SECTION 485:10-6-2. Minimum standards for APRN education programs

  To be approved as an APRN education program in the state of Oklahoma, the program shall meet the following standards:

(1)   The APRN education program is a graduate-level program offered by a university accredited by an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA);

(2)   The APRN education program holds accreditation or candidacy status from one of the following:

(A)   The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

(B)   The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

(C)   The Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation

(D)   The Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education

(E)   The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs;

(3)   The curriculum of the APRN education program must prepare the graduate to practice in one of the four identified APRN roles (i.e., CRNA, CNM, CNS, or CNP) and in at least one of the six population foci (i.e., Family/Individual across the Lifespan, Adult-Gerontology (acute and/or primary), Neonatal, Pediatrics (acute and/or primary), Women's Health/Gender-Related, or Psychiatric/Mental Health). The curriculum shall include:

(A)   Graduate APRN core courses, to include three separate graduate level courses in:

(i)   Advanced physiology and pathophysiology, including general principles that apply across the lifespan;

(ii)   Advanced health assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems, advanced assessment techniques, concepts and approaches; and

(iii)   Advanced pharmacology (a minimum of a three academic credit hour course), which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agents;

(B)   Additional core course content, specific to the role and population in APRN core areas, integrated throughout the specific role and population focus didactic and clinical courses, to include the use and prescription of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions;

(C)   Preparation in legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of the APRN; and

(D)   A minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours directly related to each role and population focus, including pharmacotherapeutic management of patients.

(4)   An APRN program shall appoint the following personnel:

(A)   An APRN program administrator whose qualifications shall include:

(i)   A current, unencumbered APRN license in the state of Oklahoma;

(ii)   A minimum of a master's degree in nursing and an earned doctoral degree; and

(iii)   At least two years of clinical experience as an APRN.

(B)   A lead faculty member to coordinate each role and population focus track in the APRN program, including curriculum development, whose qualifications shall include:

(i)   A current, unencumbered APRN license in the state of Oklahoma;

(ii)   A minimum of a master's degree in nursing that includes preparation in the same role and population focus or other similarly situated population focus for the track for which he/she is responsible for as a lead faculty member;

(iii)   At least two years of clinical experience as an APRN; and

(iv)   Current knowledge, competence and certification as an APRN in the role and population focus consistent with teaching responsibilities. For lead faculty without current certification in the population foci corresponding with the teaching responsibilities, the APRN program must have on file additional written documentation of the related qualifications, experience and competence of the lead faculty member for coordinating each role and population focus track for which he/she is responsible.

(v)   The APRN program administrator may also serve as the lead faculty member if all qualifications are met. If the APRN program administrator has teaching or other responsibilities, adequate time will be provided to fulfill administrative duties for the APRN education program.

(C)   Nursing faculty, including adjunct clinical faculty, to teach any APRN nursing course that includes a clinical learning experience shall meet the following qualifications:

(i)   A current, unencumbered APRN license in the state of Oklahoma;

(ii)   A minimum of a master's degree in nursing that includes preparation in a role and population focus or other similarly situated population focus for the track for which he/she is responsible for as a faculty member;

(iii)   Two years of APRN clinical experience; and

(iv)   Current knowledge, competence and certification as an APRN in the role and population foci consistent with teaching responsibilities. For faculty without current certification in the population foci corresponding with the teaching responsibilities, the APRN program must have on file additional written documentation of the related qualifications, experience and competence of the faculty member for teaching in the population foci for which he/she is responsible.

(D)   Any person employed in the position of APRN program administrator, APRN lead faculty, and/or APRN faculty member on December 31, 2015, shall be deemed to meet the education and clinical experience qualifications.

(E)   Interdisciplinary faculty who teach non-clinical nursing courses shall have advanced preparation appropriate to these areas of content.

(F)   Clinical preceptors will serve as a role model and educator to the student. Clinical preceptors may be used to enhance faculty-directed clinical learning experiences, but not to replace them.

(G)   Clinical preceptors will be approved by faculty and meet the following requirements:

(i)   Hold a current, unencumbered license in the state of Oklahoma, or in another state (if employed by the United States Government or any bureau, division, or agency thereof; or if the preceptorship takes place in another state), as an APRN, Medical Doctor, or Doctor of Osteopathy and practices in a comparable practice focus;

(ii)   Function as a supervisor and teacher and contribute to the evaluation of the individual's performance in the clinical setting; and

(iii)   Have demonstrated competencies related to the area of assigned clinical teaching responsibilities.

(5)   Each student enrolled in the APRN program shall have a current, unencumbered Oklahoma Registered Nurse license.

(6)   APRN programs preparing for two population foci or a combined nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist shall include content and 500 hours of clinical experience in each functional role and population focus.

(7)   Advanced placement policies shall allow fair, consistent, valid, and defensible evaluation of students' didactic knowledge and clinical competence. Students admitted with advanced placement must meet the program's APRN outcome competencies.

[Source: Added at 32 Ok Reg 1199, eff 8-27-15; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 160, eff 9-28-15 (emergency); Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1026, eff 8-25-16; Amended at 34 Ok Reg 171, eff 11-2-16 (emergency); Amended at 34 Ok Reg 768, eff 8-25-17]