Section 12.44.055. Review of nursing education programs.

	(a)  An approved nursing education program must achieve at least an 80 percent cumulative annual pass rate.  
	(b)  If an approved nursing education program fails to achieve at least an 80 percent cumulative annual pass rate, the board will issue a letter of concern to the program. Within 90 days after receipt of a letter of concern from the board, the approved nursing education program must submit to the board a report that  
		(1) analyzes the factors that are believed to be contributing to the low pass rate; and  
		(2) sets out the program's plan to achieve at least an 80 percent cumulative annual pass rate.  
	(c)  After a letter of concern has been issued to an approved nursing education program, the board will reevaluate the program. A program offering the practical nurse certificate will be reevaluated one year after the letter of concern was issued. A program offering the associate degree or the baccalaureate degree in nursing will be reevaluated two years after the letter of concern was issued.  
	(d)  If an approved nursing education program reevaluated by the board after the time period specified in (c) of this section has failed to achieve at least an 80 percent cumulative annual pass rate, the board will issue a letter of warning to the program. Within 90 days after receipt of a letter of warning from the board, the approved nursing education program must submit to the board a report that  
		(1) analyzes the reasons the program's original plan to improve the low pass rate was unsuccessful; and  
		(2) sets out the program's additional plan to achieve at least an 80 percent cumulative annual pass rate.  
	(e)  After a letter of warning has been issued to an approved nursing education program, the board will reevaluate the program. A program offering the practical nurse certificate will be reevaluated one year after the letter of warning was issued. A program offering the associate degree or the baccalaureate degree in nursing will be reevaluated two years after the letter of warning was issued.  
	(f)  If an approved nursing education program reevaluated by the board after the time period specified in (e) of this section has failed to achieve at least an 80 percent cumulative annual pass rate, the board will place the nursing education program on conditional approval. The nursing education program will continue on conditional approval until  
		(1) the nursing education program has achieved at least an 80 percent cumulative annual pass rate during two consecutive years; or  
		(2) approval of the nursing education program is revoked under 12 AAC 44.052.   
	(g)  As used in this section, "at least an 80 percent cumulative annual pass rate" means that the year-end data published by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) shows that at least 80 percent of the graduates of the approved nursing education program, taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the first time, successfully passed the examination.  

Authorities

08.68.100;08.68.280;08.68.290

Notes

Reference

12 AAC 44.020
12 AAC 44.052

Authority

AS 08.68.100 AS 08.68.280 AS 08.68.290

History

Eff. 3/28/2008, Register 185