Licensure Examination Performance

PURPOSE: This rule defines the required examination pass rate for first-time candidates and its impact on program approval. (1) The licensure examination performance of first-time candidates from each Veteran’s Bridge Program of Practical Nursing shall be no less than eighty percent (80%) for each calendar year (January 1 through December 31). (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) Initial Program Approval— (A) Upon graduation of the first student cohort and reporting of the first official National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®) program pass rate, as reported upon completion of the fourth quarter of the respective calendar year, the board shall review current licensure examination performance of first-time candidates. Pursuant to 20 CSR 2200-8.180(1) licensure examination performance for first-time candidates shall be no less than eighty percent (80%) for each calendar year (January 1 through December 31); (B) Should the required eighty percent (80%) benchmark not be attained and significant deficiencies identified, the board may apply an immediate moratorium on admissions pursuant to 20 CSR 2200-8.010(7)(A); (C) The nursing program with a pass rate lower than eighty percent (80%) shall 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 the low pass rate. The plan of correction shall be submitted to the board by the deadline indicated. The plan of correction shall include: 1. Mission or philosophy of the nursing program; 2. Program governance as defined in 20 CSR 2200-8.050(5); 3. General faculty resources and workload; 4. Student support services; 5. Program admission, progression, and graduation policies; 6. Program completion rates for each year of program operation, as applicable; 7. National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®) pass rates for each year of program operation, as applicable; 8. Job placement rates for each year of program operation, as applicable; 9. Program satisfaction, to include student, graduate, and employer feedback, as applicable; 10. Number of nursing faculty teaching on full-time and part-time basis, to include part-time clinical faculty; 11. Use of systematic program evaluation data related to program planning and improvement; and 12. Measures put in place to restore instructional quality and integrity of the program; (D) The program administrator shall appear before and present to the board or members designated by the board a current analysis of program effectiveness, problems identified, and plans of correction. The board may accept the plan of correction and decide to continue initial approval for a specific period of time determined by the board, may apply a moratorium on admissions pursuant to 20 CSR 2200-8.010(7) (A), or may withdraw approval pursuant to section 335.071.3., RSMo; (E) The program administrator shall appear before and present to the board or members designated by the board a current plan of correction, which includes a current analysis of AND INSURANCE program effectiveness, resolution of problems identified, and current status of program outcomes for each year that program pass rates remain lower than eighty percent (80%). The board may accept the plan of correction and decide to continue initial approval for a specific period of time determined by the board, may apply a moratorium on admissions pursuant to 20 CSR 2200-8.010(7)(A), or may withdraw approval pursuant to section 335.071.3, RSMo, at any time during the initial approval period as deemed necessary by the board; and (F) With an NCLEX-PN® pass rate below eighty percent (80%), a program shall have at minimum two (2) consecutive calendar years of NCLEX-PN® pass rates at or above eighty percent (80%) to move to full approval. (4) Full Program Approval— (A) The Veteran’s Bridge Program of Practical Nursing with a pass rate lower than eighty percent (80%) shall— 1. 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 be submitted to the board by the deadline indicated. The plan of correction shall include: A. Mission or philosophy of the nursing program; B. Program governance as defined in 20 CSR 22008.050(5); C. General faculty resources and workload; D. Student support services; E. Program admission, progression, and graduation policies; F. Program completion rates for the last five (5) years; G. National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®) pass rates for the last five (5) years; H. Job placement rates for the last five (5) years; I. Program satisfaction, to include student, graduate, and employer feedback; J. Number of nursing faculty teaching on full-time and part-time basis to include adjunct clinical faculty and faculty on contingent approval; K. Use of systematic program evaluation data related to program planning and improvement; and L. Measures put in place to restore instructional quality and integrity of the program; 2. Second consecutive year—The program may be placed on conditional approval status. The program administrator shall appear before and present to the board or members designated by the board the current plan of correction, which includes a current analysis of program effectiveness, problems identified, and plans of correction; and 3. Side-by-side comparison of first-year and second-year analyses of program effectiveness shall be included. The plan of correction shall be submitted to the board by the deadline indicated; and (B) The program administrator shall appear before and present to the board or members designated by the board a current plan of correction, which includes a current analysis of program effectiveness, resolution of problems identified, and current status of program outcomes for each year that program pass rates remain lower than eighty percent (80%). (5) Conditional Program Approval. (A) The Veteran’s Bridge Program of Practical Nursing placed on conditional approval shall remain on conditional approval (as per 20 CSR 2200-8.010(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. (B) The nursing program shall provide a side-by-side comparison of plans of correction that includes program analyses for each consecutive year that NCLEX-PN® pass rates remain below eighty percent (80%). Each year the program administrator shall appear before and present to the board or members designated by the board a current analysis of program effectiveness, problems identified, and plans of correction. The board may, at any time, apply a moratorium on student admissions pursuant to 20 CSR 2200-8.010(7)(A). (C) If, after two (2) years on conditional approval, a Veteran’s Bridge Program of Practical Nursing 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 324.007, RSMo 2016, and section 335.036, RSMo Supp. 2021.* Original rule filed April 14, 2017, effective Oct. 30, 2017. Amended: Filed Feb. 14, 2022, effective Aug. 30, 2022. *Original authority: 324.007, RSMo 2013, and 335.036, RSMo 1975, amended 1981, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2018.