Regulation of Nursing Programs: In the U.S.,

:Regulation of Nursing Programs: In the U.S., State Boards of Nursing regulate nursing education in the respective states. The Colorado Board of Nursing will require that programs also meet the Colorado core curriculum. You will be provided with a BSN nursing curriculum from a state other than Colorado. Using the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Board of Nursing Regulations for BSN programs and the Colorado core curriculum, determine if the sample program would be approved in Colorado.
For the Colorado Core requirements for general studies:
Do the general studies courses in the sample curriculum meet the state of Colorado core requirements? If not, what is missing. Be specific.
For the Colorado Board of Nursing, does the sample curriculum meet the requirements for the following:

  1. Total credit hours, lecture, lab, simulation, and clinical hours
  2. General education core courses
  3. Nursing courses/content areas and sequence

• What is your conclusion? Would this program be approved in Colorado?
• If not, what changes would have to be made to meet the Colorado requirements? Be specific.

Full Answer Section

      BSN Program Requirements:
  • Look for details regarding the following aspects of the Colorado BSN program requirements:
    • Total credit hours: This specifies the minimum total credit hours required for a BSN degree.
    • Breakdown of credit hours: See if the regulations specify a breakdown for lecture, lab, simulation, and clinical hours.
    • Nursing courses/content areas and sequence: Check if there are specific required nursing courses or content areas outlined, along with their sequence within the program.
  1. Comparing the Sample Program:
  • Compare the total credit hours and breakdown in the sample program to the Colorado requirements. Are they sufficient or exceeding the minimums?
  • Analyze the nursing course offerings in the sample program. Do they cover all the required content areas and follow the prescribed sequence, if any?
  1. Conclusion and Necessary Changes:
  • Based on your analysis, determine if the sample program meets all the Colorado BON requirements for BSN programs.
  • If there are discrepancies, identify the specific missing courses, content areas, or credit hours not aligned with the Colorado regulations.

Resources:

  • Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Board of Nursing website: https://dpo.colorado.gov/
  • Look for sections related to BSN program requirements or curriculum standards.

By following these steps and using the official Colorado BON website as a reference, you can effectively assess whether the sample program from another state would be approved for BSN education in Colorado.

 

Sample Answer

   

Here's how you can determine if the program would be approved in Colorado:

1. General Studies Courses:

  • Access the Colorado BON website and look for the BSN program requirements. They should outline the required general education core courses (e.g., communication, humanities, social sciences).
  • Compare the general studies courses in the sample program curriculum to the Colorado core requirements. Identify any missing courses or areas not covered.