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Oklahoma Administrative Code (Last Updated: March 11, 2021) |
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TITLE 485. Oklahoma Board of Nursing |
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Chapter 10. Licensure of Practical and Registered Nurses |
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Subchapter 6. Minimum Standards for Approved Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) Education Programs (Effective January 1, 2016) |
SECTION 485:10-6-1. Approval of APRN education programs
Latest version.
- The Board shall have the authority for approval of APRN education programs located in the state of Oklahoma.(1) Purposes of approval. The purposes of approval of APRN education programs are:(A) to provide standards for legally recognizing new and established APRN education programs;(B) to ensure graduates are eligible to take APRN certification examinations;(C) to ensure that graduates are prepared for safe, current, and appropriate scope of APRN practice relative to the APRN role and population focus.(2) Categories of approval. The categories of approval are:(A) Provisional Approval:(i) is granted to new APRN education programs in accordance to OAC 485:10-6-3;(ii) is approval to admit students;(iii) is effective until the first class has graduated and initial outcomes have been reviewed by the Board.(B) Full Approval:(i) is granted to programs after the Board has reviewed initial outcomes, and evidence is provided that minimum standards are met;(ii) is renewed periodically or reinstated following evaluation by the Board.(C) Conditional Approval is granted to approved APRN education programs subsequently failing to meet or maintain minimum standards.(i) The Board shall notify an APRN education program by letter of Conditional Approval, citing a specified time for corrective action. A period of one (1) year shall be the maximum time allowed for the correction of deficiencies resulting in Conditional Approval.(ii) An APRN education program placed on Conditional Approval may request Board action to remove the conditional status at any time prior to the time limit established by the Board when it can provide evidence that the deficiencies have been corrected.(iii) An APRN education program shall not admit new students while on Conditional Approval without authorization from the Board.(iv) A warning may be given allowing an APRN education 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 eight (8) weeks prior to the Board meeting.(D) A change in an APRN education program's approval status shall not affect students who graduate during the time the program is on Conditional Approval.(3) Withdrawal of approval. The APRN education program that fails to correct deficiencies resulting in Conditional Approval shall be discontinued as a State-Approved APRN Education Program. Representatives from the program may attend the Board meeting when the program is reviewed. Upon withdrawal of approval, the program will be notified that those graduating since withdrawal of approval are not eligible for licensure as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in the state of Oklahoma.(4) Closure of an APRN education program. When an APRN education program is to be closed as a result of a decision of the university, the program shall advise the Board and submit a written plan for the discontinuation of the program. The closure may be accomplished in one of two ways:(A) students may be transferred to another approved APRN education program; or(B) the APRN education program may close gradually by discontinuing student admissions and officially closing the APRN education program on the date that the last student completes the program.(i) All the requirements and standards for students in the APRN education program shall be maintained until the last student is transferred or completes the APRN education program.(ii) It is recommended that the transfer of students be accomplished in a manner which provides for a minimum loss of student time and credits earned.(iii) When an APRN education program is to be closed by the Board, the Board shall establish the terms of discontinuation of the program.(iv) Program records(I) The Board shall accept custody of records in the image format designated by the Board in accordance with the procedures in the Board office as defined by the Archives and Records Commission of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Archives Division. [67 O.S. Sections 305-317](II) The cost of formatting the record to the designated image and their transfer to the Board office shall be the responsibility of the APRN education program.