BRN committee reports board will pursue simulation standards; staff weighing regulatory vs. legislative route

The Nursing Education and Workforce Advisory Committee on Sept. 10 heard an update that the Board of Registered Nursing has authorized staff to pursue formal adoption of statewide simulation standards and is evaluating whether to do so through the administrative rulemaking process or by asking the Legislature to include the standards in statute.

Laurie (BRN staff) told the committee the board "voted to pursue the writing of regulations, for simulation standards," and staff are assessing whether statutory language incorporated in the board's forthcoming sunset bill might be a better path because of timing and scope. The committee was told the draft regulations received public feedback raising concerns about whether all prelicensure programs could meet detailed regulatory requirements.

Committee members and staff also discussed the potential effect on out‑of‑state and international nurse applicants if simulation standards become a licensing requirement rather than a graduation requirement. The board staff said any licensing requirement would apply to all applicants seeking California licensure.

Members stressed the importance of protecting students from psychological harm during simulation. "We heard about the psychological harms that students suffered as a result of poorly done simulation," one member said; the committee urged that student safety be central to any standard-setting.

BRN staff said they will continue stakeholder engagement and consider language designed to reduce unintended burdens on smaller programs while maintaining standards intended to protect patients and student wellbeing.

The committee recorded the update; no formal regulatory text was adopted at the Sept. 10 meeting.