WSR 13-21-067

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed October 16, 2013, 2:10 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-840-045, 246-840-090, 246-840-130, 246-840-455, and 246-840-500 through 246-840-575, practical and registered nurses (generally). Updating, consolidating, expanding, and/or reorganizing nursing rules to address nursing education requirements, clinical site approvals for out-of-state nursing programs, internationally educated nurses, refresher course requirements, and nursing program approvals.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.79.110, 18.79.150, and 18.79.240.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The nursing care quality assurance commission (NCQAC) has determined that existing rules may be outdated and may need to be revised to address barriers to licensure related to educational programs, including international education; and to standardize requirements, update standards, and/or add criteria related to approved refresher courses, graduate nursing education and distance learning.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Washington state student achievement council and state board of technical and community colleges regulate colleges, which has an indirect relationship with nursing program regulation. They will be included as stakeholders in the process.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Public workshops will be held at locations across the state. Stakeholders will be informed about workshops and the public hearing via the NCQAC listserv and web site. Interested parties may sign up for the listserv at http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission.aspx or contact Anne Schuchmann, MSN, RN, Department of Health, NCQAC, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504-7864, (360) 236-4712, Nursing@doh.wa.gov.

October 16, 2013

Paula Meyer, MSN, RN

Executive Director

NCQAC