5608.1 This section applies to practical, associate degree, baccalaureate, RN-to-BSN, and entry-level master degree nursing education programs. All such nursing education programs shall be accredited by a national nursing accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A newly established program shall apply for such accreditation as soon as it becomes eligible.
5608.2 Upon becoming eligible for accreditation, the nursing education program shall pursue accreditation and shall provide evidence of current accreditation from a national nursing accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education within twenty-four (24) months of eligibility.
5608.3A nursing education program shall be part of and under control of a college or university that has accreditation by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
5608.4 Notwithstanding the requirement of § 5608.3, a nursing education program already approved as of the effective date of this rulemaking shall have up to five (5) years from the effective date of these provisions to become a part of a college or university that has accreditation by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
5608.5 All nursing education programs shall meet the following standards:
(a) The purpose and outcomes of the nursing program shall be consistent with accepted standards of nursing practice appropriate for graduates of the type of nursing program offered;(b) The input of stakeholders shall be considered in developing, revising, and evaluating the purpose and outcomes of the program;(c) The nursing program shall implement a comprehensive, systematic plan for ongoing evaluation that is based on program outcomes and incorporates continuous improvement;(d) The curriculum shall provide diverse didactic and clinical learning experiences consistent with program outcomes;(e) aculty and students shall participate in program planning, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement;(f) The nursing program administrator shall be a professionally and academically qualified registered nurse with institutional authority and administrative responsibility for the program;(g) Professionally, academically, and clinically qualified nurse faculty shall be sufficient in number and expertise to accomplish program outcomes and quality improvement;(h) The fiscal, human, physical, clinical, and technical learning resources shall be adequate to support program processes, security and outcomes;(i) Program information communicated by the nursing program shall be accurate, complete, consistent and readily available; and(j) There shall be sufficient number of qualified faculty to meet the outcomes and purposes of the nursing education program.5608.6 Administrator qualifications for programs leading to a practical nurse license shall include:
(a) An active District of Columbia Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing and without restrictions or conditions;(b) Minimum of a graduate degree in nursing;(c) Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in teaching and knowledge of learning principles for adult education, including nursing curriculum development, program administration and evaluation; and(d) A current knowledge of nursing practice at the practical nurse or associate degree registered nurse level.5608.7Administrator qualifications for an associate, baccalaureate, including RN-to-BSN, or direct-entry master's degree program shall include:
(a) An active District of Columbia RN license in good standing and without restrictions or conditions;(b) A doctoral degree in nursing, or a graduate degree in nursing and a doctoral degree in a related field;(c) Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in nursing education, teaching and knowledge of learning principles for adult education, including nursing curriculum development, administration, and evaluation; and(d) A current knowledge of nursing practice at the registered nursing level.5608.8Faculty qualifications for programs leading to a practical nurse license shall include:
(a) An active District of Columbia RN license in good standing and without restrictions or conditions;(b) Being academically and experientially qualified with a minimum of a graduate degree in nursing, or a bachelor's degree in nursing with a graduate degree in a related field;(c) Knowledge of teaching and learning principles for adult education, including nursing curriculum development and course evaluation; and(d) A minimum of two (2) years of patient care experience.5608.9 Pursuant to § 5608.8, fifty percent (50%) of full-time and part-time faculty shall have a graduate degree in nursing.
5608.10 Faculty qualifications for associate, baccalaureate, including RN-to-BSN, and direct-entry master's degree programs shall include:
(a) An active District of Columbia RN license in good standing and without restrictions or conditions;(b) Academic qualifications which include a minimum of a graduate degree in nursing;(c) Knowledge of teaching and learning principles for adult education, including nursing curriculum development and course evaluation; and(d) A minimum of two (2) years of patient care experience.5608.11 The Board may waive specific requirements of § 5608.10 for good cause if it determines that a waiver does not impair or adversely affect the quality of the offered education.
