Meeting of the Board of Regents | February 2009

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:	January 23, 2009
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 Higher Education Committee at its February 2009 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken.  It will then come before the full Board at its February 2009 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 seeks to extend Regents permission to operate in New York State in order to place students from its Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) nurse practitioner programs with specializations in Adult Acute Care, Pediatric Oncology and Women’s Health Care, as well as its M.S.N. program in Nurse-Midwifery in health agencies in New York for supervised clinical experiences.  Also, the University is requesting initial permission to operate in New York State in order to place master’s degree students from its Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care and Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner programs in health agencies in New York for supervised clinical experiences.  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 Master of Science in Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The programs meet 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 February 10, 2009, to authorize the University of Pennsylvania to use five clinical agencies in New York for clinical education of students in six of its Master of Science in Nursing degree programs.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

This approval will be effective until February 28, 2014.

 

INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF RECOMMENDATION

 

              The programs for which the request for extension of permission to operate in New York State are being made include nurse practitioner programs in adult acute care, pediatric oncology and women’s health that were initially approved in 2003 and a nurse midwifery program that was first approved in 1995.  The new programs for which the permission to operate request is made are pediatric nurse practitioner programs with specializations in acute/chronic care and primary care.  Currently, the University of Pennsylvania has Regents permission to annually use clinical placements in New York for master’s degree programs in psychiatric-mental health (3 students), adult oncology (5 students) and pediatric critical care (5 students), as well as its bachelor’s degree program (15 students).

 

              The University of Pennsylvania requests permission to annually place up to two Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program students and up to two Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner students at Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York – Presbyterian Hospital or New York University Hospitals Center; one Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care Nurse Practitioner student and one Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner student at New York – Presbyterian Hospital; and one Nurse-Midwifery student and one Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner student at the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Brooklyn and Maimonides Medical Center.  The Nurse-Midwifery program requires completion of 17 course units, the equivalent of 56 semester hours, and the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program requires completion of 13 course units, the equivalent of 43 semester hours.  The remaining programs require completion of 12 course units, which is the equivalent of 40 semester hours. Students will usually complete clinical placements for one or two courses a year.  Total clinical contact hours each semester typically will range between 160 for the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner program to 500 for the Nurse-Midwifery program.  Students who are recipients of Hillman Foundation aid may elect to complete all of their clinical hours in New York facilities in preparation for satisfaction of the required post-graduation two-year commitment to provide direct patient care in a New York City health care facility.  In this case, clinical hours will range from a low of 500 in the Adult Acute Care and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner programs to a high of 1,500 in the Nurse-Midwifery program.  Students will be precepted by nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, or physicians, who are licensed/certified to practice in New York State, and have practices in the appropriate specialty areas.  Preceptors will be responsible for completing a clinical evaluation for each student at the end of the clinical experience.  Full-time University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing faculty will be in contact with preceptors during each placement.    

 

              The University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The School of Nursing’s programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

 

              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.