WSR 19-08-026
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission)
[Filed March 27, 2019, 12:15 p.m., effective April 27, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-840-533 Nursing preceptors, interdisciplinary preceptors, and proctors in clinical or practice settings for nursing education programs located in Washington state, the nursing care quality assurance commission (commission) adopted amendments to existing rule to provide rule clarification and reduce barriers for nursing student access to preceptors for the purpose of completing statutorily required clinical experience. The adopted amendments also reduce barriers for qualified individuals to become preceptors and proctors.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-840-533.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.79.110.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 18-24-050 on November 28, 2018.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Two nonsubstantive changes were adopted at hearing by the commission. Under subsections (1)(a) and (b) the words "or graduate nurse" were removed and "any" was added prior to nursing student to reduce confusion as to what type of nursing students WAC 246-840-533 applies. Under subsection (2) the word "primary" was added prior to "nursing and interdisciplinary preceptor" in order to clarify the commission's intent of the rule.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Amber Zawislak, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504-7852 [98504-7864], phone 360-236-4785, fax 360-236-4738, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email amber.zawislak@doh.wa.gov, web site doh.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: January 11, 2019.
Paula R. Meyer, MSN, RN, FRE
Executive Director
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-17-082, filed 8/17/16, effective 9/17/16)
WAC 246-840-533Nursing preceptors, interdisciplinary ((mentors))preceptors, and proctors in clinical or practice settings for nursing ((education programs))students located in Washington state.
(1) Nursing preceptors, interdisciplinary preceptors, and proctors may be used to enhance clinical or ((practice-learning))practice learning experiences after a student has received instruction and orientation from program faculty who ((assure))confirm the student is adequately prepared for the clinical or practice experience((.
(2) Nursing education faculty in prelicensure nursing education programs shall not assign more than two students to each nurse preceptor.
(3) Nursing education faculty in a program leading to licensure as an advanced registered nurse practitioner shall not assign more than one student to each preceptor)). For the purpose of this section:
(a) A nursing preceptor means a practicing licensed nurse who provides personal instruction, training, and supervision to any nursing student, and meets all requirements of subsection (4) of this section.
(b) An interdisciplinary preceptor means a practicing health care provider who is not a licensed nurse, but provides personal instruction, training, and supervision to any nursing student, and meets all requirements of subsection (5) of this section.
(c) A proctor means an individual who holds an active credential in one of the professions identified in RCW 18.130.040 who monitors students during an examination, skill, or practice delivery, and meets all requirements of subsection (6) of this section.
(2) Nursing education faculty are responsible for the overall supervision and evaluation of the student and must confer with each primary nursing and interdisciplinary preceptor, and student at least once during each phase of the student learning experience:
(a) Beginning;
(b) Midpoint; and
(c) End.
(3) A nursing preceptor or an interdisciplinary preceptor shall not precept more than two students at any one time.
(4) A nursing preceptor may be used in ((practical and registered)) nursing education programs when the nursing preceptor:
(a) Has an active, unencumbered nursing license at or above the level for((,)) which the student is preparing;
(b) ((Is experienced in the specialty area for at least two years;))Has at least one year of clinical or practice experience as a licensed nurse at or above the level for which the student is preparing;
(c) Is oriented to the written course and student learning objectives prior to beginning the preceptorship;
(d) Is ((not related to, or a personal friend of the student))oriented to the written role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student prior to beginning the preceptorship; and
(e) Is ((oriented to the written role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student))not a member of the student's immediate family, as defined in RCW 42.17A.005(27); or have a financial, business, or professional relationship that is in conflict with the proper discharge of the preceptor's duties to impartially supervise and evaluate the nurse.
(5) ((A))An interdisciplinary preceptor may be used in nursing education programs ((leading to licensure as an advanced registered nurse practitioner)) when the interdisciplinary preceptor:
(a) Has an active, unencumbered license ((as an ARNP under chapter 18.79 RCW, a physician under chapter 18.71 RCW, an osteopathic physician under chapter 18.57 RCW, or equivalent license in other states or jurisdictions;
(b) Is experienced in the specialty area for at least two years))in the area of practice appropriate to the nursing education faculty planned student learning objectives;
(b) Has the educational preparation and at least one year of clinical or practice experience appropriate to the nursing education faculty planned student learning objectives;
(c) Is oriented to the written course and student learning objectives prior to beginning the preceptorship;
(d) Is ((not related to, or a personal friend of the student))oriented to the written role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student prior to beginning the preceptorship; and
(e) Is ((oriented to the written role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student.
(6) A preceptor may be used in graduate nursing programs as appropriate to the course of study when the preceptor:
(a) Is experienced in the specialty area for at least two years;
(b) Is oriented to the written course and student learning objectives;
(c) Is not related to, or a personal friend of the student; and
(d) Is oriented to the written role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student.
(7) An interdisciplinary mentor who has experience and educational preparation appropriate to the faculty planned student learning experience may be used in some clinical or practice experiences.
(8) Faculty are responsible for the overall supervision and evaluation of the student and must confer with each preceptor or interdisciplinary mentor and student at least once before the student learning experience, at the mid-point of the experience, and at the end of the learning experience.
(9)))not a member of the student's immediate family, as defined in RCW 42.17A.005(27); or have a financial, business, or professional relationship that is in conflict with the proper discharge of the preceptor's duties to impartially supervise and evaluate the nurse.
(6) A proctor who monitors, teaches, and supervises students during the performance of a task or skill must ((be qualified with)):
(a) Have the educational and experiential preparation ((in the area))for the task or skill being proctored ((and must be credentialed as a licensed health care provider listed in chapter 18.130 RCW. Such a person may));
(b) Have an active, unencumbered credential in one of the professions identified in RCW 18.130.040;
(c) Only be used on rare, short-term occasions to proctor students when a faculty member has determined that it is safe for a student to receive direct supervision from the proctor for the performance of a particular task or skill that is within the scope of practice for the nursing student; and
(d) Is not a member of the student's immediate family, as defined in RCW 42.17A.005(27); or have a financial, business, or professional relationship that is in conflict with the proper discharge of the preceptor's duties to impartially supervise and evaluate the nurse.