Words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

1. (1) Accredited nursing program

   1. (A) Board accredited nursing program--A nursing program approved by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas.
   2. (B) Voluntary accredited nursing program--A nursing program accredited by a Board approved voluntary nursing accrediting body (i.e. NLNAC, CCNE).
2. (2) Advisory Committee/Board--A group of individuals who provides input to the Board for consideration.
3. (3) Affiliate agency--An agency, other than the governing institution, which provides learning experiences for students.
4. (4) Alternative practice settings--settings which provide opportunities for clinical learning experiences although their primary function is not the delivery of health care.
5. (5) Articulation--A planned process between two or more educational systems to assist students to make a smooth transition from one level of education to another without duplication in learning.
6. (6) Baccalaureate degree program for registered nurses--A program leading to a bachelor's degree in nursing which admits only registered nurses.

7. (7) Basic nursing program--An educational unit whose purpose is to prepare practitioners of professional nursing and whose graduates are eligible to apply for initial licensure by examination.

   1. (A) Associate degree program--A program leading to an associate degree in nursing conducted by an educational unit in nursing within the structure of a college or university.
   2. (B) Baccalaureate degree program--A program leading to a bachelor's degree in nursing conducted by an educational unit in nursing which is a part of a senior college or university.
   3. (C) Master's degree program--A program leading to a master's degree, which is an individual's first professional degree in nursing, and conducted by an educational unit in nursing within the structure of a senior college or university.
   4. (D) Diploma program--A program leading to a diploma in nursing conducted by a single purpose school usually under the control of a hospital.
8. (8) Board--The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas composed of members appointed by the Governor for the State of Texas.
9. (9) Board survey visit--An on-site visit to a nursing program by a Board representative for the purpose of evaluating the program of learning and gathering data to support whether the program is meeting the Board's requirements as specified in §§215.2 - 215.13 of this chapter (relating to Definitions; Program Development, Expansion, and Closure; Accreditation; Mission and Goals (Philosophy and Outcomes); Administration and Organization; Faculty Qualifications and Faculty Organization; Students; Program of Study; Management of Clinical Learning Experiences and Resources; Facilities, Resources, and Services; Records and Reports; and Total Program Evaluation).
10. (10) Clinical learning experiences--Faculty-planned and guided learning activities designed to assist students to meet stated program and course outcomes and to safely apply knowledge and skills when providing nursing care to clients across the life span as appropriate to the role expectations of the graduates. These experiences occur in nursing skills and computer laboratories; in a variety of affiliate agencies or clinical practice settings including, but not limited to: acute care facilities, extended care facilities, clients' residences, and community agencies; and in associated clinical conferences.
11. (11) Clinical preceptor--A registered nurse or other licensed health professional who meets the minimum requirements in §215.10(f)(5) of this chapter (relating to Management of Clinical Learning Experiences and Resources), not paid as a faculty member by the governing institution, and who directly supervises a student's clinical learning experience. A clinical preceptor facilitates student learning in a manner prescribed by a signed written agreement between the educational institution, preceptor, and affiliate agency (as applicable).
12. (12) Clinical preceptorship--An organized system of clinical learning experiences which allows a nursing student, under the direction of a faculty member, to attain specific learning objectives under the supervision of a qualified clinical preceptor.
13. (13) Clinical teaching assistant--A registered nurse licensed in Texas, who is employed to assist and work under the supervision of a Master's or Doctorally prepared faculty member and who meets the minimum requirements in §215.10(g)(4) of this chapter.
14. (14) Coordinator--A qualified faculty who has the delegated responsibility for the day to day administration of an accredited professional nursing program or one or more distance education initiatives.
15. (15) Course--A specific set of organized learning experiences that must be met within a stated time period. A course involves both organized subject matter and related activities. In a clinical nursing course, the didactic content shall be taught either prior to or concurrent with the related clinical learning experiences.
16. (16) Curriculum--Content designed to achieve specific educational outcomes.
17. (17) Dean/Director--A registered nurse who is accountable for administering one or more of the following: basic nursing program or a post-licensure baccalaureate or higher degree program for registered nurses and who meets the requirements as stated in §215.6(f) of this chapter (relating to Administration and Organization).
18. (18) Differentiated Entry Level Competencies--The expected educational outcomes to be demonstrated by nursing students at the time of graduation as published in Differentiated Entry Level Competencies of Graduates of Texas Nursing Programs, Vocational (VN), Diploma/Associate Degree (Dip/ADN), Baccalaureate (BSN), September 2002.

