§ 6912. Clinical education in New York state nursing education programs. 1. For purposes of this section, "simulation experience" shall mean planned learning experiences that represent actual or potential situations in clinical nursing practice and adhere to the standards of this section. Such learning experiences allow participants to develop or enhance clinical nursing competencies and provide an opportunity to analyze and respond to realistic situations in a simulated environment.

2. New York state certificate and degree programs registered by the department for the purposes of meeting the education requirements set forth in this article shall include clinical education, or the equivalent as defined and determined by the commissioner pursuant to regulation.

3. Registered programs may deliver one-third of such clinical training or clinical education through simulation experience as defined in this section and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations, provided, however, nothing in this section shall reduce the minimum in-person or direct care requirements established by programmatic accreditors and certifying bodies. To meet a particular educational need the commissioner may approve that more than one-third of such clinical training or clinical education may be met through simulation experience as defined in this section and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.

4. The commissioner shall prescribe in regulation an expedited process for programs seeking a curricular change to implement simulation experiences. For programs that are not in substantial compliance with department program requirements, the department may request additional information and materials, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. The department shall act upon a program's submission to implement simulation experiences within twenty business days of receipt of a complete and properly submitted form.

5. Simulation experience acceptable to the department for the purposes of clinical training or clinical education shall:

(a) be designed, guided and supervised by program faculty and program staff with appropriate and relevant training, certification or accreditation, who may be assisted or supported by experts in simulation, in a nursing skills or clinical simulation laboratory setting;

(b) include continued professional development opportunities for program faculty and program staff in simulation methods and best practices;

(c) utilize theory-based, evidence-based, and standards-driven pedagogy;

(d) require active student engagement in guided skills practice with instructional feedback;

(e) include formative and summative assessments of well-articulated competencies appropriate to the role and responsibilities of the learner;

(f) use various types of fidelity through equipment and practice to replicate substantial aspects of clinical nursing practice and utilize relevant equipment and technologies as appropriate to the desired learning outcomes;

(g) maintain continued compliance with the standards of program registration; and

(h) respond to innovations or emerging educational needs, pursuant to regulation.