1. (a) The program of study 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 mission and goals (philosophy and 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 Professional Practice as set forth in the Board's Rules and Regulations; and
   7. (7) designed and implemented to prepare students to demonstrate the essential competencies.
2. (b) 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.
3. (c) There shall be a rationale for the ratio of contact hours assigned to classroom and clinical learning experiences. The recommended ratio is three contact hours of clinical learning experiences for each contact hour of classroom instruction.
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 with rationale.

   2. (2) nursing courses which include didactic and clinical learning experiences 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 Professional 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 health 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 learning experiences shall provide for progressive development of values, knowledge, judgement, and skills.

   1. (1) Didactic learning experiences shall be provided either prior to or concurrent with the related clinical learning experiences.
   2. (2) Clinical learning experiences shall be sufficient in quantity and quality to provide opportunities for students to achieve the stated program outcomes.
   3. (3) Students shall have sufficient opportunities in simulated or clinical settings to develop manual technical skills, using contemporary technologies, essential for safe, effective nursing practice.
   4. (4) Learning opportunities shall assist students to develop communication and interpersonal relationship skills.
7. (g) Faculty shall develop and implement evaluation methods and tools to measure students' cognitive, affective and psychomotor achievement using sound educational principles.

8. (h) Staff approval is required prior to implementation of major curriculum changes. Proposed changes shall include information outlined in board guidelines and shall be reviewed using board standards.

   1. (1) Changes that require approval include:

      1. (A) changes in program mission and goals (philosophy and outcomes) which result in a reorganization or reconceptualization of the entire curriculum;
      2. (B) an increase or decrease in program length by more than 25%;
      3. (C) the addition of transition or bridging courses that facilitate articulation into the existing program of study; and
      4. (D) the addition of tracks/alternative programs of study that provide educational mobility.
   2. (2) Documentation of Governing Institution approval or Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approval must be provided prior to implementation of changes, as appropriate.
   3. (3) All other revisions such as editorial updates of mission and goals or redistribution of course content or course hours shall be reported to the Board in the Annual Report.

9. (i) A professional nursing program with full accreditation may submit a proposal for an innovative approach to nursing education to the board for approval prior to implementation.

   1. (1) A nursing program that proposes to initiate an innovative approach to nursing education shall submit a proposal 90 days prior to a regularly scheduled board meeting:

      1. (A) the proposal shall include information outlined in board guidelines.
      2. (B) the proposal will be considered by the board at a regularly scheduled board meeting. The board may approved, may defer action, or may deny further consideration of the proposal.
   2. (2) If the proposed innovative approach to nursing education includes the creation of a distance education initiative or a major change in the program of study, the proposal must meet the requirements outlined in §215.3(b) of this title (relating to Program Development, Expansion, and Closure) or §215.9(h) of this section, respectively.

   3. (3) Approved innovative approaches may be implemented one time only.

      1. (A) The program must submit a written report of outcomes resulting from the innovative educational experience within 90 days of its completion.
      2. (B) A request for an innovative approach to become a permanent part of an accredited nursing program must be submitted by the Director of the program after the final evaluation of the project has been submitted and no less than 60 days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the board, using board guidelines.

Source Note:The provisions of this §215.9 adopted to be effective September 1, 1999, 23 TexReg 13070.