. Nursing Education Programs desiring to
close shall notify the Board, in writing, at least six months prior to the date
of closing.
2. As part of the
notification of closure required in Section (K)(1) of Rule 1.2, the Nursing
Education Program shall submit a plan assuring for a smooth transition and the
equitable treatment of students affected by the program closure.
L. CHANGE OF GOVERNING BODY OR DNEP
1. When the Governing Body or
DNEP of a Nursing Education Program changes, the new Governing Body or DNEP
shall notify the Board within thirty days and comply or maintain compliance
with the Nurse and Nurse Aide Practice Act, the Board's Rules and Regulations,
and all other state or federal regulations.
M. WAIVER OF PROVISIONS OF RULE 1.2
1. Upon a showing of good cause,
the Board may waive any of the requirements in Rule 1.2. A request for waiver
shall be submitted in writing and describe the circumstances relating to the
particular request. The decision to grant or deny such a waiver shall be at the
sole discretion of the Board. All waivers shall be limited to the terms and
conditions provided by the Board. No waiver shall be granted if in conflict
with applicable state or federal law. Upon receipt of the written waiver
request, the matter will be considered at the next regularly-scheduled Full
Board meeting for which the written waiver request was timely submitted in
advance of the external agenda deadline.
2. The Board shall grant waivers sparingly,
and only where it finds circumstances require a waiver. Although such waivers
may be rare, the Board encourages waiver requests for pilot and innovative
projects.
Adopted: January 27, 2010
Effective: March 31, 2010
Revised: January 22, 2013
Effective: March 18, 2013
Revised: April 22, 2014
Effective: June 14, 2014
Revised: April 26, 2016
Effective: June 30, 2016
Revised: January 31, 2018
Adopted April 18, 2018
Revised: October 27, 2021
Effective: December 30, 2021
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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