ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SCHOOL OF NURSING.

SEC. 955. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SCHOOL OF NURSING.(a) Establishment Plan Required.—Not later than February 1, 2008, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to establish a School of Nursing within the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The Secretary shall develop the plan in consultation with the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and submit the plan to the Board of Regents for review and to solicit the Board’s recommendations.(b) Programs of Instruction.—In consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments, the Secretary of Defense shall include in the plan required by subsection (a) programs of instruction for the School of Nursing that would lead to the award of a bachelor of science in nursing and such other baccalaureate or graduate degrees in nursing as the Secretary considers appropriate. The plan shall also address the enrollment as students of enlisted members and officers of the Armed Forces and civilians for the purpose of commissioning them as military nursing officers upon graduation. The graduates of such a program of instruction shall be fully eligible to meet credentialing and licensing requirements of the military departments and at least one State in their program of study.(c) Consideration of Certain Programs.—In developing the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the inclusion of the following types of programs:(1) A program to enroll students who already possess an associate degree in nursing so that they can earn a bachelor of science in nursing.(2) A program to enroll students who already possess other associate degrees so that they can earn a bachelor of science in nursing.(3) A program to enroll students who already possess an associate degree in nursing so that they can earn a master of science in nursing.122 STAT. 295(4) A program to enroll students who already possess a bachelor of science in nursing so that they can earn a master of science in nursing.(d) Other Considerations.—The plan required by subsection (a) shall also include the following:(1) The results of a study of the nursing shortage in the Department of Defense and the reasons for such shortages.(2) Details of the curriculum and degree requirements for each category of students at the School of Nursing, if established.(3) An analysis of the contributions to overall medical readiness that will be made by the School of Nursing.(4) Proposals for the development of the School of Nursing to be phased in over a period of time.(5) Faculty requirements based on degree requirements and numbers of projected students, to include the source and number of faculty required.(6) Projected number of graduates per year for each of the first 15 years of operation.(7) Predicted accession sources, military career paths, and service commitments and retention rates of School of Nursing graduates, to include the retention of enlisted personnel accessed into the school.(8) Administrative and instructional facilities required, and the likely initial and final location of clinical training institutions.(9) Plan for accreditation by a nationally recognized nursing school accrediting body.(10) Projected faculty, administration, instruction, and facilities costs for the School of Nursing beginning in fiscal year 2009 and continuing through fiscal year 2024, including the cost analysis of developing the School of Nursing and the cost of additional administrative support for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences on account of the establishment of the school.(e) Effect on Current Programs.—Notwithstanding the development of the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that graduate degree programs in nursing, including advanced practice nursing, continue.(f) Effect on Other Recruitment Efforts.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting or terminating any current or future program related to the recruitment, accession, training, or retention of military nurses.(g) Establishment Authority.—(1) Establishment.—Chapter 104 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:“§ 2117. School of Nursing“(a) Establishment Authorized.—The Secretary of Defense may establish a School of Nursing within the University. The School of Nursing may include a program that awards a bachelor of science in nursing.“(b) Phased Development.—The School of Nursing may be developed in phases as determined appropriate by the Secretary.” .122 STAT. 296(2) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: “2117. School of Nursing.”.