I would ask that regulation 18VAC90-27-60 regarding faculty qualifications for BSN programs be considered for revision. Each member of the faculty must hold a graduate degree, yet there is no consideration for the specific requirements for clinical faculty.

Given the shortage of nursing faculty and nurses in the Commonwealth, it is difficult to find potential nursing faculty who either have or are willing to pursue a graduate degree. The regulations currently allow preceptors to hold a BSN. However, they do not allow for nurses to become clinical faculty who hold a BSN and have multiple years' experience in the specialty. These highly skilled BSN-prepared nurses would make ideal candidates for clinical faculty positions to educate nursing students in the clinical setting and can be provided training through an onboarding process with the university.