Virginia Law

A. Both classroom and online curricula shall reflect the philosophy and objectives of the nursing education program and shall be consistent with the law governing the practice of nursing.

B. Nursing education programs preparing for licensure as a registered or practical nurse shall include:

1. Evidence-based didactic content and supervised clinical experience in nursing, encompassing the attainment and maintenance of physical and mental health and the prevention of illness for individuals and groups throughout the life cycle and in a variety of acute, nonacute, community-based, and long-term care clinical settings and experiences to include adult medical/surgical nursing, geriatric nursing, maternal/infant (obstetrics, gynecology, neonatal) nursing, mental health/psychiatric nursing, nursing fundamentals, and pediatric nursing;

2. Concepts of the nursing process that include conducting a focused nursing assessment of the client status that includes decision making about who and when to inform, identifying client needs, planning for episodic nursing care, implementing appropriate aspects of client care, contributing to data collection and the evaluation of client outcomes, and the appropriate reporting and documentation of collected data and care rendered;

3. Concepts of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, and the behavioral sciences;

4. Concepts of communication, growth and development, nurse-client interpersonal relations, and client education, including:

a. Development of professional socialization that includes working in interdisciplinary teams; and

b. Conflict resolution;

5. Concepts of ethics and the vocational and legal aspects of nursing, including:

a. Regulations and sections of the Code of Virginia related to nursing;

b. Client rights, privacy, and confidentiality;

c. Prevention of client abuse, neglect, and abandonment throughout the life cycle, including instruction in the recognition, intervention, and reporting by the nurse of evidence of child or elder abuse;

d. Professional responsibility, to include the role of the practical and professional nurse;

e. Professional boundaries, to include appropriate use of social media and electronic technology; and

f. History and trends in nursing and health care;

6. Concepts of pharmacology, dosage calculation, medication administration, nutrition, and diet therapy;

7. Concepts of client-centered care, including:

a. Respect for cultural differences, values, and preferences;

b. Promotion of healthy life styles for clients and populations;

c. Promotion of a safe client environment;

d. Prevention and appropriate response to situations of bioterrorism, natural and man-made disasters, and intimate partner and family violence;

e. Use of critical thinking and clinical judgment in the implementation of safe client care; and

f. Care of clients with multiple, chronic conditions; and

8. Development of management and supervisory skills, including:

a. The use of technology in medication administration and documentation of client care;

b. Participation in quality improvement processes and systems to measure client outcomes and identify hazards and errors; and

c. Supervision of certified nurse aides, registered medication aides, and unlicensed assistive personnel.

C. In addition to meeting curriculum requirements set forth in subsection B of this section, registered nursing education programs preparing for registered nurse licensure shall also include:

1. Evidence-based didactic content and supervised clinical experiences in conducting a comprehensive nursing assessment that includes:

a. Extensive data collection, both initial and ongoing, for individuals, families, groups, and communities addressing anticipated changes in client conditions as well as emerging changes in a client's health status;

b. Recognition of alterations to previous client conditions;

c. Synthesizing the biological, psychological, and social aspects of the client's condition;

d. Evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of nursing care;

e. Planning for nursing interventions and evaluating the need for different interventions for individuals, groups, and communities;

f. Evaluation and implementation of the need to communicate and consult with other health team members; and

g. Use of a broad and complete analysis to make independent decisions and nursing diagnoses; and

2. Evidence-based didactic content and supervised experiences in:

a. Development of clinical judgment;

b. Development of leadership skills and unit management;

c. Knowledge of the rules and principles for delegation of nursing tasks to unlicensed persons;

d. Supervision of licensed practical nurses;

e. Involvement of clients in decision making and a plan of care; and

f. Concepts of pathophysiology.