Notice of Development of Rulemaking

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.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Certification for Approval.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 464.006, 464.019(2) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 464.019 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 #C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3259

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT 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 subsection 64B9-7.001(14), F.A.C., 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,_________.