SECTION 485:10-3-1. Approval of nursing education programs

(a)   Purpose of approval. The purposes of approval of nursing education programs are:

(1)   to provide standards for legally recognizing new and established nursing education programs;

(2)   to ensure graduates are eligible to take the licensing examination;

(3)   to ensure that graduates are prepared for safe, current, and appropriate scope of practice relative to type of nursing education program and state laws governing nursing.

(b)   Categories of approval. The categories of approval are:

(1)   Provisional Approval:

(A)   is granted to new programs meeting the minimum standards;

(B)   is approval to admit students;

(C)   is effective until the first licensing examination results are received and evaluated by the Board.

(2)   Full Approval:

(A)   is granted to programs after an initial survey visit, graduation of the first class, first licensing examination results are reported, and evidence is provided that minimum standards are met;

(B)   is renewed periodically or reinstated following evaluation by the Board.

(3)   Conditional Approval is granted to approved programs subsequently failing to meet or maintain minimum standards.

(A)   The Board shall notify a program by letter of Conditional Approval. The letter shall cite a specified period of up to two (2) years to correct program deficiencies that caused the need for Conditional Approval. The Conditional Approval may be renewed for one additional period of up to two (2) years upon a determination by the Board that circumstances warrant such a renewal.

(B)   A program placed on Conditional Approval may request Board action to remove the conditional status when it can provide evidence that the deficiencies have been corrected at any time prior to the time limit established by the Board.

(C)   A program shall not admit new students while on Conditional Approval without authorization from the Board.

(D)   A warning may be given allowing a program an opportunity to address deficiencies as identified by the Board prior to being placed on Conditional Approval. A written report must be submitted to the Board within four (4) months of receiving the warning, and four (4) weeks prior to the Board meeting.

(4)   A change in a program's approval status shall not affect students who are eligible to take the first licensing examination following the change.

(c)   Withdrawal of approval. The nursing education program that fails to correct deficiencies resulting in Conditional Approval shall be discontinued as a State Approved Nursing Education Program. Representatives from the program may attend the Board meeting when the program is reviewed. Upon withdrawal of approval, students shall be notified by the program that they will not be eligible, as a graduate of the nursing education program, to be admitted to the licensing examination.

[Source: Amended at 8 Ok Reg 3579, eff 9-20-91 (emergency); Amended at 9 Ok Reg 2103, eff 6-11-92; Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1463, eff 5-25-95; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2707, eff 7-1-01; Amended at 34 Ok Reg 768, eff 8-25-17]