5608.12 The criteria for selecting a preceptor shall be in writing and shall include the following:
(a) The method of selecting clinical preceptors;(b) The orientation of clinical preceptors;(c) The objectives or outcomes of the preceptorship;(d) Possession of nursing education at or above the level of the program; and(e) A system for monitoring and evaluating the student's learning experiences.5608.13The faculty shall verify that a student possesses the necessary clinical competency prior to placing him or her with a clinical preceptor.
5608.14 A clinical preceptor in District of Columbia health facilities shall have an active District of Columbia nursing license in good standing and without restrictions or conditions and shall be authorized to practice at the level in which the student is being trained or higher.
5608.15 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.
5608.16 Curriculum shall be revised as necessary to maintain a program that reflects advances in health care and its delivery.
5608.17 The curriculum of all nursing education programs, shall include:
(a) Evidence-based learning experiences and methods of instruction, including distance education methods, consistent with the written curriculum plan;(b) Coursework including, but not limited to: (1) Content in the biological, social, and behavioral sciences to provide a foundation for safe and effective nursing practice;(2) Content regarding professional responsibilities, legal and ethical issues, history and trends in nursing and health care; and(3) Content in the prevention of illness and the promotion, restoration, and maintenance of health, and end of life care in patients across the lifespan and from diverse cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds.5608.18 In addition to the requirements of § 5608.17, nursing education programs leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree shall include courses in:
(b) Research and evidence-based practices;(c) Health assessment; and5608.19 In addition to the requirements of §§ 5608.17 and 5608.18, nursing education programs leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree shall include coursework in:
(a) Gerontological perspectives and the care of the older adult; and(b) Community/populations and global perspectives on health care.5608.20 In addition to the requirements of § 5608.17, the curriculum of prelicensure nursing education programs shall include faculty-supervised clinical practice to occur in a variety of clinical settings and shall include:
(a) Integrating patient safety principles throughout the didactic and clinical experiences;(b) Implementing evidence-based practice and patient values, including skills to identify and apply best practices to nursing care;(c) Collaborating with inter-professional teams through open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making;(d) Participating in quality improvement processes and monitoring patient care outcomes; and(e) Using information technology to communicate, mitigate error, and support decision- making;(f) Developing skills in direct patient care;(g) Making clinical judgments;(h) Caring and managing individuals and groups across the lifespan;(i) Measuring students' competencies that focus on demonstration of care management and decision-making skills when providing care;(j) When appropriate to the level of education, the delegating and supervising of other health care providers;(k) All student clinical experiences with preceptors; and(l) The following minimum number of hours: (1) A minimum of six hundred and fifty (650) clinical hours for programs leading to the registered nurse license; or(2) A minimum of six hundred (600) clinical hours for programs leading to the practical nurse license.5608.21 Nursing education programs leading to a practical nurse license shall include supervised clinical experiences in the following areas:
(c) Psychiatric and mental health nursing;(e) Community or home care; and5608.22 Programs leading to a registered nurse license shall include supervised clinical experiences in the following areas:
(d) Maternal and newborn health;(f) Psychiatric and mental health nursing;5608.23RN-to-BSN programs shall include clinical experiences in the following areas:
(a) Community/population health; and(b) Systems leadership and information management.5608.24 Campus laboratory experiences shall provide attainment of psychomotor skills and clinical decision making in the care of patients.
5608.25 The ratio of credit hours to laboratory hours shall not exceed one to three (1:3).
5608.26 Not more than fifty percent (50%) of the required clinical experiences may be replaced by clinical simulations with the following requirements:
(a) The use of high-fidelity computerized mannequins or standardized patients in courses beyond foundations;(b) Debriefing, using education theory;(c) Conducted by faculty with training in clinical simulations; and(d) The use of clinical simulations in the areas of maternal-newborn, medical-surgical, critical care, and pediatrics, and psychiatric mental health.D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-5608
Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 7190 (July 23, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 2116 (March 9, 2007); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 16319 (12/25/2015); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 12447 (11/26/2021)