Section 326-B:32 Education Programs.


   I. (a) The board shall establish standards for the establishment and outcomes for nursing and nursing assistant education programs intended to prepare students for licensure or for certification, including clinical learning experiences.
      (b) The board shall approve, disapprove, or withdraw approval for nursing education programs that meet or fail to meet the requirements of this chapter and the rules adopted by the board. Nursing education programs under this subparagraph shall not include education for nursing assistants. The board shall require that nursing education programs:
         (1) Seek and receive approval from the postsecondary education commission prior to applying for approval from the board.
         (2) Receive institutional regional or national accreditation in addition to specialized nursing accreditation by accrediting bodies recognized by the United States Department of Education.
         (3) Be affiliated with an existing degree-granting institution with institutional regional or national accreditation recognized by the United States Department of Education.
      (c) The board shall approve, disapprove, or withdraw approval for nursing assistant education programs that meet or fail to meet the requirements of this chapter and the rules adopted by the board. The board shall require that nursing assistant education programs seek and receive approval from the postsecondary education commission prior to applying for approval from the board.
      (d) An educational institution or other entity conducting such an education program shall comply with paragraphs II and III and rules adopted by the board pursuant to RSA 541-A.
   II. The board shall establish the process for determining nursing and nursing assistant education program compliance.
   III. The board:
      (a) Shall set requirements for establishment of:
         (1) New nursing education programs, including requirements relative to affiliation, accreditation, and site visits required for initial nursing education program approval and subsequent evaluations.
         (2) New nursing assistant education programs.
      (b) Shall periodically review nursing and nursing assistant education programs and require such programs to submit evidence of compliance with standards.
      (c) Shall grant continuing approval if, upon review of evidence, the board determines that the program meets the established standards. The board shall publish a list of approved programs.
      (d) Shall deny or withdraw approval or take such action as deemed necessary when nursing or nursing assistant education programs fail to meet the standards established by the board.
      (e) Shall reinstate approval of a nursing or nursing assistant education program upon submission of satisfactory evidence that its program meets the standards established by the board.
      (f) Shall establish the process for nursing and nursing assistant programs that cease operation.
   IV. Any education program conducted in another state shall be deemed to be an education program approved by the board if that program meets the requirements for approval established by this section and the program has been approved by the regulatory authority of its state.

Source. 2005, 293:1, eff. July 1, 2005 at 12:01 a.m. 2008, 179:4, eff. Aug. 10, 2008.