BILL NUMBER: AB 2344CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 208 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 27, 2010 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR AUGUST 27, 2010 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 9, 2010 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY MAY 13, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Nielsen FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to amend Section 2786 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to nursing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2344, Nielsen. Nursing: approved schools. Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of registered nurses by the Board of Registered Nursing. Existing law requires the board to prepare and maintain a list of approved schools of nursing in this state and defines an approved school of nursing as one that, among other requirements, is an institution of higher education or is affiliated with an institution of higher education. For purposes of this provision, existing law specifies that the term "institution of higher education" includes community colleges offering an associate degree. This bill would instead specify that the term "institution of higher education" includes, but is not limited to, community colleges and private postsecondary institutions offering an associate of arts or associate of science degree. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 2786 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 2786. (a) An approved school of nursing is one that has been approved by the board, gives the course of instruction approved by the board, covering not less than two academic years, is affiliated or conducted in connection with one or more hospitals, and is an institution of higher education or is affiliated with an institution of higher education. For purposes of this section, "institution of higher education" includes, but is not limited to, community colleges offering an associate of arts or associate of science degree and private postsecondary institutions offering an associate of arts or associate of science degree. An approved school of nursing that is not an institution of higher education shall make an agreement with an institution of higher education in the same general location to grant an associate of arts or associate of science degree to individuals who graduate from the school of nursing or to grant a baccalaureate degree in nursing with successful completion of an additional course of study as approved by the board and the institution involved. (b) The board shall determine by regulation the required subjects of instruction to be completed in an approved school of nursing for licensure as a registered nurse and shall include the minimum units of theory and clinical experience necessary to achieve essential clinical competency at the entry level of the registered nurse. The board's standards shall be designed to encourage all schools to provide clinical instruction in all phases of the educational process. (c) The board shall perform or cause to be performed an analysis of the practice of the registered nurse no less than every five years. Results of the analysis shall be utilized to assist in the determination of the required subjects of instruction, validation of the licensing examination, and assessment of the current practice of nursing.