19. (19) Distance education initiative--Instruction provided by an accredited nursing program utilizing a variety of instructional methods to any location(s) other than the program's main campus and where students are required to attend activities such as testing, group conferences, campus laboratory. A distance education initiative may range from offering the entire identical curriculum to offering a single course or multiple courses.

    1. (A) Complete program--Provides the entire program of study at a site other than the program's main campus.
    2. (B) Partial program--Provides a course or courses from the program of study at a site other than the program's main campus.
20. (20) Examination year--A twelve month period defined by the Board.
21. (21) Faculty currency/clinical competence--Maintenance of up-to-date knowledge and professional practice as demonstrated by certification and/or through participation in: continuing education, professional conferences, advanced academic courses, workshops, research projects, seminars, publications, clinical practice, and/or extended orientation.
22. (22) Faculty member--An individual employed to teach in the nursing program who meets the requirements as stated in §215.7 of this chapter (relating to Faculty Qualifications and Faculty Organization).
23. (23) Faculty petition--A request submitted to the Board petitioning to employ an individual who does not meet the requirements stated in §215.7 of this chapter.
24. (24) Faculty role--The activities which require the time of the faculty member and are related, directly or indirectly, to the performance of his/her professional education duties and responsibilities.
25. (25) Faculty waiver--A waiver granted by the Board to an individual who has a baccalaureate degree in nursing and is currently licensed in Texas to be employed as a faculty member for a limited period of time.
26. (26) Governing institution--An accredited college, university, or hospital responsible for the administration and operation of a Board accredited nursing program.
27. (27) Health care professional--An individual other than a RN who holds at least a bachelor's degree in the health care field, including, but not limited to: respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, physicians, social workers and psychologists.
28. (28) Instructional Methods--Includes traditional methods of delivering instruction such as lecture and group work, as well as innovative methods such as on-line courses and interactive television.
29. (29) Mission--The purpose and overall role of the educational unit in nursing which are consistent with those of the governing institution.
30. (30) Mobility--The ability to advance without educational barriers.
31. (31) Observational experience--An assignment to a facility or unit where students observe the functions of the facility and the role of nursing within the facility, but where students do not participate in patient/client care.
32. (32) Pass rate--The percentage of first-time candidates within one examination year who pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
33. (33) Philosophy--The underlying belief system of the educational nursing unit.
34. (34) Post-Licensure nursing program--An educational unit the purpose of which is to provide mobility options for registered nurses to attain undergraduate academic degrees in nursing. Post-licensure programs may be components of educational units within basic nursing programs or independent baccalaureate degree programs for registered nurses as defined in this section.
35. (35) Pre-Licensure nursing program--See basic nursing program.
36. (36) Professional Nursing Program--An educational entity that offers the courses and learning experiences that constitute the requirements for a basic nursing program (diploma program, associate degree program, baccalaureate degree program, master's degree alternate entry program) or a post-licensure program.
37. (37) Professional nursing student--An individual enrolled in a professional nursing program who has met admission criteria and is designated as a nursing student according to governing institution's policies.
38. (38) Program goals/outcomes--The expected competencies of program graduates with regard to professional nursing practice.
39. (39) Program of study--The courses and learning experiences that constitute the requirements for completion of a basic nursing program (associate degree program, baccalaureate degree program, master's degree program, or diploma program) or a post-licensure nursing program.
40. (40) Shall and must--Mandatory requirements.
41. (41) Should--A recommendation.
42. (42) Staff--Employees of the Board of Nurse Examiners.
43. (43) Supervision--Immediate availability of a faculty member, clinical preceptor, or clinical teaching assistant to coordinate, direct, and observe at first hand the practice of students.

Source Note:The provisions of this §215.2 adopted to be effective August 17, 2003, 28 TexReg 6540.