Chapter N 1

N 1.04(1)(dm) (dm) Documentation of a school evaluation plan.

N 1.04(1)(e) (e) Verification of the establishment of student policies for admission, progression, retention, and graduation.

N 1.04(1)(em) (em) Documentation of a plan for student or prospective student access to student policies.

N 1.04(1)(f) (f) Verification of the students’ ability to acquire clinical skills by providing all of the following:

N 1.04(1)(f)1. 1. Written agreements from clinical facilities securing clinical opportunities and documentation of the facility, type, size, number of beds, and type of patients. All written agreements shall be signed and dated after the date on which the school of nursing was granted authorization to plan by the board.

N 1.04(1)(f)2. 2. Documentation of simulation equipment and experiences.

N 1.04(1)(f)3. 3. Documentation that clinical experiences are representative of all areas of nursing practice covered by the school of nursing’s curriculum.

N 1.04(1)(g) (g) An updated timeline for implementing the program and intended date for entry of the first class.

N 1.04(2) (2) The board shall make a decision on the application within 2 months of the receipt of the completed application.

N 1.04(2g) (2g) A school of nursing which has received authorization to admit students shall provide the board on the first day of March, June, September, and December until the school of nursing receives approval, evidence of employment of sufficient number of faculty meeting s. N 1.08 (3) standards to teach the courses offered four months from the date the report is due.

N 1.04(2r) (2r) The board may review the school of nursing to determine whether s. N 1.08 standards are being met by requiring any of the following:

N 1.04(2r)(a) (a) A site survey.

N 1.04(2r)(b) (b) A self-assessment.

N 1.04(2r)(c) (c) A plan for improvement and any progress reports.

N 1.04(3) (3) Withdrawal of authorization may occur for failure to meet the standards in s. N 1.08.

N 1.04 History History: CR 14-004: cr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; correction in (1) (d) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2014 No. 703; CR 17-096: am. (1) (a), (b), r. (1) (d) 4., cr. (1) (dm), (em), am. (1) (f) 1., cr. (1) (f) 3., (2g), (2r) Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18; correction in (2g) made under. s. 35.17, Stats., Register August 2018 No. 752.

N 1.05 N 1.05 Approval of school of nursing.

N 1.05(1) (1) A school of nursing may apply for approval of the school of nursing upon graduation of the first class, but may not apply later than graduation of the third class. The school of nursing shall submit all of the following:

N 1.05(1)(a) (a) A self-evaluation report setting forth evidence of compliance with the standards in s. N 1.08.

N 1.05(1)(b) (b) The school of nursing’s ongoing systematic evaluation plan. The systematic evaluation plan shall include an evaluation of the annual pass rate of any graduates who took the NCLEX or an advanced practice certification examination.

N 1.05(2) (2) The board may conduct a site survey of the school of nursing. A determination to conduct a site survey shall occur within 2 months of receipt of completed application for approval.

N 1.05(3) (3) The board shall make a decision on the application within two months of the completed site survey or receipt of the completed application, whichever is later. The board shall approve the school based on verification that the school of nursing is in compliance with nursing education standards in s. N 1.08.

N 1.05(4) (4) The board may grant conditional approval. The notice of conditional approval shall contain a short statement in plain language of the basis, specifying the standard upon which the conditional approval is based. A school of nursing that receives a conditional approval may not admit new students to the school of nursing until the school of nursing receives full approval. The school of nursing may apply for full approval in three months from the date the school of nursing receives conditional approval.

N 1.05(5) (5) If the board denies the school of nursing approval, the notice of denial shall contain a short statement in plain language of the basis for denial, specifying the standard upon which the denial is based. The controlling institution shall do all of the following:

N 1.05(5)(a) (a) Implement the time frame established by the board for transfer of enrolled students to an approved school of nursing and report to the board the date of transfer for each student by name.

N 1.05(5)(b) (b) Arrange for the secure storage and access to academic records and transcripts for the next 50 years. Provide the board with the name and address of the educational institution or other organization that will be responsible for secure storage and access to academic records and transcripts for 50 years.

N 1.05(5)(c) (c) Close the school of nursing when the last student has transferred.

N 1.05(5)(d) (d) Submit progress reports during the closure process upon request of the board.

