(1) The board shall determine whether a bargaining unit is appropriate by determining whether the employees share a community of interest. A community of interest is determined by considering the following factors:

(a) wages;

(b) hours;

(c) fringe benefits and other working conditions;

(d) the history of collective bargaining;

(e) common supervision;

(f) common personnel policies;

(g) extent of integration of work functions and interchange among employees affected; and

(h) desires of the employees.

(2) The board shall consider the following factors in addition to those listed in (1) when considering a proposed bargaining unit for nurses working at a health care facility, as defined in 39-32-102, MCA:

(a) similarity of duties;

(b) licensure; and

(c) conditions of employment.