§ 1426. Required Curriculum.

(a) The curriculum of a nursing program shall be that set forth in this section, and shall be approved by the board. Any revised curriculum shall be approved by the board prior to its implementation.

(b) The curriculum shall reflect a unifying theme, which includes the nursing process as defined by the faculty, and shall be designed so that a student who completes the program will have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to function in accordance with the registered nurse scope of practice as defined in code section 2725, and to meet minimum competency standards of a registered nurse.

(c) The curriculum shall consist of not less than fifty-eight (58) semester units, or eighty-seven (87) quarter units, which shall include at least the following number of units in the specified course areas:

(1) Art and science of nursing, thirty-six (36) semester units or fifty-four (54) quarter units, of which eighteen (18) semester or twenty-seven (27) quarter units will be in theory and eighteen (18) semester or twenty-seven (27) quarter units will be in clinical practice.

(2) Communication skills, six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter units. Communication skills shall include principles of oral, written, and group communication.

(3) Related natural sciences (anatomy, physiology, and microbiology courses with labs), behavioral and social sciences, sixteen (16) semester or twenty-four (24) quarter units.

(d) Theory and clinical practice shall be concurrent in the following nursing areas: geriatrics, medical-surgical, mental health/psychiatric nursing, obstetrics, and pediatrics. Instructional outcomes will focus on delivering safe, therapeutic, effective, patient-centered care; practicing evidence-based practice; working as part of interdisciplinary teams; focusing on quality improvement; and using information technology. Instructional content shall include, but is not limited to, the following: critical thinking, personal hygiene, patient protection and safety, pain management, human sexuality, client abuse, cultural diversity, nutrition (including therapeutic aspects), pharmacology, patient advocacy, legal, social and ethical aspects of nursing, and nursing leadership and management.

(e) The following shall be integrated throughout the entire nursing curriculum:

(1) The nursing process;

(2) Basic intervention skills in preventive, remedial, supportive, and rehabilitative nursing;

(3) Physical, behavioral, and social aspects of human development from birth through all age levels;

(4) Knowledge and skills required to develop collegial relationships with health care providers from other disciplines;

(5) Communication skills including principles of oral, written, and group communications;

(6) Natural science, including human anatomy, physiology, and microbiology; and

(7) Related behavioral and social sciences with emphasis on societal and cultural patterns, human development, and behavior relevant to health-illness.

(f) The program shall have tools to evaluate a student's academic progress, performance, and clinical learning experiences that are directly related to course objectives.

(g) The course of instruction shall be presented in semester or quarter units or the equivalent under the following formula:

(1) One (1) hour of instruction in theory each week throughout a semester or quarter equals one (1) unit.

(2) Three (3) hours of clinical practice each week throughout a semester or quarter equals one (1) unit. With the exception of an initial nursing course that teaches basic nursing skills in a skills lab, 75% of clinical hours in a course must be in direct patient care in an area specified in section 1426(d) in a board-approved clinical setting.

HISTORY

1. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 4-27-87; operative 5-27-87 (Register 87, No. 18).

2. Amendment of section heading and section filed 9-21-2010; operative 10-21-2010 (Register 2010, No. 39).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 2715 and 2786.6, Business and Professions Cod. Reference: Sections 2785-2788, Business and Professions Code.