Section R4-19-207. New Programs; Proposal Approval; Provisional Approval

A.      At a minimum of one year before establishing a nursing pro- gram, a parent institution shall submit to the Board one elec- tronic copy and one paper copy of an application for proposal approval. The parent institution shall ensure that the proposal application was written by or under the direction of a regis- tered nurse who meets the requirements of R4-19-203(A) and includes the following information and documentation:

1.        Name and address of the parent institution;

2.        Statement of intent to establish a nursing program, including the academic and licensure level of the pro- gram; and

3.        Proposal that includes, but is not limited to, the following information:

a.         Documentation of the present and future need for the type and level of program in the state including availability of potential students, need for entry level nurses at the educational level of the program and availability of clinical placements that meet the requirements of R4-19-206;

b.        Evidence that written notification of intent to estab- lish a new nursing education program has been pro- vided to the nursing program administrators of all existing Arizona-approved programs a minimum of 30 days prior to submission of the proposal applica- tion, including projected student enrollment and clinical sites;

c.         Organizational structure of the educational institu- tion documenting the relationship of the nursing pro- gram within the institution and the role of the nursing program administrator consistent with R4- 19-201 and R4-19-203;

d.        Evidence of institutional accreditation consistent with R4-19-201 and post-secondary approval, if applicable. The institution shall provide the most recent full reports including findings and recommen- dations of the applicable accrediting organization or approval agency. The Board may request additional accreditation or approval evidence.

e.         Purpose and mission of the nursing program,

f.         Curriculum development documentation to include:

i.         Student-centered outcomes for the program;

ii.        A plan that identifies the prescribed course sequencing and time required; and

iii.      Identification of established professional stan- dards, guidelines or competencies upon which the curriculum will be based;

g.        Name, qualifications, and job description of a nurs- ing program administrator who meets the require- ments of R4-19-203 and availability and job description of faculty who meet qualifications of R4-19-204;

h.        Number of budgeted clinical and didactic faculty positions from the time of the first admission to graduation of the first class;

i.         Evidence that the program has secured clinical sites for its projected enrollment that meet the require- ments of R4-19-206;

j.         Anticipated student enrollment per session and annually;

k.        Documentation of planning for adequate academic facilities and secretarial and support staff to support the nursing program consistent with the require- ments of R4-19-202;

l.        Evidence of program financial resources comparable to an approved program of similar size and type or, if there is no comparable program, scaled relative to an approved program adequate for the planning, implementation, and continuation of the nursing program; and

m.     Tentative time schedule for planning and initiating the nursing program including faculty hiring, entry date and size of student cohorts, and obtaining and utilizing clinical placements from the expected date of proposal approval to graduation of the first cohort.

n.        A parent institution or owner corporation that has multiple nursing programs in one or more U.S. juris- dictions including Arizona, shall provide the follow- ing evidence for each nursing program:

i.         Program approval in good  standing  with no conditions, restrictions, ongoing investigations or deficiencies;

ii.        An NCLEX pass rate of at least 80% for the past two years or since inception; and

iii.      An on-time graduation rate consistent with the requirements of R4-19-206(H).

B.       The Board shall grant proposal approval to any parent institu- tion that meets the requirements of subsection (A) if the Board deems that such approval is in the best interests of the public. Proposal approval expires one year from the date of Board issuance.

C.      A parent institution  that is  denied  proposal approval may request a hearing by filing a written request with the Board within 30 days of service of the Board's order denying the application for proposal approval. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10 and 4

A.A.C. 19, Article 6.

D.      At a minimum of 180 days before planned enrollment of stu- dents, a parent institution that received proposal approval within the previous year may submit to the Board one elec- tronic copy and one paper copy of an application for provi- sional approval. The parent institution shall ensure that the provisional approval application was written by or under the direction of a registered nurse who meets the requirements of R4-19-203(A) and includes the following information and documentation:

1.        Name and address of parent institution;

2.        A self-study that provides evidence supporting compli- ance with R4-19-201 through R4-19-206, and

3.        Names and qualifications of:

a.         The nursing program administrator;

b.        Didactic nursing faculty or one or more nurse con- sultants who are responsible for developing the cur- riculum and determining nursing program admission, progression and graduation criteria;

4.        Plan for recruiting and hiring additional didactic faculty for the first semester or session of operation at least 60 days before classes begin;

5.        Plan for recruiting and hiring additional clinical nursing faculty at least 30 days before the clinical rotation begins;

6.        Final program implementation plan including dates and number of planned student admissions not to exceed 60 per calendar year, recruitment and hire dates for didactic and clinical faculty for the period of provisional approval. An increase in student admissions may be sought under subsection (H) of this Section;

7.        Descriptions of available and proposed physical facilities with dates of availability; and

8.        Detailed written plan for clinical placements for all planned enrollments until graduation of the first class that is:

a.         Based on current clinical availability and curriculum needs;

b.        Accompanied by documentation of commitment from proposed clinical agencies for the times and units specified, in addition to a signed clinical con- tract that meets the requirements of R4-19-201(F) from each agency; and

c.         Lists any nursing programs who are currently using the planned clinical units for the times proposed and will be displaced.

E.       Following an onsite evaluation conducted according to A.R.S.

§ 41-1009, the Board shall grant provisional approval to a par- ent institution that meets the requirements of R4-19-201 through R4-19-206 if approval is in the best interest of the public. A parent institution that is denied provisional approval may request a hearing by filing a written request with the Board within 30 days of service of the Board's order denying the application for provisional approval. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Arti- cle 10 and 4 A.A.C. 19, Article 6.

F.       The provisional approval of a nursing program expires 12 months from the date of the grant of provisional approval if a class of nursing students is not admitted by the nursing pro- gram within that time. The Board may rescind the provisional approval of a nursing program for a violation of any provision of this Article according to R4-19-211.

G.      One year after admission of the first nursing class into nursing courses, the program shall provide a report to the Board con- taining information on:

1.        Implementation of the program including any differences from the plans submitted in the applications for proposal and provisional approval and an explanation of those dif- ferences; and

2.        The outcomes of the evaluation of the program according to the program’s evaluation plan under R4-19-201(I);

H.      Following receipt of the report, a representative of the Board shall conduct a site survey visit under A.R.S. § 41-1009 to determine compliance with this Article. A report of the site visit shall be provided to the Board. After reviewing the con- sultant report and at the request of the program under R4-19- 209, the Board may grant permission to increase admissions.

I.        If a nursing program fails to apply for full approval within two years of graduating its first class of students, the Board shall rescind its provisional approval. A nursing program whose provisional approval is rescinded may request a hearing by fil- ing a written request with the Board within 30 days of service of the Board's order rescinding the provisional approval. Hear- ings shall be conducted in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10 and 4 A.A.C. 19, Article 6.

J.        A nursing program or the parent institution or governing body of a nursing program under provisional approval may not admit additional students other than those specifically pro- vided for in the application or subsequently approved by the Board under subsection (H) of this Section and R4-19-209 and may not expand to another geographical location.

K.      A nursing program whose provisional approval is rescinded may request a hearing by filing a written request with the Board within 30 days of service of the Board's order rescind- ing the provisional approval. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10 and 4

A.A.C. 19, Article 6.

Historical Note

Adopted effective February 20, 1980 (Supp. 80-1). For- mer Section R4-19-17 renumbered and amended as Sec- tion R4-19-16 effective July 16, 1984 (Supp. 84-4).

Former Section R4-19-17 renumbered as R4-19-207 (Supp. 86-1). New Section 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). Amended by final rulemaking at

19 A.A.R. 1419, effective July 6, 2013 (Supp. 13-2).