24.159.625    ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW PROGRAM

(1) The applicant shall notify the board of the intent to establish a new program by providing the following information for a Phase I application:

(a) results of a needs assessment, including identification of potential and available students and employment opportunities for program graduates;

(b) commitment by the governing institution of sufficient financial and other resources necessary for the planning, implementation, and continuation of the program;

(c) evidence of governing institution approval and support;

(d) evidence of community support;

(e) type of program proposed;

(f) description of proposed clinical opportunities and availability of resources;

(g) availability of a qualified faculty and program director;

(h) total proposed student enrollment;

(i) a proposed timeline for initiating the program;

(j) description of how the proposed program may affect existing programs that share the proposed clinical sites; and

(k) indication that plans and the needs assessment regarding the proposed program have been shared with the directors of all programs in the state.

(2) Board approval of a Phase I application permits the applicant to continue planning, but does not assure subsequent approval of Phase II.

(3) The next step is Phase II, application for initial approval for admission of students. The applicant shall provide the following information to the board:

(a) name of a qualified nurse administrator who has been appointed to administer the program;

(b) list of sufficient qualified faculty, CRRNs, CRLPNs, and administrative staff to develop and initiate the program;

(c) overview of total curriculum, including:

(i) course descriptions appropriate to each level of education provided; and

(ii) course sequence and schedule.

(d) contracts for each clinical site;

(e) description of use of each clinical site by other programs;

(f) numbers of students to be placed at each clinical site;

(g) rationale for choice of each clinical site, including description of anticipated student experiences;

(h) initial program evaluation plan; and

(i) student policies for admission, progression, retention, and graduation.

(4) Prior to Phase II approval, the board shall conduct an onsite program inspection visit to verify the information in the written report and ascertain the readiness of the program to admit students.

(5) Following board approval of Phase II application, the program may admit students. The board shall notify NCSBN for NCLEX testing purposes. Students graduating from a program under Phase II approval are eligible to sit for the NCLEX examination.

(6) The last step is Phase III, full approval of the program. The board shall grant full approval of a program upon:

(a) submission by the program of a self-study report, any applicable fees per ARM 24.159.401, and completion of a site survey by the board that verifies that the program is in compliance with the board's nursing education standards. The visit is to be held following the graduation of the first class of students.

(7) The board may grant full approval, conditional approval, or deny approval, as outlined in ARM 24.159.640.

 

History: 37-8-202, 37-8-301, MCA; IMP, 37-8-202, 37-8-301, 37-8-302, MCA; NEW, 1982 MAR p. 1603, Eff. 8/27/82; AMD, 1991 MAR p. 2435, Eff. 12/13/91; AMD, 2003 MAR p. 1080, Eff. 5/23/03; AMD, 2005 MAR p. 742, Eff. 5/13/05; TRANS, from Commerce, & AMD, 2006 MAR p. 2035, Eff. 8/25/06; AMD, 2010 MAR p. 2651, Eff. 11/13/10; AMD, 2015 MAR p. 644, Eff. 5/29/15; AMD, 2021 MAR p. 991, Eff. 8/7/21.