1. (a) The program of study shall include both didactic and clinical learning experiences and shall be:

   1. (1) at least the equivalent of two academic years and shall not exceed four calendar years;
   2. (2) planned, implemented, and evaluated by the faculty;
   3. (3) based on the philosophy/mission and objectives/outcomes;
   4. (4) organized logically, sequenced appropriately;
   5. (5) based on sound educational principles;
   6. (6) designed to prepare graduates to practice according to the Standards of Nursing Practice as set forth in the Board's Rules and Regulations;
   7. (7) designed and implemented to prepare students to demonstrate the Differentiated Essential Competencies of Graduates of Texas Nursing Programs Evidenced by Knowledge, Clinical Judgment, and Behaviors: Vocational (VN), Diploma/Associate Degree (DIP/AND), Baccalaureate Degree (BSN), October 2010 (DEC); and
   8. (8) designed to teach students to use a systematic approach to clinical decision making and safe patient care.

2. (b) The faculty shall be responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of the curriculum based upon the following guidelines:

   1. (1) There shall be a reasonable balance between non-nursing courses and nursing courses which are offered in a supportive sequence with rationale and are clearly appropriate for collegiate study.
   2. (2) Instruction shall be provided in nursing roles; biological, physical, social, behavioral, and nursing sciences, including body structure and function, microbiology, pharmacology, nutrition, signs of emotional health, human growth and development; and nursing skills.

3. (c) Instruction shall include, but not be limited to, organized student/faculty interactive learning activities, formal lecture, audiovisual presentations, simulated laboratory instruction, and faculty-supervised, hands-on patient care clinical learning experiences.

   1. (1) Class hours shall include actual hours of classroom instruction in nursing and non-nursing Board-required courses/content;
   2. (2) Laboratory activities/instruction may be counted as either classroom or laboratory hours for the purpose of calculating the hours in the curriculum;
   3. (3) Clinical practice shall include actual hours of practice in clinical areas, clinical conferences, and simulated lab experiences, if counted as clinical hours for the purpose of calculating the hours in the curriculum; and
   4. (4) Clinical hours shall be sufficient to meet program of study requirements. There shall be a rationale for the ratio of contact hours assigned to classroom and clinical learning experiences. The recommended ratio is one contact hour of didactic to three contract hours of associated clinical learning experiences (1:3), but could be expanded to a 1:4, 1:5, or 1:6 ratio depending on the type of clinical learning experience.
4. (d) The program of study should facilitate articulation among programs.

5. (e) The program of study shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas:

   1. (1) non-nursing courses, clearly appropriate for collegiate study, offered in a supportive sequence.

   2. (2) nursing courses which include didactic and clinical learning experiences in the four content areas, medical-surgical, maternal/child health, pediatrics, and mental health nursing that teach students to use a systematic approach to clinical decision making and prepare students to safely practice professional nursing through the promotion, prevention, rehabilitation, maintenance, and restoration of the health of individuals of all ages.

      1. (A) Course content shall be appropriate to the role expectations of the graduate.
      2. (B) Professional values including ethics, safety, diversity, and confidentiality shall be addressed.
      3. (C) The Nursing Practice Act, Standards of Nursing Practice, Unprofessional Conduct Rules, Delegation Rules, and other laws and regulations which pertain to various practice settings shall be addressed.
   3. (3) Nursing courses shall prepare students to recognize and analyze health care needs, select and apply relevant knowledge and appropriate methods for meeting the heath care needs of individuals and families, and evaluate the effectiveness of the nursing care.
   4. (4) Baccalaureate and entry-level master's degree programs in nursing shall include learning activities in basic research and management/leadership, and didactic and clinical learning experiences in community health nursing.

6. (f) The selection and organization of the learning experiences in the curriculum shall provide continuity, sequence, and integration of learning.

   1. (1) The learning experiences shall provide for progressive development of values, knowledge, judgment, and skills.
   2. (2) Didactic learning experiences shall be provided either prior to or concurrent (at the same time) with the related clinical learning experiences.
   3. (3) Clinical learning experiences shall be sufficient in quantity and quality to provide opportunities for students to achieve the stated outcomes.
   4. (4) Students shall have sufficient opportunities in simulated or clinical settings to develop manual technical skills, using contemporary technologies, essential for safe, effective nursing practice.
   5. (5) Learning opportunities shall assist students to develop communication and interpersonal relationship skills.

7. (g) Course content shall be appropriate to the role expectations of the graduate.

   1. (1) Professional values, including ethics, safety, diversity, and confidentiality shall be addressed.
   2. (2) The Nursing Practice Act, Standards of Nursing Practice, Unprofessional Conduct Rules, and other laws and regulations which pertain to various practice settings shall be addressed.
   3. (3) The curriculum plan, including course outlines, shall be kept current and available to faculty and Board representatives.
8. (h) Faculty shall develop and implement evaluation methods and tools to measure progression of students' cognitive, affective and psychomotor achievements in course/clinical objectives, according to Board guidelines.

9. (i) Curriculum changes shall be developed by the faculty according to Board standards and shall include information outlined in the Board guidelines. The two types of curriculum changes are:

   1. (1) Minor curriculum changes not requiring prior Board staff approval, and may include:

      1. (A) Editorial updates of philosophy/mission and objectives/outcomes; or
      2. (B) Redistribution of course content or course hours.

   2. (2) Major curriculum changes requiring Board staff approval prior to implementation, including:

      1. (A) Change in program philosophy/mission and objectives/outcomes which result in a reorganization or re-conceptualization of the entire curriculum, including but not limited to, changing from a block to an integrated curriculum.
      2. (B) The addition of transition course(s), tracks/alternative programs of study, including MEEP, that provide educational mobility.
      3. (C) Mobility programs desiring to establish a generic program are treated as a new program and the appropriate proposal should be developed.
10. (j) Documentation of controlling agency/governing institution approval, and approval from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) if approved/licensed by the TWC or THECB, must be provided to the Board prior to implementation of changes, as appropriate.

11. (k) Nursing educational programs that have full approval status and are undergoing major curriculum changes shall submit an abbreviated proposal, as outlined in Board guidelines, to the Board office for approval at least four (4) months prior to implementation. The abbreviated proposal shall contain at least the following:

    1. (1) new and old philosophy/mission, major concepts, program objectives/outcomes, course objectives/outcomes;
    2. (2) new and old curriculum plans;
    3. (3) clinical evaluation tools for each clinical course; and
    4. (4) additional information, as requested, in order to provide clarity for Board staff.
12. (l) Nursing educational programs not having full approval status, but proposing a major curriculum change, shall submit a full curriculum change proposal, as outlined in Board guidelines, to the Board office and meet the requirements as outlined in subsection (i) of this section.
13. (m) All nursing educational programs implementing a curriculum change shall submit an evaluation of the outcomes of the implemented curriculum change through the first graduating class under the new curriculum.

Source Note:The provisions of this §215.9 adopted to be effective January 9, 2005, 29 TexReg 12190; amended to be effective October 19, 2008, 33 TexReg 8509; amended to be effective December 27, 2010, 35 TexReg 11668.