Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Board of Nursing
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
64B9-2.002: Certification for Approval
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose and effect is to require course outlines for all courses, and to permit nursing programs to submit letters of intent from clinical facilities in lieu of previously executed contracts; to permit new, small programs to combine statistics from two graduating classes to determine if the program meets the required passing rates on the national licensing exam; to extend the program approval period from three to five years or to be concurrent with national or regional accreditation, and to clarify documentation required with applications for approval.
SUMMARY: Course outlines for all courses are required, and nursing programs to submit letters of intent from clinical facilities in lieu of previously executed contracts are permitted; new, small programs to combine statistics from two graduating classes to determine if the program meets the required passing rates on the national licensing exam is permitted; the program approval period from three to five years or to be concurrent with national or regional accreditation is extended, and documentation required with applications for approval is clarified.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 464.006, 464.019(2) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 464.019 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Rick Garcia, Executive Director, Board of Nursing, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3259

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

64B9-2.002 Certification for Approval.

(1) Provisional approval – Provisional approval will be granted to an institution to initiate a nursing program when it has presented documentation satisfactory to the Board that it meets the following requirements:

(a) No change.

1. through 2. No change.

3. Course outlines for all first level courses shall be completed.

4. Contractual agreements, or a letter of intent to establish a contract once program approval has been received, with facilities and agencies to be used for clinical instruction for first level courses shall be in force.

5. No change.

(b) No change.

1. No change.

2. Course outlines for total curriculum shall be completed.

2.3. Contractual agreements with facilities and agencies to be used for clinical instruction in the total curriculum shall be in force.

3.4. Evidence of compliance with all rules in this rule chapter with the exception Rule 64B9-2.009, F.A.C., shall be demonstrated.

(c) Programs which have been granted provisional approval may be granted full approval when they have demonstrated they are in compliance with these rules and the licensure examination results of the first graduating class have met or exceeded the national average the standard as set forth in Rule 64B9-2.009, F.A.C. If the first graduating class has fewer than 21 students who have taken the licensure examination, the results of the next graduating class will be included in the determination of the program’s passing rate on the licensure examination.

(2) Approval – An institution seeking renewed approval of a nursing program shall present documentation of compliance with these rules at least every five three years, except programs with national accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the U. S. Department of Education may have program approval concurrent with the period of national accreditation good cause the Board may extend the period to five years. The administrator shall notify the Board within 30 days of any change, loss or lapse in accreditation status and shall submit to the Board within 30 days any report from a national accrediting agency citing deficiencies or recommendations. Such documentation shall also be presented upon request.

(3) No change.

(4) The Board may decline to approve any program on provisional status, or decline to renew or rescind approval of any program on probationary status which fails to meet required standards or which fails to make satisfactory progress for corrections of deficiencies within the time period outlined by the Board.

(5) No change.

(6) Programs reapplying for approval shall submit a proposal and required fee pursuant to subsection 64B9-7.001(14) and shall meet required standards in Rules 64B9-2.011 and 64B9-2.015, as outlined in paragraph 64B9-2.002(1)(a), F.A.C., prior to renewal of the program approval by the Board. As a condition of renewal, a program may be placed on probation if it does not meet the required standards.

Specific Authority 464.006, 464.019(2) FS. Law Implemented 464.019 FS. History–New 7-15-80, Amended 11-22-84, Formerly 21O-7.21, Amended 2-5-87, 6-8-88, 3-24-91, Formerly 21O-7.021, 61F7-2.002, 59S-2.002, Amended 12-11-97, 1-26-98, 7-7-02,                 ________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Nursing
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Nursing
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: February 08, 2006
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: November 21, 2008