Section R4-19-217. Distance Learning Nursing Programs; Out-of- State Nursing Programs

A.      An out-of-state nursing program that is in good standing in another state and plans to provide distance based didactic instruction and on-ground clinical instruction in Arizona shall comply with the application requirements of R4-19-207 and R4-19-208. The program shall employ at least one faculty member who is physically present in this state to coordinate the education and clinical experience.

B.       Any nursing program that delivers didactic instruction by dis- tance learning methods, whether in this state or another, shall ensure that the methods of instruction are compatible with the program curriculum plan and enable a student to meet the goals, competencies, and objectives of the educational pro- gram and standards of the Board.

1.        A distance learning nursing program shall establish a means for assessing individual student outcomes, and program outcomes including, at minimum, student learn- ing outcomes, student retention, student satisfaction, and faculty satisfaction.

2.        For out-of-state nursing programs, the program shall be within the jurisdiction of and regulated by an equivalent United States nursing regulatory authority in the state from which the program originates, unless also providing clinical experience in Arizona.

3.        Didactic faculty members shall be licensed in the state of origination of a distance learning nursing program and in Arizona or hold a multi-state compact license unless exempt under A.R.S. § 32-1631(8). Clinical supervising faculty shall be licensed in the location of the clinical activity.

4.        A distance learning nursing program shall provide stu- dents with supervised clinical and laboratory experiences so that program objectives are met and didactic learning is validated by supervised, land-based clinical and labora- tory experiences.

5.        A distance-learning nursing program shall provide stu- dents with access to technology, resources, technical sup- port, and the ability to interact with peers, preceptors, and faculty.

C.      A nursing program, located in another state or territory of the United States, that wishes to provide clinical experiences in Arizona  under  A.R.S.  §  32-1631(3),  shall  obtain  Board

approval before offering or conducting a clinical session. To obtain approval, the program shall submit a proposal package that contains:

1.        A self study, describing the program's compliance with R4-19-201 through R4-19-206; and

2.        A statement regarding, the number and type of student placements planned, a copy of signed clinical contracts and written commitment by the clinical facilities to pro- vide the necessary clinical experiences, the name and qualifications of faculty licensed in Arizona and physi- cally present in the facility who will supervise the experi- ence and verification of good standing of the program in the jurisdiction of origin.

D.      The Board may require a nursing program approved under this Section to file periodic reports for the purpose of data collec- tion or to determine compliance with the provisions of this Article. A program shall submit a report to the Board within 30 days of the date on a written request from the Board or by the due date stated in the request if the due date is after the nor- mal 30-day period.

E.       The Board shall approve an application to conduct clinical instruction in Arizona that meets the requirements in A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 15 and this Chapter, and is in the best interest of the public. An applicant who is denied approval to conduct clinical instruction in Arizona 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 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.

F.       The Board may rescind an approval held by an out-of-state nursing program to conduct clinical instruction in Arizona, in accordance with R4-19-212.

G.      If the Board finds that a nursing program located and approved in another state or territory of the United States does not meet requirements for nursing programs prescribed in this Article the Board shall either provide a notice of deficiency to the pro- gram as prescribed in R4-19-212(A), (A)(1) and (A)(2) or take other disciplinary action depending on the severity of the offense under R4-19-211.

1.        If the Board issues a notice of deficiency and the program fails to correct the deficiency before the expiration of the period of correction, the Board shall rescind approval of the program as prescribed in R4-19-212(B)(1).

2.        If the period of rescission, from the date of rescission to the date of reinstatement, is at any time concurrent with an applicant's education from the date of admission to the date of graduation, the Board shall withhold licensure unless the applicant meets all licensure requirements and completes any remedial education prescribed by the Board under R4-19-301(H). The Board shall ensure that the applicant has completed a curriculum that is equiva- lent to that of an approved nursing program.

3.        If a nursing program provides evidence of compliance with this Article after the rescission of approval, the Board shall review the evidence, determine whether or not the nursing program complies with these standards, and reinstate approval of the program if the program complies with these standards and reinstatement is in the best interest of the public.

Historical Note

New Section R4-19-217 renumbered from R4-19-215 and amended by final rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 1419, effective July 6, 2013 (Supp. 13-2). Amended by final

rulemaking at 20 A.A.R. 1859, effective September 8,

2014 (Supp. 14-3).