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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".13" citation="COMAR 10.27.03.13" title_num="10" subtitle_num="27" chapter_num="03" heading="Curriculum.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The curriculum shall be:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Planned, implemented, and evaluated by the faculty;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Based on the philosophy and program objectives, outcomes, or competencies;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Organized logically and sequenced appropriately; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Based on sound educational principles.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The curriculum plan shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Serve as the foundation for curriculum development;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Define and organize philosophical beliefs, values, and concepts;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Operationalize the program objectives or outcomes;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Structure concepts and theories to enhance the teaching-learning process; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Provide a model for progressive learning.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The curriculum objectives, outcomes, or competencies shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Flow from the curriculum plan;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Measure the intended objectives, outcomes, or competencies for program graduates; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Serve as a foundation for:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Sequencing of the program;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Course objectives;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Sequential arrangement of courses; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Distribution of class and clinical hours.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The curriculum of all programs shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Be appropriate to the level of the graduate's intended scope of practice;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Provide didactic and clinical learning experiences that are diverse and consistent with program objectives, outcomes, or competencies; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Content in the arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and biological and physical sciences;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The nursing process;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Didactic and clinical instruction which includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Nursing care of families and clients throughout the life span in a variety of care settings requiring nursing measures appropriate for either the maintenance or restoration of mental and physical health;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Preventive, rehabilitative, and curative aspects of health care; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Biophysical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual components of health and illness;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Professional issues content including, but not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The historical development of nursing;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Current issues and trends in nursing; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Ethical, legal, and professional aspects of nursing;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Multidisciplinary communication;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Evidence based practice;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Patient centered care;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Quality improvement; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Informatics.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The curriculum of baccalaureate degree programs in nursing shall also include:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Didactic and clinical experiences in community health nursing;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Study of nursing research and its application to nursing; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Study and practice of leadership and management.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Course objectives, outcomes, or competencies shall serve as:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Selection criteria for the location and type of clinical learning experiences; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A basis for evaluation of student performance.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Changes in course offerings that will alter the curriculum, philosophy, objectives, outcomes, competencies, or conceptual framework of the program shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Be reported to the Board in the annual report; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Include the following information:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The rationale for changes; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The methods of evaluation to be used to determine the effect of the change.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Students shall be provided didactic instruction either before or concurrent with the related clinical learning experiences.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>Clinical learning experiences shall be sufficient in quantity and quality to provide opportunities for students to achieve the stated objectives, outcomes, or competencies.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Students shall have sufficient opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for a safe and effective nursing practice.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>Evaluation methods and tools used for measuring students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities shall be developed and implemented in order to ensure satisfactory progression of students.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="L.">
    <text>There shall be a rationale for the ratio of classroom to clinical hours for each clinical nursing course.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="M.">
    <text>Clinical Preceptorships.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>When clinical preceptors are used, the following conditions shall be met:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Written agreements between the cooperating agency and the nursing program shall delineate the functions and responsibilities of the parties involved;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>There shall be written criteria for selecting clinical preceptors;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The clinical preceptor shall have the following minimum qualifications:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Current licensure as a registered nurse,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>2 years of experience as a registered nurse and clinical expertise in the area of nursing required for the experience; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A philosophy of health care congruent with that of the nursing program;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Written clinical objectives, outcomes, or competencies shall be specified and shared with the clinical preceptor before the preceptorship experience begins; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The designated faculty member shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be responsible for a student's learning experiences, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Meet regularly with the clinical preceptor and the student for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating learning experiences.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A bachelor’s degree in nursing is recommended.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any cooperating clinical agency’s registered nurses from assisting with clinical activities selected by the program’s nurse faculty or clinical nurse faculty.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The program’s nurse faculty or clinical nurse faculty may not be required to be in the cooperating clinical agency’s facilities but shall be immediately available by telephone.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>