N.H. Admin. Code § Nur 603.02

Current through Register No. 45, November 7, 2024

Section Nur 603.02 - Application and Initial Approval

(a) The board shall confer initial approval to sponsoring institutions seeking to establish a nursing program following review and compliance with:

(1) The provisions of (b) and (c) below; and

(2)RSA 326-B: 32.

(b) The sponsoring institution shall file an application with the board, at least 12 months before anticipated enrollment of students, providing the following:

(1) The name of the sponsoring institution and the sponsoring institution official;

(2) Documentation, in the form of applicable statutes, the institution's charter, or articles of incorporation, that the sponsoring institution is authorized to conduct such a program;

(3) An indication of whether the application proposes RN educational preparation or LPN educational preparation;

(4) The sponsoring institution's rationale for establishing the program, which shall include:

a. The details of the program planned;

b. The length of the program;

c. The expected program opening date; and

d. Anticipated enrollment;

(5) A comprehensive feasibility study that shall address at least the following:

a. Documentation of the need and demand for such a program in New Hampshire;

b. The projected impact the program would have on existing programs in the region where the program is being proposed;

c. A hiring plan for qualified program administrators, faculty, and staff;

d. The sources and number of potential students; and

e. The names of proposed cooperating agencies and contact information, including evidence of their intent to contribute to the achievement of the clinical objectives of the program;

(6) The name of a qualified registered nurse director who meets board criteria as required by Nur 602.06;

(7) Documentation of human, fiscal, and material resources, including the number of nurse-educators representing specialty areas, to meet educational needs;

(8) Documentation of meeting the surety indemnification requirements of RSA 188-G: 3 and Hedc 304.11, including requiring the company that issues the bond to notify the board directly in the event of non-renewal or cancellation;

(9) Anticipated nurse-educator to student ratio;

(10) Proof of institutional accreditation from a regional or national accreditation entity approved as such by the U. S. Department of Education and proof of application for accreditation for programs of nursing, as required by Nursing 602.17; and

(11) A proposed time line for initiating and expanding the program.

(c) The sponsoring institution shall submit to the board, at least 6 months prior to anticipated student attendance, the following:

(1) An overview of the proposed total curriculum that includes:

a. A statement of its philosophy, organizing framework and student learning and program outcomes.

b. A master plan of curriculum, indicating the sequence for both nursing and non-nursing courses, as well as pre- and co-requisites for such courses;

c. A description of each course and its objectives;

d. Course syllabi for all first-year nursing courses;

e. A plan for total program evaluation, addressing at least the following:

1. Student progress;

2. Curriculum and course content;

3. Proposed nurse educators and instructional methods;

4. Cooperating agencies;

5. Physical, human and fiscal resources required to achieve student success;

6. Attrition, recruitment, and retention;

7. Total program integration;

8. Clinical opportunities and availability of resources; and

9. Contracts for clinical sites; and

f. Documentation to demonstrate that the program has:

1. Adequate support resources including:

(i) A library;

(ii) Learning resources and technology designed to enhance learning that is comprehensive, state of the art, and sufficient to meet faculty and student needs;

(iii) Classroom space;

(iv) At least one laboratory;

(v) Office equipment and supplies;

(vi) Office space;

(vii) Secretarial support; and

(viii) Academic counseling staff and resources for the projected enrollment;

2. Adequate financial resources for planning, implementing, and continuing the program; and

(2) Clearly written student and institutional policies and procedures that address at least the following:

1. Admission criteria and decision making authority;

2. Transfer;

3. Evaluation;

4. Dismissal and termination;

5. Withdrawal;

6. Grading;

7. Program completion and graduation;

8. Grievances and due process;

9. Illness;

10. Personal leave;

11. Confidentiality of and access to student records maintained by the program; and

12. Tuition, other costs, and refunds.

(d) The board shall conduct an on-site survey of the proposed program and agencies to determine compliance with all applicable requirements for the establishment of the nursing education program.

(e) The board shall afford the sponsoring institution the opportunity to comment on the survey in writing.

(f) If the board finds that the resources and plans meet all the applicable rules for establishing the new nursing education program, the board shall grant initial approval conditioned upon:

(1) The maximum enrollment for the first class of students correlates with the required program resources;

(2) Enrollment of the first class of students within one year of such initial approval;

(3) Receipt of program approval from the higher education commission; and

(4) Acknowledgement that if the above conditions of initial approval are not met, the board's approval shall expire.

(g) Sponsoring institutions shall notify the board immediately in the event that the surety indemnification required pursuant to RSA 188-G: 3 and Hedc 304.11 is not renewed or is cancelled.

(h) Notification to the board by the surety company that issued the bond shall not relieve the sponsoring institution from providing notification of the non-renewal or cancellation of such required surety indemnification.

(i) Sponsoring institutions shall seek full program approval within 6 months following the issuance of its first diplomas and issuance of NCLEX results.

(j) If the board finds that the resources and plans do not meet all the rules for establishing a new nursing program, the program may submit a new plan no sooner than 6 months after being informed that the original plans were not satisfactory.

(k) A program that received initial approval that expired due to failure to enroll students within one year shall not submit a new application for initial approval until at least 12 months have passed since the rescission.

(l) A sponsoring institution that seeks to establish another nurse education program at a different level shall not apply before receiving full approval of the previous program.

N.H. Admin. Code § Nur 603.02

(See Revision Note at chapter heading for Nur 100) #5887, eff 8-26-94; ss by #6778, eff 6-26-98; ss by #8664, INTERIM, eff 6-24-06, EXPIRED: 12-21-06

New.#8873, eff 4-24-07; ss by #9096, eff 2-23-08 (from Nur 602.04 ); ss by #10301, eff 3-22-13

Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 06, Filed February 11, 2016, Proposed by #11024, Effective 1/23/2016, Expires 1/23/2026.