N 1.05(6) (6) A school of nursing denied approval or given a conditional approval may request a hearing within 30 calendar days after the mailing of a notice. The school of nursing may be granted a stay of the school closure during the appeal process.

N 1.05 History History: CR 14-004: cr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; correction in (1) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2014 No. 703; CR 17-096: am. (1) (intro.), (b), (5) (c) Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

N 1.06 N 1.06 Approval of out of state school of nursing.

N 1.06(1) (1) Approval. An out-of-state school of nursing shall be approved if all of the following requirements are met:

N 1.06(1)(a) (a) The school is approved by the board of the state the school is located.

N 1.06(1)(b) (b) The school is accredited by a nursing accreditation body recognized by the Wisconsin board.

N 1.06(2) (2) Continued approval. An out-of-state school shall maintain approval as long as school of nursing meets the requirements in sub. (1).

N 1.06 History History: CR 14-004: cr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register July 2014 No. 703.

N 1.07 N 1.07 Accreditation.

N 1.07(1) (1) A school of nursing shall receive nursing accreditation by a board recognized nursing accreditation agency within three years of school approval.

N 1.07(2) (2) Schools of professional nursing that grant a certificate of completion shall hold accreditation at the level of the complete degree at which a diploma is conferred.

N 1.07(3) (3) Failure to maintain nursing accreditation shall result in withdrawal of school approval.

N 1.07 History History: CR 14-004: cr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; CR 17-096: am. (1) Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

N 1.08 N 1.08 Standards.

N 1.08(1) (1) Organization and administration. The institution shall assume legal responsibility for overall conduct of the school of nursing. The institution shall do all of the following:

N 1.08(1)(a) (a) Designate an educational administrator, establish administrative policies, and provide fiscal, human, physical, clinical, and technical learning resources adequate to support school processes, security, and outcomes.

N 1.08(1)(b) (b) Maintain institutional accreditation.

N 1.08(1)(c) (c) Develop and maintain written school of nursing administrative policies which are in accord with the institution.

N 1.08(1)(d) (d) Have written documentation between the school of nursing and institutions which offer associated academic study, clinical facilities, and agencies for related services for students.

N 1.08(2) (2) Educational administrator.

N 1.08(2)(a) (a) The qualifications for the educational administrator are all of the following:

N 1.08(2)(a)1. 1. Current, active registered nurse license or privilege to practice in Wisconsin that is not encumbered.

N 1.08(2)(a)2. 2. A graduate degree with a major in nursing. A doctoral degree is required for a school of nursing offering a graduate degree nursing program.

N 1.08(2)(a)3. 3. Knowledge of learning principles for adult education, including nursing curriculum development, administration and evaluation and one of the following:

N 1.08(2)(a)3.a. a. Two years experience as an instructor in a nursing education program within the last 5 years.

N 1.08(2)(a)3.b. b. One year experience as an instructor in a nursing education program within the last 5 years and the graduate degree included education preparation.

N 1.08(2)(a)4. 4. Current knowledge of nursing practice.

N 1.08(2)(b) (b) The educational administrator shall notify the board within 5 business days of a vacancy in the educational administrator’s position or change in educational administrator. Failure to report by the educational administrator is considered a violation of s. N 7.03 (1) (intro.).

N 1.08(2)(c) (c) The institution shall designate an interim or permanent educational administrator and notify the board within 5 business days of a vacancy in the educational administrator position. The institution may request board approval of an interim educational administrator who does not meet the qualifications in par. (a).

N 1.08(2)(d) (d) The interim educational administrator may serve no longer than 6 months. The institution may request an extension of time based upon hardship. The institution and new educational administrator shall notify the board within 5 business days of the institution’s hiring of the educational administrator.

N 1.08(3) (3) Faculty.

N 1.08(3)(a) (a) Faculty standards. The school of nursing shall have evidence of the faculty meeting the standards in this section on file in the school of nursing office and available upon request to the board.

N 1.08(3)(b) (b) Qualifications for professional nursing faculty. The qualifications for the faculty of a school of professional nursing are all of the following:

N 1.08(3)(b)1. 1. Hold a current, active registered nurse license or privilege to practice in Wisconsin that is not encumbered.

N 1.08(3)(b)2. 2. A graduate degree with a major in nursing.

