Section 246-840-534. Use of simulation for clinical experiences in LPN, RN, or RN to BSN nursing education programs located in Washington state.

(1) An LPN, RN, or RN to BSN nursing education program may use simulation as a substitute for traditional clinical experiences, after approval by the commission, not to exceed fifty percent of its clinical hours for a particular course.

(a) Simulation as used in this section means a technique to replace or amplify real experiences with guided experiences evoking or replicating substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive manner.

(b) The nursing education program shall have an organizing framework providing adequate fiscal, human, technological, and material resources to support the simulation activities.

(c) Simulation activities must be managed by an individual who is academically and experientially qualified and who demonstrates currency and competency in the use of simulation while managing the simulation program.

(d) The nursing education program shall have a budget sustaining simulation activities and training of the faculty.

(e) The nursing education program shall have appropriate facilities, educational and technological resources and equipment to meet the intended objectives of the simulation.

(f) All faculty involved in simulations, both didactic and clinical, shall have training in the use of simulation and shall engage in ongoing professional development in the use of simulation.

(g) Faculty to student ratios in the simulation lab must be in the same ratio as identified in WAC 246-840-532 for clinical learning experiences.

(2) Faculty shall organize clinical and practice experiences based on the educational preparation and skill level of the student.

(3) Qualified simulation faculty must supervise and evaluate student clinical and practice experiences.

(a) The nursing education program shall demonstrate that simulation activities are linked to programmatic outcomes.

(b) The nursing education program shall have written policies and procedures on the following:

(i) Short-term and long-term plans for integrating simulation into the curriculum;

(ii) An identified method of debriefing each simulated activity; and

(iii) A plan for orienting faculty to simulation.

(c) Debriefing as used in this section means an activity following a simulation experience that is led by a facilitator, encourages reflective thinking, and provides feedback regarding the participant's performance.

(d) The nursing education program shall develop criteria to evaluate simulation activities.

(e) Students shall evaluate the simulation experience on an ongoing basis.

(f) The program shall include information about use of simulation in its annual report to the commission.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.010, 18.79.110, 18.79.150, 18.79.190, and 18.79.240. WSR 16-17-082, § 246-840-534, 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, § 246-840-534, filed 8/17/16, effective 9/17/16.

Rules

246-840-532,