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

 

TO:	The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Regents Permission to Operate in New York State:   University of Pennsylvania
DATE:	October 11, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (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 Board of Regents at its October 2006 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 a pediatric critical care 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 Pediatric Critical Care 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 October 24, 2006, to 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 Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Practitioner.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

This approval will be effective until November 30, 2011.

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF RECOMMENDATION

 

            The curriculum requires completion of 12 course units, which are the equivalent of 40 credits.  Content includes:  pediatric pharmacology, research methods, physiology of reproduction and development, child and family development, principles of pediatric critical care nursing and clinical practica that comprise 600 hours of supervised clinical experiences.  The program can be completed in 12 months of full-time study or 24 months of part-time study.

 

            The University of Pennsylvania plans on using one agency in New York State, New York - Presbyterian Hospital, 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 four students in its nurse practitioner programs with clinical specializations in adult acute care, pediatric oncology, and women’s health.

 

            The program has 11 faculty involved in instructional activities.  All faculty have master’s degrees in nursing and one has a doctorate.  Nine of the faculty are pediatric nurse practitioners.  The preceptor who will supervise students at New York – Presbyterian Hospital is certified in New York State as a pediatric nurse practitioner. 

 

            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 restricting 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 one student a 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.