La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLVII-3545

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section XLVII-3545 - Undergraduate Community-Based Learning Experiences (Formerly Section 3542)

A. "Community-based experiences" involve the community as a whole, exclusive of acute care facilities, with nursing care of individuals, families, and groups being provided within the context of promoting and preserving the health of the community.

B. Non-health-care related agencies utilized for community-based learning experiences for students must have an identifiable sponsoring agency with a clearly defined purpose(s).

C. Nurse faculty shall retain the responsibility for the selection and guidance of student community-based learning experiences and for the evaluation of student performance.

D. Community-Based Agency Experience Supervision

1. Direct Faculty Supervision

a. The undergraduate nursing education degree program shall maintain a ratio of not more than 1 faculty member to 10 students (1:10).

b. Students may participate in invasive or complex nursing activities in a community setting with the direct supervision of a faculty member.

2. Preceptorship

a. The undergraduate nursing education degree program shall maintain a ratio of not more than 1 faculty member to 15 students (1:15) for the preceptorship experience.

b. A preceptor shall not be allowed to supervise more than three students at one time in any given community clinical site.

c. Students may participate in invasive or complex nursing activities in a community setting with the direct supervision of an approved RN preceptor.

d. A faculty member shall be available for preceptors while students are involved in a preceptorship experience. The faculty member shall confer with each preceptor and student(s) at least weekly during said learning experience.

e. Preceptors shall be selected according to written criteria jointly developed by faculty and nursing administration in the clinical facility, and in accordance with guidelines established by the board.

3. Community Agency Supervision

a. There shall be qualified faculty available to provide a safe, effective faculty/student/client ratio not to exceed 1 faculty member to 15 students (1:15).

b. Students, under the overall direction of a faculty member, may participate in noninvasive or noncomplex nursing activities in structured community nursing settings where RN's are present (e.g., out-patient clinics). Students shall have the skills appropriate to the experiences planned.

c. Students, under the verbal direction of a faculty member, may participate in basic care activities, such as, assessment of vital signs and collection of data. They also may assist with activities of daily living in community settings where a registered nurse is not present. Students shall have the skills appropriate to the experiences planned.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XLVII-3545

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Nursing, LR 21:803 (August 1995), amended LR 24:1293 (July 1998), LR 26:2791 (December 2000), repromulgated LR 27:853 (June 2001), amended LR 42890 (6/1/2016).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:918.