# Title 54 — Board of Nursing

## Article 54-03.2 — Standards for Nursing Education Programs

## Chapter 54-03.2-07 — Nursing Education Program Approval

### § 54-03.2-07-01. Evaluation of compliance with the standards for nursing education programs.

Evaluation of continuing compliance with the standards of nursing education involves the
submission of a self-study report by the nursing education program and a survey by a board
representative. This process includes the following elements:
1. Dates mutually acceptable to the board and the nursing education program will be set at least
three months in advance of the scheduled survey;
2. No less than one month prior to a survey, a program must submit a narrative self-evaluation
report that provides evidence of compliance with the standards of nursing education;
3. Unscheduled surveys may be conducted at the discretion of the board;
4. The program shall schedule survey activities;
5. The surveyor shall make a verbal report to the program at the end of the survey;
6. The surveyor's written report shall be sent to the program prior to the review by the board;
7. The board shall assess a fee for each program surveyed; and
8. Written notification of the board action regarding the program approval must be sent to the
nurse administrator.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective April 1, 2004; April 1, 2014.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-01.1. Performance of graduates on licensing examination.

Acceptable performance on the licensing examination for each program is a pass rate of eighty
percent for its first-time writers in any given fiscal year. A program with a pass rate that falls below
eighty percent for first-time writers in any two consecutive fiscal years shall:
1. Present to the board a plan for identifying possible contributing factors and for correcting any
identified deficiencies; and
2. Submit a periodic progress report to the board on a schedule determined by the board.
History: Effective April 1, 2004.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17

Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-02. Initial approval status.

1. The board may grant initial approval status to a proposed nursing education program that
complies with chapter 54-03.2-08.
2. The board may continue initial approval status:
a. Prior to the graduation of the first class, when review of materials specified in article
54-03.2, the most recent annual report, and the most recent survey report reveals
substantial compliance with the rules; or
b. After graduation of the first class, when review of the criteria for full approval reveals time
is needed to fully comply with the rules.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective April 1, 2004; July 1, 2008; April 1, 2011;
April 1, 2014.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-03. Full approval status.

The board may grant full approval status under the following circumstances to:
1. A program with initial approval status that demonstrates compliance with the rules after:
a. The most recent annual report;
b. The most recent survey report;
c. The first class graduates; and
d. The program pass rate for first-time writers of the licensing examination is eighty percent
or greater in the first fiscal year.
2. A program with full approval status that demonstrates continued compliance with the rules by:
a. The most recent annual report;
b. The most recent survey report; and
c. The program pass rate for first-time writers of the licensing examination do not fall below
an average of eighty percent pass rate for two consecutive fiscal years.
3. A program with conditional approval status that demonstrates compliance with the rules by:
a. The most recent annual report;
b. The most recent survey report; and
c. The program pass rate for first-time writers of the licensing examination do not fall below
an average of eighty percent pass rate for two consecutive fiscal years.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective April 1, 2004; July 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)

### § 54-03.2-07-03.1. Program delivery.

The board may grant approval for changes or expansion in program delivery as long as the
program:
1. Holds full approval status;
2. Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board that there is sufficient qualified faculty available;
and
3. Has sufficient resources to maintain compliance with the standards for nursing education
according to this article.
History: Effective July 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-04. Conditional approval status.

If the board determines that a nursing education program does not meet board rules, the program
must be notified in writing detailing the deficiencies requiring correction within a given time period set
by the board. The board may impose conditional approval for a length of time to be determined by the
board but not to exceed two years following the date of written notification. Conditional approval status
allows the program to continue to operate while the program corrects the deficiencies and works toward
full approval. If at the end of that time period established by the board the deficiencies have not been
corrected, board approval shall be withdrawn and a date to discontinue the program shall be set by the
board.
The deficiencies are evidenced by:
1. The review of the most recent annual report;
2. The most recent survey report; or
3. The program pass rate for first-time writers of the licensing examination fall below an average
of eighty percent pass rate for two consecutive fiscal years.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective April 1, 2004; July 1, 2008; April 1, 2014.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-05. Withdrawal of approval.

The board may withdraw approval of a nursing education program as specified in section
54-03.2-09-03.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective April 1, 2014.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-06. Reinstatement of approval status.

1. Upon receipt of notice of intent to withdraw approval, the administrator of the program may
request a hearing pursuant to North Dakota Century Code chapter 28-32.
2. After demonstration of compliance with rules and nursing education standards, a program
may petition the board in writing for reinstatement of approval status.

3. Upon written request, representatives of the program may appear before the board to review
board findings regarding program deficiencies or the adequacy of corrective actions taken by
the program.
4. If denied reinstatement, the school must comply with all rules for the development and
implementation of a new nursing education program.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective April 1, 2014.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-07. Certificate of approval.

Following the board's review and action regarding the survey report, a certificate shall be issued by
the board to the program indicating the approval status.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective April 1, 2004; July 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-08. Publishing approval status.

The board shall annually publish a list of programs and the approval status for each program.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective July 1, 2008.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
### § 54-03.2-07-09. Continuing compliance.

1. Each program shall submit an annual report to the board providing requested information
pertaining to the time period between July first and June thirtieth.
2. A program with continuing compliance shall be reevaluated:
a. At a minimum of every five years to ensure compliance with the standards for nursing
education;
b. At the request of the nursing education program; or
c. At the discretion of the board.
History: Effective November 1, 1996; amended effective April 1, 2004.
General Authority: NDCC 43-12.1-17
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-12.1-17(1)
