64B9-3.014: Graduates From Foreign or Non-NCSBN Jurisdictions
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this amendment is to decrease the program hours held in foreign nursing programs to reflect equivalency to approved programs, and to incorporate amendments to Section 464.019, F.S.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Foreign Jurisdictions.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 464.006 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013(1), 464.008 FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Rick Garcia, Executive Director, Board of Nursing, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C02, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
64B9-3.014 Graduates From Foreign or Non-NCSBN Jurisdictions.
(1) Graduates of foreign nursing programs or nursing programs in jurisdictions which are not members of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) must submit an evaluation from a credentialing agency approved by the Board.
(2) Approved credentialing agencies must meet the following criteria:
(a) The credentialing agency must be a member of a national credentialing organization that sets performance standards for the industry, and must adhere to those standards.
(b) The credentialing agency’s standards must be monitored by an external committee of credentialing experts and nursing educators.
(c) The credentialing agency must demonstrate the ability to accurately analyze academic and licensure credentials in terms of U.S. comparability, with course-by-course analysis for nursing academic records.
(d) The credentialing agency must manage the translation of original documents into English.
(e) The credentialing agency will inform the Board of Nursing in the event applicant documents are found to be fraudulent.
(f) The credentialing agency must have been in the business of evaluating nursing education for a minimum of 10 years.
(3) Credentials evaluation report.
(a) The references used in the evaluation must be cited in the credentials report.
(b) The credentials report must state the language of nursing instruction and the language of textbooks for nursing education.
(c) The credentialing agency must use only original source documentation in evaluating nursing education.
(d) The report must state the comparability of the foreign education to U.S. and to Florida Board of Nursing standards.
(e) The report must detail course clock hours for theory and clinical components of nursing education.
(4) In order for the applicant to meet the educational requirements of Section 464.008, F.S., the credentials report and transcripts must include all courses set forth in Section 464.019, F.S., Rules 64B9-2.006 and 64B9-2.015, F.A.C., and must demonstrate, at a minimum, the following hours of theoretical and clinical instruction:
(a) Registered nursing programs:
1. 70 144 theory hours and 127 341 clinical hours in medical nursing;
2. 45 91 theory hours and 104 294 clinical hours in surgical nursing;
3. 31 32 theory hours and 44 87 clinical hours in obstetrical nursing;
4. 32 theory hours and 43 84 clinical hours in pediatric nursing; and
5. 34 30 theory hours and 53 51 clinical hours in psychiatric/mental health nursing.; and
6. 16 theory hours and 18 clinical hours in community/public health nursing.
(b) Practical nursing programs:
1. 87 131 theory hours and 115 216 clinical hours in medical nursing;
2. 76 82 theory hours and 103 186 clinical hours in surgical nursing;
3. 34 theory hours and 47 46 hours in obstetrics nursing; and
4. 27 30 theory hours and 38 42 clinical hours in pediatrics nursing.
(c) Registered and practical nursing programs must meet the requirement of Section 464.019(1)(g) and (h) F.S.
Rulemaking Authority 464.006 FS. Law Implemented 456.013(1), 464.008 FS. History–New 4-19-00, Amended 10-22-07, 5-31-09,_________.