PURPOSE: This rule defines the required examination pass rate for first-time candidates and its impact on program approval.

1. (1) The licensure examination performance of first-time candidates from each practical nursing program shall be no less than eighty percent (80%) for each calendar year (January 1 through December 31).
2. (2) First-time candidates shall include only those graduates of the program who take the licensure examination for the first time within one (1) year of graduation.

3. (3) The nursing program with a pass rate lower than eighty percent (80%) shall:

   1. (A) First year—Provide the board with a report analyzing all aspects of the education program, identifying areas contributing to the unacceptable pass rate and plan of correction to resolve low pass rate. The plan of correction shall include:

      1. 1. Mission or philosophy of the nursing

program;

1. 2. Program governance as defined in 20

CSR 2200-3.050(5);

1. 3. General faculty resources and work-

load;

1. 4. Student support services;
2. 5. Program admission, progression, and

graduation policies;

1. 6. Program graduation rates for the last

five (5) years;

1. 7. National Council Licensure Exami-

nation for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®) pass rates for the last five (5) years;

1. 8. Job placement rates for the last five

1. (5) years;

   1. 9. Program satisfaction, to include stu-

dent, graduate, and employer data;

1. 10. Number of nursing faculty teaching

on full-time and part-time basis; to include adjunct clinical faculty and faculty on contingent approval; and

1. 11. Use of systematic program evalua-

tion data related to program planning and improvement;

1. (B) Second consecutive year—The program may be placed on conditional approval status. The program administrator will be required to appear before and present to the board a current analysis of program effectiveness, problems identified, and plans of correction;
2. (C) Side-by-side comparison of first-year and second-year analyses of program effectiveness shall be included;
3. (D) The nursing program placed on conditional approval shall remain on conditional approval (as per 20 CSR 2200-3.010(6)) until it has two (2) consecutive years of pass rates of at least eighty percent (80%) or until the board removes approval pursuant to section 335.071.3., RSMo; and
4. (E) If, after two (2) years of conditional approval, a nursing program has not demonstrated consistent measurable progress toward implementation of the correction plan and NCLEX-PN® pass rates remain below eighty percent (80%), the board shall withdraw approval pursuant to section 335.071.3., RSMo.

AUTHORITY: section 335.036, RSMo Supp. 2012, and section 335.071, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 200- 3.180. Original rule filed Sept. 1, 1998, effective Feb. 28, 1999. Amended: Filed Dec. 1, 2000, effective May 30, 2001. Moved to 20 CSR 2200-3.180, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Rescinded and readopted: Filed April 17, 2007, effective Dec. 30, 2007. Amended: Filed Jan. 11, 2013, effective July 30, 2013.

*Original authority: 335.036, RSMo 1975, amended 1981, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 335.071, RSMo 1975, amended 1981, 1999.