1. (a)

   1. (1) The education program shall include curriculum and learning experiences essential for the expected entry level and scope of practice.
   2. (2) Curriculum development shall be the responsibility of the nursing faculty.
   3. (3) Curriculum plan shall be organized to reflect the philosophy and graduate competencies.
   4. (4) Courses shall be placed in a logical and sequential manner showing progression of knowledge and learning experiences.
   5. (5) Courses shall have written syllabi indicating learning experiences and requirements.
   6. (6) Theory content shall be taught concurrently or prior to related clinical experience.
   7. (7) Clinical experiences shall include expectations of professional conduct by students.

   8. (8) Curriculum plans for all programs shall include appropriate content in:

      1. (A) Introduction to current federal and state patient care guidelines;
      2. (B) Current and emerging infectious diseases;
      3. (C) Emergency preparedness for natural and manmade disasters;
      4. (D) Impact of genetic research;
      5. (E) End-of-life care; and
      6. (F) Legal and ethical aspects of nursing, including the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act.

2. (b) The curriculum plan for practical nurse programs shall include:

   1. (1) Theoretical content and clinical experiences that focus on:

      1. (A) Care for persons throughout the lifespan, including cultural sensitivity;
      2. (B) Restoration, promotion, and maintenance of physical and mental health; and
      3. (C) Prevention of illness for individuals and groups;
   2. (2) The length of the practical nurse curriculum shall be no less than ten (10) calendar months, which includes a minimum of thirty-five (35) credit hours in nursing content;

   3. (3) Theory content may be in separate courses or integrated and shall include at least the following:

      1. (A) Anatomy and physiology;
      2. (B) Nutrition;
      3. (C) Pharmacology and intravenous therapy;
      4. (D) Growth and development throughout the lifespan;
      5. (E) Fundamentals of nursing;
      6. (F) Gerontological nursing;
      7. (G) Nursing of adults;
      8. (H) Pediatric nursing;
      9. (I) Maternal/infant nursing;
      10. (J) Mental health nursing; and
      11. (K) Principles of management in long-term care, including delegation; and

   4. (4) Clinical experiences shall be in the areas of:

      1. (A) Fundamentals of nursing;
      2. (B) Nursing of adults;
      3. (C) Pediatric nursing;
      4. (D) Gerontological nursing;
      5. (E) Maternal/infant nursing;
      6. (F) Mental health;
      7. (G) Administration of medications, including intravenous therapy; and
      8. (H) Management in long term care, including delegation.

3. (c) The curriculum plan for registered nurse programs, master’s, baccalaureate, diploma, or associate degree shall include:

   1. (1) Theoretical content and clinical experiences that focus upon:

      1. (A) The prevention of illness and the restoration, promotion, and maintenance of physical and mental health;
      2. (B) Nursing care based upon:

4. (i) Assessment;

   1. (ii) Analysis;

      1. (iii) Planning;

         1. (iv) Implementing; and
         2. (v) Evaluating; and
      2. (C) Care for persons throughout the life span, including cultural sensitivity; and

   2. (2) Course content may be in separate courses or integrated and shall include at least the following:

      1. (A) Biological and physical sciences content:

         1. (i) Chemistry;
         2. (ii) Anatomy and physiology;
         3. (iii) Microbiology;
         4. (iv) Pharmacology;
         5. (v) Nutrition; and
         6. (vi) Mathematics;

      2. (B) Behavioral science and humanities content:

         1. (i) Psychology;
         2. (ii) Sociology;
         3. (iii) Growth and development;
         4. (iv) Interpersonal relationships;
         5. (v) Communication; and
         6. (vi) English composition;

      3. (C) Nursing science content:

         1. (i) Medical surgical adult;
         2. (ii) Pediatrics;
         3. (iii) Maternal/infant;
         4. (iv) Gerontology;
         5. (v) Mental health;
         6. (vi) Leadership, including nursing management and delegation; and
         7. (vii) Master’s and baccalaureate programs shall include community health; and

      4. (D) Clinical experiences shall be in the areas of:

         1. (i) Medical/surgical;
         2. (ii) Pediatrics;
         3. (iii) Maternal/infant;
         4. (iv) Mental health;
         5. (v) Gerontology;
         6. (vi) Leadership and management, including delegation;
         7. (vii) Rehabilitation; and
         8. (viii) Master’s and baccalaureate programs shall include clinical experiences in community health.
         9. (d)
   3. (1) The curriculum plan for registered nursing and practical nursing education programs may include the use of simulation as a substitute for traditional clinical experiences, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of its clinical hours in each course.

   4. (2) A program that uses simulation shall demonstrate the use of current standards of best practice for simulation and provide evidence of compliance that shall include:

      1. (A) An organizing framework that provides adequate fiscal, human, and material resources to support the simulation activities;

      2. (B)

         1. (i) Management by an individual who is academically and experientially qualified.
         2. (ii) The individual shall demonstrate continued expertise and competence in the use of simulation while managing the program;
      3. (C) A budget that will sustain the simulation activities and training of the faculty;

      4. (D)

         1. (i) Appropriate facilities for conducting simulation.
         2. (ii) This shall include educational and technological resources and equipment to meet the intended objectives of the simulation;
      5. (E) Training for faculty involved in the use of simulation, both didactic and clinical;
      6. (F) Ongoing professional development in the use of simulation for faculty involved in simulations, both didactic and clinical;
      7. (G) Programmatic outcomes that are linked to simulation activities;

      8. (H) Written policies and procedures on the following:

         1. (i) Short-term and long-term plans for integrating simulation into the curriculum;
         2. (ii) Method of debriefing each simulated activity; and
         3. (iii) Plan for orienting faculty to simulation;
      9. (I) Criteria to evaluate the simulation activities;
      10. (J) Student evaluations of simulation experiences on an ongoing basis; and
      11. (K) Information about the use of simulation, as requested by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, on the annual report.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "HISTORY: Amended: December 29, 2018; Amended: June 4, 2021; May 15, 2022"