Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-19-214 - Pilot Programs for Innovative Approaches in Nursing Education

A. Under A.R.S. § 32-1606(A)(9) a nursing education program, refresher program or a certified nursing assistant program may implement a pilot program for an innovative approach by complying with the provisions of this Section. Education programs approved to implement innovative approaches shall comply with all other applicable provisions of A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 15 and A.A.C. Title 4, Chapter 19.

B. A program applying for a pilot program shall:

1. Hold full approval in good standing; and

2. Have no discipline in the past two years.

3. Have been compliant with all Board regulations during the past two years.

C. The following written information shall be provided to the Board at least 90 days prior to a Board meeting to seek approval for a pilot program:

1. Identifying information including name of program, address, responsible party and contact information;

2. A brief description of the current program, including accreditation and Board approval status;

3. Identification of the regulation or regulations that the proposed innovative approach would violate without pilot program board approval;

4. Length of time for which the innovative approach is requested;

5. Description of the innovative approach, including rationale and objectives;

6. Brief explanation of the rationale for the innovative approach at this time;

7 6. Explanation of how the proposed innovation differs from approaches in the current program;

8 7. Available evidence supporting the innovative approach;

9 8. Identification of resources that support the proposed innovative approach;

10 9. Expected impact the innovative approach will have on the program, including administration, students, faculty, and other program resources;

11 10. Plan for implementation and evaluation of the proposed innovation, including timeline,

12. Plan for evaluation of the proposed innovation, including measurable outcomes, method of evaluation, and frequency of evaluation; and

13 11. Additional application information as requested by the Board.

D. The Board shall approve an application for a pilot program that is in the best interests of the public, and meets the following criteria:

1. Eligibility criteria in subsection (B) and application criteria in subsection (C) are met;

2. The innovative approach will not compromise the quality of education or safe practice of students;

3. Resources are sufficient to support the innovative approach;

4. Rationale with available evidence supports the implementation of the innovative approach;

5. Implementation plan is reasonable to achieve the desired outcomes of the innovative approach;

6. Timeline provides for a sufficient period to implement and evaluate the innovative approach; and

7. Plan for periodic evaluation is comprehensive and supported by appropriate methodology.

E. The Board may:

1. Deny the application or request additional information if the program does not meet the criteria in subsections (B) and (C), or otherwise is not in the best interests of the public. The program may request a hearing by filing a written request with the Board within 30 days of service of the Board's order denying an application for a pilot program. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, and 4 A.A.C. 19, Article 6.

2. Rescind the approval of the innovation, after an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, and 4 A.A.C. 19, Article 6, or require the program to make modifications if:

a. The Board receives substantiated evidence indicating adverse impact on the program, students, faculty, patients, or the public,

b. The program fails to implement or evaluate the innovative approach as presented and approved, or

c. The program fails to maintain eligibility criteria in subsection (B).

F. An education program that is granted approval for an innovation shall maintain eligibility criteria in subsection (B) and submit:

1. Progress reports conforming to the evaluation plan annually or as requested by the Board; and

2. A final evaluation report that conforms to the evaluation plan, detailing and analyzing the outcomes data.

G. If the innovative approach has achieved the desired outcomes and the final evaluation has been submitted, the program may request that the innovative approach be continued.

H. The Board may grant the request to continue approval if the innovative approach has achieved desired outcomes and is in the best interests of the public.

I. If the Board denies the request to continue approval of the pilot program, the program may request a hearing by filing a written request with the Board within 30 days of service of the Board's order denying renewal of the pilot program. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, and 4 A.A.C. 19, Article 6.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-19-214

Adopted effective July 19, 1995 (Supp. 95-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 5349, effective November 8, 2001 (Supp. 01-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 451, effective March 7, 2005 (05-1). R4-19-214 renumbered to R4-19-216; New Section R4-19-214 made by final rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 1419, effective July 6, 2013 (Supp. 13-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 25 A.A.R. 919, effective 6/3/2019.