Nursing education programs: compliance guidelines and reports

Approval of a nursing education program is a public action, determined by the Board, which signifies regulatory compliance. One of the components the Board utilizes to determine a Program’s compliance with regulations at 244 CMR 6.04 is the Annual Report.

When submitting your program’s Annual Report to the Board, regulation 244 CMR 6.07(3) requires the program administrator of a Board-approved nursing education program to notify the Board of all program changes. Examples may include:

• Completion Rate
• Employment Rates

See 244 CMR 6.07 (1) (a-e) and (1) (c) for changes excluded from this regulation.

Annual Report FAQs (PDF) | (DOCX)

Program Reports: Reporting Changes to the Massachusetts Board of Nursing

Templates for reporting changes are listed by change type. Nursing Education Programs are required to request Board approval prior to implementation of certain changes with all other changes required to be reported at the time of the change or on the annual report to the Board. If you are unsure of which forms to use or if a change requires prior approval, please contact the Board.

Approval of a nursing education program is a public action, determined by the Board, which signifies regulatory compliance.  Such compliance is based on your program’s Annual Report to the Board, and through an on-site visit scheduled at intervals prescribed by regulation.

The Board’s regulations at 244 CMR 6.00: Approval of Nursing Education Programs address the following operational areas: Program mission and governance, faculty qualifications, students, curriculum, and resources.

Guidelines

• 6.06 Site Survey guidelines - DOC

Tools

• Cooperating Clinical Agency Contract Checklist - DOC
• Required Board policies checklist - DOC
• Course outline checklist - DOC

Surveyor report

• Surveyor Report Prepared in Compliance with 244 CMR 6.06 (1) Site Survey of Nursing Education Programs - DOC

The Board may approve a waiver of 244 CMR 6.06(1)(a) for programs that maintain full accreditation status by a Board-recognized accrediting agency in nursing. The Board will only consider 244 CMR 6.06(1)(a) waiver applications that are submitted in accordance with Board regulation 244 CMR 6.06(2)(a).

• 6.06 Site Survey Waiver Guideline (PDF) | (DOCX)

Grounds for Board review of a program s approval status and site visit shall include, but may not be limited to, the following: 244 CMR 6.08(1)(h) ongoing annual NCLEX pass rate less than 80% for first-time writers. 

Programs with an annual NCLEX pass rate less than 80% for first-time writers for any second year within a three year period will conduct an expanded self-evaluation for compliance with all Board regulations at 244 CMR 6.04(1)-(5).

Guidelines

• Guidelines for NCLEX Self-Evaluation Report Related to 244 CMR 6.08(1)(e) (PDF) | (DOCX)

Tools

• Cooperating Clinical Agency Contract Checklist - DOC
• Required Board policies checklist - DOC
• Course outline checklist - DOC

Surveyor report

• Survey Report Prepared in Compliance with 244 CMR 6.08 (1) (h) NCLEX pass rate less than 80% for first time writers