Meeting of the Board of Regents | July 2007

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:
FROM:	Frank Muñoz
SUBJECT:	Regents Permission to Operate in New York State:   University of Pennsylvania
DATE:	July 11, 2007
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Consent Agenda

 

Should the Regents approve the proposed permission to operate in New York State for the University of Pennsylvania?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

Required by State statute

 

Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee at its July meeting where it will be voted on and action taken.  It will then come before the full Board at its July meeting for final action.

 

Procedural History

 

Regents permission to operate in New York State is required by Section 224 of the Education Law which prohibits out-of-state colleges and universities from transacting business in New York without Regents permission.

 

Background Information

 

The University of Pennsylvania is seeking Regents permission to operate in New York State in order to place its students in a health care agency for supervised clinical experiences in an adult oncology nurse practitioner program.  Section 6908 of the Education Law restricts the practice of nursing to licensed persons or students enrolled in educational programs that the State Education Department has registered.  The University’s Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).  The program meets the standards for registration as set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

 

Recommendation

 

It is recommended that the Regents approve the proposed permission to operate effective July 26, 2007, and authorize the University of Pennsylvania to use a clinical agency in New York for clinical education of students in its Master of Science in Nursing degree program titled Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

This approval will be effective until July 31, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF RECOMMENDATION

 

              The curriculum requires completion of 13 course units, which are the equivalent of 50 semester hours of credit.  Content includes:  applied pharmacology, research methods, advanced physiology and pathophysiology, human genetics, primary care concepts, cancer care, effects of cancer and cancer therapy, philosophical, social and professional aspects of oncology nursing, and clinical practica that comprise 768 hours of supervised clinical experiences.  Graduates of the program are eligible to become certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and national accrediting organizations as adult and oncology nurse practitioners.  The program can be completed in two semesters and two summer sessions of full-time study or four semesters and three summer sessions of part-time study.

 

              The University of Pennsylvania plans on using one agency in New York State, New York University Hospitals Center, located in Manhattan.  Only one student will be placed in a New York agency in 2007, and no more than five students will be placed in New York State annually thereafter.  Currently, the University of Pennsylvania has Regents permission to annually use clinical placements in New York State for up to eight students in its bachelor’s degree program, for up to two students in its Nurse-Midwifery program, for up to three students in its Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing program and for up to nine students in its nurse practitioner programs with clinical specializations in adult acute care, pediatric critical care, pediatric oncology, and women’s health.

 

              The program has 17 faculty involved in instructional activities.  All faculty have master’s degrees in nursing and three are doctorally prepared.    Sixteen of the faculty are identified as Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) in Pennsylvania, with specializations in adult or oncology nursing.  Preceptors who will supervise students at New York University Hospitals Center will be certified in New York State as adult or oncology nurse practitioners.  The current request is for placement of one student who will complete both a primary care rotation (96 hours) and an oncology rotation (102 hours). 

 

              Like programs preparing practitioners in other professions, nurse practitioner programs typically use a large number of health facilities for students’ clinical experiences.  These facilities may be in several states.  Because of statutes like New York’s that restrict practice by students to those enrolled in state approved programs, institutions must undergo a variety of state review processes to assure lawful practice by students.  In New York, this entails receiving the Regents permission to operate and Department registration of the program so that a small number of students each year may practice in the State.

 

              Staff have determined that there would be no reduction in access to clinical experiences at cooperating facilities if authorization is granted.  Because of the limited nature of the University’s authorization to operate in New York State, it should have no effect on New York institutions.

 

              The Office of the Professions has determined that the University of Pennsylvania meets the standards for registration set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.