201 KAR 20:290. Standards for prelicensure registered nurse and practical nurse secondary or distance learning sites.

201 KAR 20:290. Standards for prelicensure registered nurse and practical nurse secondary or distance learning sites.

RELATES TO: KRS 314.011(5), (9), 314.111(1), (2), (3)

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 314.131(1)

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 314.131(1) authorizes the Board of Nursing to promulgate administrative regulations to implement KRS Chapter 314. KRS 314.111 requires nursing programs to be approved by the board. This administrative regulation establishes standards for the development and approval of secondary or distance learning programs.

Section 1. Definition. "Secondary or distance learning site" means a nonmain location where educational activities are conducted and that meets the requirements of Section 2(2) of this administrative regulation.

Section 2. Establishment of a Nursing Secondary or Distance Learning Site. (1) The addition of a secondary or distance learning site shall not be considered unless the program of nursing meets the following:

(a) The governing institution that establishes and conducts the program of nursing shall be accredited as outlined in 201 KAR 20:260, Section 1;

(b) The program of nursing shall hold full approval for a minimum of three (3) years; and

(c) First time test takers from the program of nursing shall have achieved an overall pass rate as set by 201 KAR 20:360, Section 2(4) on the NCLEX examination for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years.

(2) The addition of a secondary or distance learning site shall not be considered unless one (1) of the following is met:

(a) A student may obtain at the site fifty (50) percent or more of the necessary credits towards a degree or diploma program;

(b) A student may obtain at the site fifty (50) percent or more of the necessary credits towards a degree or diploma program via an electronic method; or

(c) Students at the site utilize services provided at the main campus that oversees the site because of the site's geographic closeness to the main campus.

Section 3. Letter of Intent. (1) The governing institution shall submit to the board a letter of intent to establish a secondary or distance learning site along with the fee required by 201 KAR 20:240. The letter of intent and additional preliminary information shall be supplied to the board at least six (6) months prior to the desired admission of the first class.

(2) The letter of intent shall be completed under the direction or consultation of a registered nurse who meets the qualifications of a program administrator as outlined in 201 KAR 20:310.

(3) The letter of intent shall include:

(a) The name of the governing institution accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education;

(b) The consent of the approving board or body of the governing institution;

(c) General information about the governing institution including the mission, ownership, method of financing, accreditation, enrollment, area served, and institutional faculty qualifications and resources;

(d) Documentation of the need for the level of nurses in the area to be served by the secondary or distance learning site;

(e) Documentation from cooperating healthcare agencies in the community that will provide support for the creation of the secondary or distance learning site. This documentation shall include evidence of the agencies’ intention to contribute to the achievement of the clinical objectives of the site;

(f) Investigation of the projected impact on the operations of all programs of nursing within a fifty (50) mile radius of the site. Evidence that an introductory letter was sent to the impacted programs shall be included; and

(g) A timeline for the admission of students and graduation of the first class.

(4) Upon approval of the letter of intent by the board, the governing institution shall be notified in writing.

Section 4. Proposal Phase. (1) The secondary or distance learning site shall not be announced, advertised, or students admitted until the proposal has been approved and developmental status has been granted by the board.

(2) Developmental status shall be granted to the proposal to establish a secondary or distance learning site upon presentation to the board of evidence of the following:

(a) Participation by the program administrator in planning the secondary or distance learning site;

(b) The name and qualifications of the program administrator;

(d) Philosophy, purpose, and objectives of the governing institution, program of nursing, and the proposed secondary or distance learning site;

(e) Administrative and academic policies of the governing institution, program of nursing, and the proposed secondary or distance learning site;

(f) Identification of any differences between the policies to be utilized at the secondary or distance learning site as compared to the primary location;

(g) Organizational plan and administrative policies for implementation of the secondary or distance learning site;

(h) Adequacy and availability of student services consistent with those at the main campus;

(i) Plan for employment of qualified faculty who shall be employed sufficiently in advance of the opening date to provide for program planning and development and for orientation to the facilities;

(j) An identified curriculum and conceptual or organizing framework to be used and any planned revisions;

(k) The availability and willingness of accredited agencies to provide clinical experiences across the curriculum;

(l) Evidence of availability of adequate finances to support the secondary or distance learning site which shall include:

1. Sufficient financial resources as identified in an approved budget for the secondary or distance learning site;

2. The source of the funding identified;

3. The stability of the source of funding to maintain the operation of the secondary or distance learning site; and

4. Any stipulations for use of any special finances;

(m) The availability of adequate classrooms, laboratories, conference rooms, and library resources appropriate for the needs of the secondary or distance learning site which shall include:

1. Sufficient space and equipment allocated for use of faculty and students as outlined in 201 KAR 20:350; and

2. Library and learning resources that support achievement of meeting curricular objectives and future plans for maintaining these resources;

(n) A plan for evaluation of the secondary or distance learning site consistent with 201 KAR 20:360; and

(o) The effects of the secondary or distance learning site on the governing institution and the program of nursing.

Section 5. Proposal Review Process. (1) A completed program proposal shall be submitted to the board by the governing institution no less than six (6) months prior to the anticipated opening date for the secondary or distance learning site.

(2) A representative of the board shall conduct a site visit to the secondary or distance learning site and submit a written report to the board.

(3) The governing institution shall be notified in writing of action taken by the board on the proposal and the site visit.

(4)(a) If the board determines that the requirements of 201 KAR 20:260 through 20:360 have been met, the program shall be granted developmental status.

(b) If the board determines that all of the regulatory requirements have not been met, the program may be granted developmental status based on compliance with the terms and conditions identified.

(5) Students shall not be admitted to the secondary or distance learning site until developmental status has been granted by the board.

(6)(a) Approval to establish a secondary or distance learning site may be withdrawn if the requirements of 201 KAR 20:260 through 20:360 are not met or if a student class is not enrolled within eighteen (18) months.

(b) If the board determines that a proposed program does not comply with all of the regulatory requirements s, developmental or initial approval may be withdrawn.

Section 6. Approved Secondary or Distance Learning Sites. (1) Reports shall be submitted to the board in accordance with 201 KAR 20:360.

(2) The status of the proposal shall automatically move from developmental to initial approval upon admission of the first class. The program of nursing shall notify the board of the admission of the first class.

(3) Full approval shall be the designation granted to a secondary or distance learning site that has implemented the proposal and that continues to meet standards of 201 KAR 20:260 through 20:360.

(4) A secondary or distance learning site shall be eligible for full approval upon graduation of the first class if there is evidence that the regulatory standards have been met in accordance with subsection (7) of this section.

(5) The program of nursing shall notify the board in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the graduation of the first class.

(6) Within ninety (90) days of graduation of the first class, the faculty shall conduct a self study that evaluates the establishment of the secondary or distance learning site according to the proposal and shall submit a written report to the board prior to consideration for full approval.

(7) The decision to grant full approval shall be based upon a review of the following:

(a) The program evaluation by the faculty and the program administrator;

(b) The site visit report by the board representative conducted to evaluate compliance with 201 KAR 20:260 through 20:360; and

(c) Other facts that pertain to the secondary or distance learning site and reports deemed necessary to document that standards have been met.

(8) The retention of full approval of a secondary or distance learning site shall be contingent on meeting standards as set forth in 201 KAR 20:260 through 20:360. (11 Ky.R. 1701; eff. 6-4-1985; Am. 14 Ky.R. 590; eff. 11-6-1987; 35 Ky.R. 2343; 2668; eff. 6-11-2009.)