Current through September 17, 2024
A nursing education program may apply to implement an
innovative approach by complying with provisions of this section. Nursing
education programs approved to implement innovative approaches will continue to
provide quality nursing education that prepares graduates to practice safely,
competently and ethically within the scope of practice as defined in the Nurse
Practice Act.
018.01
PURPOSE.
A nursing program applying to implement an innovative
approach must explain the purpose for creating innovation in curriculum or
educational design, which must include:
(A) To foster innovative models of nursing
education to address the changing needs in health care;
(B) To assure that innovative approaches are
conducted in a manner consistent with the Board's role in protection of the
public; and
(C) To assure that
innovative approaches conform to the quality outcome standards and core
education criteria established by the Board.
018.02
ELIGIBILITY.
In order for a nursing program to be eligible to submit an innovative approach
to nursing education, the nursing program must:
(A) Hold full Board approval without
conditions;
(B) Have no
substantiated complaints in the past 2 years; and
(C) Have committed no rule violations in the
past 2 years.
018.03
APPLICATION. The following information must be
provided by the nursing program to the Board at least 90 days prior to a Board
meeting:
(A) Executive summary of the
project;
(B) Identifying
information including name of nursing program, address, responsible party, and
contact information;
(C) A brief
description of the current program, including accreditation and Board approval
status;
(D) Identification of the
regulation or regulations affected by the proposed innovative
approach;
(E) Length of time for
which the innovative approach is requested;
(F) Description of the innovative approach,
including objectives;
(G) Brief
explanation of why the program wants to implement an innovative approach at
this time;
(H) Explanation of how
the proposed innovation differs from approaches in the current
program;
(I) Rationale with
available evidence supporting the innovative approach;
(J) Identification of resources that support
the proposed innovative approach;
(K) Expected impact innovative approach will
have on the program, including administration, students, faculty, and other
program resources;
(L) Plan for
implementation, including timeline;
(M) Plan for evaluation of the proposed
innovation, including measurable criteria and outcomes, method of evaluation,
and frequency of evaluation; and
(N) Additional application information as
requested by the Board.
018.04
STANDARDS FOR
APPROVAL. Approval is based on the following criteria:
(A) Eligibility and application criteria in
172 NAC
97-018.02 and 172 NAC
97-018.03 met;
(B) The innovative approach will not
compromise the quality of education or safe practice of students;
(C) Resources are sufficient to support the
innovative approach;
(D) Rationale
with available evidence supports the implementation of the innovative
approach;
(E) Implementation plan
is reasonable to achieve the desired outcomes of the innovative
approach;
(F) Timeline provides for
sufficient period to implement and evaluate the innovative approach;
and
(G) Plan for periodic
evaluation is comprehensive and supported by appropriate methodology.
018.05
BOARD REVIEW OF
APPLICATION. Annually, the Board may establish the number of
innovative approach applications it will accept, based on available Board
resources. The Board will evaluate innovative approach applications to
determine if eligibility criteria in 172 NAC
97-018.02 are met and if the
standards from 172 NAC
97-018.04 are established.
018.05(A)
APPROVAL.
If the application meets the eligibility criteria and standards, the Board
will:
(i) Approve the application;
or
(ii) Approve the application
with modifications as agreed between the Board and the nursing education
program.
018.05(B)
DENIAL. If the application does not meet the
eligibility criteria and standards, the Board will deny approval of the
innovative approach or may request additional information.
018.05(C)
RESCIND
APPROVAL. The Board may rescind the approval or require the
program to make modifications in the innovative approach if:
(i) The Board receives substantiated evidence
indicating adverse impact; or
(ii)
The nursing education program fails to implement the innovative approach as
presented and approved.
018.06
PERIODIC
EVALUATION. Periodic evaluation of the innovative approach to
nursing education requires the following:
(A)
The educational program must submit progress reports conforming to the
evaluation plan annually or as requested by the Board;
(B) The final evaluation report must conform
to the evaluation plan, detailing and analyzing the outcomes data;
(C) If any report indicates that students
were adversely impacted by the innovation, the nursing program must provide
documentation of corrective measures and their effectiveness; and
(D) The educational program must maintain
eligibility criteria in 172 NAC
97-018.02.
018.07
CONTINUATION.
Requests for the innovative approach to continue and become an ongoing part of
the education program must be submitted 30 days prior to a regularly scheduled
Board meeting. Continuation of the innovative approach to nursing education may
be granted by the Board if:
(A) The final
evaluation has been submitted;
(B)
The innovative approach has achieved the desired outcomes;
(C) The innovative approach has not
compromised public protection; and
(D) The innovative approach is consistent
with core nursing education criteria.
