WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Ch. 603

CHAPTER 603

(Senate Bill 704)

AN ACT concerning

Maryland Higher Education Commission and the State Board
of Nursing - Nursing Education Programs at Community Colleges

FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board for Community
Colleges to investigate and subsequently implement certain
changes in the nursing education curricula at certain

educational institutions in the State; requiring the

Maryland Higher Education Commission to develop an

educational process to facilitate the entry of unlicensed
nursing care providers into nursing education programs;
requiring the Commission to develop certain relationships
between community colleges and local health care facilities;

requiring the State Board for Community Colleges to

publicize certain programs to increase recruitment into

nursing education programs; Maryland Higher Education

Commission and the State Board of Nursing to establish a
task force to investigate and make recommendations
concerning certain changes in the nursing education
curricula at certain education institutions in the State;
providing that the Maryland Higher Education Commission and
the State Board of Nursing may develop an educational
process to facilitate the entry of unlicensed nursing care
providers into certain nursing education programs; requiring
the task force to report its findings and make certain
recommendations by a certain date; requiring the Higher
Education Commission and the State Board of Nursing to
implement the findings of the task force by a certain date;
and providing for the effective date of this Act; and
providing for the termination of this Act.

Preamble

WHEREAS, There is a need to develop a comprehensive nursing
education system to encourage advancement within the nursing
profession;

WHEREAS, A comprehensive nursing education system would
encourage current unlicensed nursing care providers to continue
their nursing education, thereby helping to relieve shortages
within the nursing profession; and

WHEREAS, Nurses and unlicensed nursing care providers are
deterred from pursuing further nursing education programs because
of costs and other restrictions; now, therefore,

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