W. Va. Code R. § 19-1-5 - Required Criteria for Prelicensure Nursing Education Programs

5.1. The organization and administration of the nursing education program shall be consistent with the law governing the practice of nursing. The nursing education program shall be an integrated part of a governing academic institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The nursing education program shall provide evidence of current accreditation by a national nursing accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education by July 1, 2022.

5.1.a. Curriculum. The curriculum of the nursing education program shall enable the student to develop the nursing knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for the level, scope and standards of competent nursing practice expected at the level of licensure. Curriculum will be revised as necessary to maintain a program that reflects advances in health care and its delivery.

5.1.a.1. The curriculum, as defined by nursing education, professional and practice standards, shall include:

5.1.a.1.A. Experiences that promote the development and subsequent demonstration of evidence-based clinical judgment, skill in clinical management, and the professional commitment to collaborate in continuously improving the quality and safety of the healthcare system for patients;

5.1.a.1.B. Evidence-based learning experiences and methods of instruction, including distance education methods, consistent with the written curriculum plan.

5.1.a.1.C. Curriculum content including, but not limited to:

5.1.a.1.C.1. Content in the biological, physical, social and behavioral sciences to provide a foundation for safe and effective nursing practice;

5.1.a.1.C.2. Content regarding professional responsibilities, legal and ethical issues, history and trends in nursing and health care; and

5.1.a.1.C.3. Didactic content and supervised clinical experience in the prevention of illness and the promotion, restoration and maintenance of health in patients across the lifespan and from diverse cultural, ethnic, social and economic backgrounds. Patient experiences will occur in a variety of clinical settings and will include:

5.1.a.1.C.3.(a). Integrating patient safety principles throughout the didactic and clinical coursework.

5.1.a.1.C.3.(b). Implementing evidence-based practice to integrate best research with clinical expertise and patient values for optimal care, including skills to identify and apply best practices to nursing care.

5.1.a.1.C.3.(c). Providing patient-centered, culturally competent care that recognizes that the patient or designee is the source of control and full partner in providing coordinated care by:

(a) Respecting patient differences, values, preferences and expressed needs;

(b) Involving patients/designees in decision-making and care management;

(c) Coordinating and managing patient care across settings;

(d) Explaining appropriate and accessible interventions to patients and populations that may positively affect their ability to achieve healthy lifestyles.

5.1.a.1.C.3(d). Collaborating with interprofessional teams to foster open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making in order to achieve quality patient care.

5.1.a.1.C.3(e). Participating in quality improvement processes to monitor patient care outcomes, identify possibility of hazards and errors, and collaborate in the development and testing of changes that improve the quality and safety of health care systems.

5.1.a.1.C.3(f). Using information technology to communicate, mitigate error and support decision making.

5.1.a.1.D. Faculty supervised clinical practice shall include development of skills in direct patient care; making clinical judgments; care and management of both individuals and groups of patients across the lifespan; and delegation to and supervision of, as appropriate to level of education, other health care providers.

5.1.a.1.D.1. The program shall provide clinical hours comparable to those provided by an approved program of equivalent size and program type or, in the case of no equivalent program, clinical hours scaled relative to an approved program.

5.1.a.1.D.2. Clinical experiences shall be supervised by qualified faculty.

5.1.a.1.D.3. All student clinical experiences, including those with preceptors, shall be directed by nursing faculty.

5.1.a.1.D.4. Measurement of students' competencies shall focus on the students' demonstration of care management and decision making skills when providing patient care in a variety of clinical situations and care settings.

5.1.a.1.E. Delivery of instruction by distance education methods must be consistent with the program curriculum plan and enable students to meet the goals, competencies and outcomes of the educational program and standards of the Board.

5.1.b. Students.

5.1.b.1. The program shall provide students the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for safe and effective nursing practice, in theory and clinical experience, through faculty supervision.

5.1.b.2. The program shall hold students accountable for professional behavior, including honesty and integrity, while in their program of study.

5.1.b.3. All policies relevant to applicants and students shall be readily available in writing.

5.1.b.4. Students shall meet health standards and criminal background check requirements for clinical placements.

5.1.c. Administrator qualifications.

5.1.c.1. Administrator qualifications in a program shall include:

5.1.c.1.A. A current, active RN license or privilege to practice that is not encumbered and meets requirements of the Board;

5.1.c.1.B. A graduate degree in nursing for baccalaureate nursing education programs and for associate degree nursing programs;

5.1.c.1.C. Educational preparation or experience in teaching and knowledge of learning principles for adult education, including nursing curriculum development, administration and evaluation; and

5.1.c.1.D. A current knowledge of registered nursing practice

5.1.d. Faculty.

5.1.d.1. There shall be sufficient number of qualified faculty to meet the outcomes and purposes of the nursing education program.

5.1.d.2. The nursing faculty shall hold a current, active RN license or privilege to practice that is not encumbered and meets requirements of the Board.

5.1.d.3. Faculty supervising clinical experiences shall hold a current active RN license or privilege to practice that is not encumbered and meets requirements in the jurisdiction where the clinical practicum is conducted.

5.1.d.4. Faculty who teach in a program shall be academically and experientially qualified and meet the qualifications contained in this rule.

5.1.d.5. Interprofessional faculty teaching non-clinical nursing courses shall have advanced preparation appropriate for the content being taught.

5.1.d.6. Clinical preceptors shall possess competencies related to the area of assigned clinical teaching responsibilities and will serve as role models and educators for students. Clinical preceptors may be used to enhance faculty-directed clinical learning experiences. Clinical preceptors shall have an unencumbered license to practice as a nurse at or above the level for which the student is being prepared, in the jurisdiction where they are precepting students.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 19-1-5