Section 246-840-533. Preceptors, interdisciplinary mentors, and proctors in clinical or practice settings for nursing education programs located in Washington state.

(1) Preceptors may be used to enhance clinical or practice-learning experiences after a student has received instruction and orientation from program faculty who assure the student is adequately prepared for the clinical or practice experience.

(2) Nursing education faculty in prelicensure nursing education programs shall not assign more than two students to each nurse preceptor.

(3) Nursing education faculty in a program leading to licensure as an advanced registered nurse practitioner shall not assign more than one student to each preceptor.

(4) A preceptor may be used in practical and registered nursing education programs when the preceptor:

(a) Has an unencumbered nursing license at or above the level for, which the student is preparing;

(b) Is experienced in the specialty area for at least two years;

(c) Is oriented to the written course and student learning objectives;

(d) Is not related to, or a personal friend of the student; and

(e) Is oriented to the written role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student.

(5) A preceptor may be used in nursing education programs leading to licensure as an advanced registered nurse practitioner when the preceptor:

(a) Has an active, unencumbered license as an ARNP under chapter 18.79 RCW, a physician under chapter 18.71 RCW, an osteopathic physician under chapter 18.57 RCW, or equivalent license in other states or jurisdictions;

(b) Is experienced in the specialty area for at least two years;

(c) Is oriented to the written course and student learning objectives;

(d) Is not related to, or a personal friend of the student; and

(e) Is oriented to the written role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student.

(6) A preceptor may be used in graduate nursing programs as appropriate to the course of study when the preceptor:

(a) Is experienced in the specialty area for at least two years;

(b) Is oriented to the written course and student learning objectives;

(c) Is not related to, or a personal friend of the student; and

(d) Is oriented to the written role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student.

(7) An interdisciplinary mentor who has experience and educational preparation appropriate to the faculty planned student learning experience may be used in some clinical or practice experiences.

(8) Faculty are responsible for the overall supervision and evaluation of the student and must confer with each preceptor or interdisciplinary mentor and student at least once before the student learning experience, at the mid-point of the experience, and at the end of the learning experience.

(9) A proctor who monitors students during the performance of a task or skill must be qualified with educational and experiential preparation in the area being proctored and must be credentialed as a licensed health care provider listed in chapter 18.130 RCW. Such a person may be used on rare, short-term occasions to proctor students when a faculty member has determined that it is safe for a student to receive direct supervision from the proctor for the performance of a particular task or skill that is within the scope of practice for the nursing student.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.010, 18.79.110, 18.79.150, 18.79.190, and 18.79.240. WSR 16-17-082, § 246-840-533, filed 8/17/16, effective 9/17/16.]

RCW 18.79.010, 18.79.110, 18.79.150, 18.79.190, and 18.79.240. WSR 16-17-082, § 246-840-533, filed 8/17/16, effective 9/17/16.