N 1.08(3)(b)3. 3. Notwithstanding subd. 2., interprofessional faculty teaching interdisciplinary courses not specific to nursing shall have expertise and a graduate degree appropriate for the content being taught.

N 1.08(3)(c) (c) Qualifications for practical nursing faculty. The qualifications for the faculty of a school of practical nursing are all of the following:

N 1.08(3)(c)1. 1. Hold a current, active registered nurse license or privilege to practice in Wisconsin that is not encumbered.

N 1.08(3)(c)2. 2. A baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing.

N 1.08(3)(d) (d) Faculty exceptions. An educational administrator may apply to the board for exceptions to faculty requirements who are not teaching graduate level courses. A minimum of 50 percent of faculty must meet the faculty qualifications. A school of nursing that is granted a faculty exception for a faculty member shall provide the faculty member with a supervisor who meets the qualifications in par. (b) or (c). The board may grant any of the following exceptions:

N 1.08(3)(d)1. 1. ‘Standard exception.’ A standard exception may be renewed upon showing proof of progress and continued active enrollment each year. The standard exception is for a person who has a baccalaureate degree in nursing and is actively enrolled in one of the following:

N 1.08(3)(d)1.a. a. A master’s program with a major in nursing.

N 1.08(3)(d)1.b. b. A bachelor’s in nursing to doctorate program in nursing.

N 1.08(3)(d)1.c. c. A doctorate program in nursing.

N 1.08(3)(d)2. 2. ‘Emergency exception.’ A person with a bachelor’s degree in nursing may be employed for a short-term, unanticipated emergency situation including medical leave. The emergency exception is for a term no longer than one semester. The emergency exception may not be renewed for the course taught or for the individual in consecutive semesters. An educational administrator who requests a second consecutive emergency exception is required to submit a plan regarding the school of nursing staffing levels, courses being offered, and the extenuating circumstances to the board prior to the board approving another emergency exception.

N 1.08(3)(d)3. 3. ‘Non-nursing masters degree exception.’ A non-nursing master’s degree exception is for a person who has a unique combination of knowledge, experience, and skills that will best serve the school of nursing, faculty, and students in a specific content area. The person shall meet all of the following:

N 1.08(3)(d)3.a. a. A bachelor’s degree in nursing.

N 1.08(3)(d)3.b. b. A graduate degree related to the topic of the course the person is teaching.

N 1.08(3)(d)3.c. c. Nursing experience in the area of teaching assignment.

N 1.08(4) (4) Curriculum. The curriculum 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. All curriculum shall be developed by nursing faculty with a graduate degree and designed to teach students to use a systematic approach to clinical decision-making and safe patient care. Curriculum for graduate level courses shall be developed by nursing faculty with a doctoral degree. Curriculum shall be revised as necessary to maintain a program that reflects advances in health care and its delivery. The curriculum shall include all of the following:

N 1.08(4)(a) (a) Evidence-based learning experiences and methods of instruction consistent with the written curriculum plan. The methods of instruction may include distance education methods.

N 1.08(4)(b) (b) Diverse didactic and clinical learning experiences consistent with program outcomes.

N 1.08(4)(c) (c) Coursework shall include all of the following:

N 1.08(4)(c)1. 1. Content in the biological, physical, social and behavioral sciences to provide a foundation for safe and effective nursing practice.

N 1.08(4)(c)2. 2. Content regarding professional responsibilities, legal and ethical issues, and history and trends in nursing and health care.

N 1.08(4)(c)3. 3. Didactic content and supervised clinical experiences in the prevention of illness and the promotion, restoration and maintenance of health in patients from diverse cultural, ethnic, social and economic backgrounds. Prelicensure programs shall include patients across the lifespan.

N 1.08(5) (5) Clinical learning experiences.

N 1.08(5)(a) (a) Patient experiences shall occur in a variety of clinical or simulated settings of nursing practice expected at the level of licensure and shall include all of the following:

N 1.08(5)(a)1. 1. Integrating evidence-based research with patient goals and values to produce optimal care.

N 1.08(5)(a)3. 3. Providing patient-centered culturally competent care by doing all of the following:

N 1.08(5)(a)3.b. b. Recognizing that the patient or designee is the source of control and full partner in providing coordinated care.