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

1. (1) Academic course--A specific set of learning experiences offered in an accredited school, college or university. Academic credit will convert on the following basis: One academic quarter hour = 10 contact hours; one academic semester hour = 15 contact hours.
2. (2) Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)--A registered nurse approved by the board to practice as an advanced practice nurse based on completion of an advanced educational program acceptable to the board. The term includes a nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, nurse anesthetist, and a clinical nurse specialist.
3. (3) Approved--Recognized as having met established standards and pre-determined criteria of the credentialing agencies recognized by the board. Applies to providers and programs.
4. (4) Audit--A random sample of licensees taken to verify satisfactory completion of the board's requirements for continuing education during a biennial license renewal period.
5. (5) Bioterrorism: The overt or covert dispensing of disease pathogens or toxins by individuals, groups, or governments for the purpose of causing harm for either ideological, political, or financial gain.
6. (6) Classroom instruction--Workshops, seminars, institutes, conferences or short-term courses which the individual attends which may be acceptable for continuing education credit.
7. (7) Clinical learning experiences--Faculty-planned and guided learning experiences designed to assist students to meet the course objectives and to apply nursing knowledge and skills in the direct care of patients/clients. This includes laboratories, acute care facilities, extended care facilities, and other community resources.
8. (8) Contact hour Sixty consecutive minutes of participation in a learning activity.
9. (9) Continuing Education (CE)--Programs beyond the basic preparation which are designed to promote and enrich knowledge, improve skills and develop attitudes for the enhancement of nursing practice, thus improving health care to the public. Nurse refresher courses are not accepted for continuing education credit.
10. (10) Continuing education program--An organized educational activity designed and evaluated to meet a set of behavioral objectives which may be presented in one session or a series of sessions.
11. (11) Credentialing agency--An organization recognized by the board as having met nationally predetermined criteria to approve programs and providers of CE.
12. (12) Inservice programs--Educational activities sponsored by the employing agency to provide specific information about the work setting. Orientation or other programs which address the institution's philosophy, policies and procedures, on-the-job training; basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and equipment demonstration are not acceptable for continuing education credit.
13. (13) Institutional-based instruction--Planned programs conducted by the employing agency for the development of its nursing staff's knowledge and improvement of skills. Institutional-based instruction which qualifies under §216.3(1) of this title (relating to Type I) is acceptable for Type I credit. Type II credit may be obtained for programs which comply with §216.4 of this title (relating to Criteria for Acceptable Continuing Education Activity).
14. (14) Limited Prescriptive Authority--Authorization granted to an advanced practice nurse who meets the requirements to carry out or sign a prescription drug order.
15. (15) Orientation--A program designed to introduce employees to the philosophy, goals, policies, procedures, role expectations and physical facilities of a specific work place. This does not meet the continuing education criteria as intended by these rules.
16. (16) Program number--A unique number assigned to a program upon approval which shall identify it regardless of the number of times it is presented.
17. (17) Provider--An individual, partnership, organization, agency or institution which offers continuing education programs.
18. (18) Provider number--A unique number assigned to the provider upon approval by the credentialing agency or organization.
19. (19) Self-directed study--An educational activity wherein the learner takes the initiative and the responsibility for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the activity. Self-directed study may include program development, auditing of academic course, initial specialty certification, home study, programmed instruction and authorship.
20. (20) Type I--Programs(s) approved through an external review process based on a predetermined set of criteria. The review is conducted by an organization(s) recognized by the board to approve programs and providers.
21. (21) Type II--Program(s) which meet the criteria for acceptable continuing education activity but which have not undergone an external review process.

Source Note:The provisions of this §216.1 adopted to be effective September 1, 1999, 24 TexReg 4000; amended to be effective January 7, 2004, 29 TexReg 99; amended to be effective April 11, 2005, 30 TexReg 2065; amended to be effective June 26, 2007, 32 TexReg 3846.