S.B. 457 (S-1): FIRST ANALYSIS NURSING INSTRUCTORS
Senate Bill 457 (Substitute S-1 as enrolled) Sponsor: Senator Dan L. DeGrow Committee: Health Policy and Senior Citizens
Date Completed: 5-8-95
In 1989 the Board of Nursing rewrote the rules regarding program requirements for nursing education. Among the rules adopted was a requirement that every member of a nursing faculty teaching registered nurses (in the clinical laboratory or cooperating agencies) or licensed practical nurses hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing science. Although full-time faculty members who were employed on the rules effective date were exempted from this requirement, part-time nursing education instructors could be granted a three-year exemption from the new requirement upon the request of their educational institution. Exemptions were granted in 1989 and again in 1992; however, the Board of Nursing has notified schools with nursing education programs that no more exemptions for part-time faculty members will be granted. This means that those part-time instructors who have been granted exemptions for the past six years will lose their exemptions this year, and no longer be able to teach. (Reportedly, this change will affect approximately 12 people.) It has been suggested that the Public Health Code be amended to allow those persons who were part-time instructors in 1989 and still remain in those positions to continue teaching.
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to create an exception to the administrative rule that requires every member of a nursing faculty in a program of nursing education for registered nurses, or licensed practical nurses, to hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing science.
Under the administrative rule, each member of the nursing faculty in a program of nursing education for registered nurses who provides instruction in the clinical laboratory or cooperating agencies
must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing (R 305(2)(b)(iii)). Further, each member of the nursing faculty in a program of nursing education for licensed practical nurses must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing science (R 305(2)(c)(ii)). Under the bill, these requirements would not apply to a member of the nursing faculty who 1) was employed by or under contract to a program of nursing education on or before September 1, 1989; and 2) was employed by or under contract to a program of nursing education on the effective date of the bill.
MCL 333.16148
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
When the rules regarding the education qualifications of nursing education instructors were changed in 1989, institutions with nursing education programs were allowed to request three-year exemptions for part-time faculty members. This enabled some part-time nursing education teachers to continue teaching even though they had not attained a baccalaureate degree in nursing science. These exemptions were granted by the Board of Nursing again in 1992. The Board has informed institutions with nursing education programs that no further exemptions will be allowed. This means that some part-time faculty members, who have been long- time teachers and who have been nurses for longer than that, will no longer be allowed to teach. The bill would permit those part-time instructors who were employed in a program of nursing education in 1989 to continue to teach. While this
would affect few people, it would enable those institutions that employ part-time faculty members to retain their long-time staff members, and thus maintain the stability of their nursing education staffs.
Legislative Analyst: G. Towne
The bill would not have an impact on the administrative workload or place other requirements on the Bureau of Occupational and Professional Regulation, Department of Commerce. There would be no fiscal impact on the State or local governments.
Fiscal Analyst: K. Lindquist
A9596\S457A
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.