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) Accredited nursing program--A school, department, or division of nursing accredited/approved by a nursing board or other licensing authority which has jurisdiction over accreditation/approval of nursing programs.
3. (3) Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)--A professional nurse, currently licensed in the State of Texas, who is prepared for advanced nursing practice by virtue of knowledge and skills obtained in an advanced educational program of study acceptable to the board, who meets requirements of Rule 221 and/or Rule 222, and has received authorization to practice as an APN in Texas.
4. (4) Applicant--An individual who has completed an accredited nursing program and has applied to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), or an individual who has applied for Temporary Licensure/Endorsement into Texas.
5. (5) Approved--Recognized as having met established standards and predetermined criteria of the credentialing agencies recognized by the board. Applies to providers and programs.
6. (6) Board--The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas.
7. (7) Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Certificate--Documentation that verifies the educational credentials and CGFNS examination results of graduates of foreign nursing schools.
8. (8) Declaratory order--An order issued by the Board pursuant to Texas Civil Statutes, Article 4519a, determining the eligibility of an individual for initial licensure as a registered nurse and setting forth both the basis for potential ineligibility and the Board's determination of the disclosed eligibility issues.
9. (9) Deliquent license--A license lapsed due to failure to renew the certificate of reregistration.
10. (10) Direct supervision--Requires a registered professional nurse to be immediately available to coordinate, direct, and observe at firsthand another individual for whom the RN is responsible.
11. (11) Eligibility order--An order, issued by the Board pursuant to Texas Civil Statutes, Article 4519, 4519a, or 4521(a) determining the eligibility of an individual for licensure.
12. (12) Endorsement--The process of issuing a permanent license without further examination to a registered nurse from another jurisdiction or licensing authority after determination is made that the applicant meets the same standards as those required of Texas registered nurses.
13. (13) First level, general nurse--Refers to the International Council of Nurses (ICN) classification of nurses. A first-level nurse is called a registered or professional nurse in most countries. A general nurse has studied theory and had clinical practice in a variety of nursing areas. Second level nurses, who may be called enrolled, vocational, or practical nurses or nurse assistants, and those nurses who have specialized in one area without being educated and registered/licensed as a general nurse (for instance, midwife, pediatric nurse, or psychiatric nurse) are not eligible to take the CGFNS qualifying exam.
14. (14) Graduate of a foreign nursing school--An individual who graduated from a post-secondary nursing education program that prepares professional nurse generalists for licensure and is accredited by a governmental authority.
15. (15) Impaired practice--Practice in which the nurse's ability to perform the essential functions of a registered nurse is impaired by chemical dependency on drugs and/or alcohol or by mental illness.
16. (16) Jurisdiction--A state or territory of the United States using the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) as the licensing examination.
17. (17) Licensing authority--A legislated or governmentally appointed agency which approves, accredits or otherwise regulates legally defined behaviors of institutions or individuals.
18. (18) National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)--The test used by the board to measure minimal competence for licensure as a registered professional nurse.
19. (19) Nursing curriculum--The equivalent of all nursing courses in the program of study within an accredited nursing program.
20. (20) Nursing program--The equivalent of all non-nursing and nursing courses in the program of study within an accredited program.
21. (21) Peer assistance program--An approved program designed for registered nurses whose nursing practice is or may be impaired by chemical dependency on drugs and/or alcohol or certain mental illnesses and which meets the minimum criteria established by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the additional criteria established by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas.
22. (22) Practitioner--As related to radiology practice, a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, dentistry, or chiropractic who is licensed under the laws of Texas and who prescribes radiologic procedures for other persons (See 25 TAC §143.2).
23. (23) Professional boundaries--Refers to the provision of professional nursing services within the limits of the nurse/client relationship which promote the client's dignity, independence and best interests and refrain from inappropriate involvement in the client's personal relationships and the obtainment of the nurse's personal gain at the client's expense.

24. (24) Professional nursing education program (general)--Post-secondary general nursing program of at least two academic years in length that provides both theory and clinical instruction in nursing care of:

    1. (A) the adult to include both medical and surgical nursing;
    2. (B) maternal/infant nursing;
    3. (C) nursing care of children; and
    4. (D) psychiatric/mental health nursing
25. (25) Professional nursing practice--The performance of services for compensation appropriate for RNs employed in clinical practice, administration, education, research or other practices within the scope of the definition of professional nursing.
26. (26) 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.
27. (27) Radiologic procedure--Any procedure or article used with clients, including diagnostic x-rays or nuclear medicine procedures, through the emission of ionizing radiation as stated in 25 TAC §143.2.
28. (28) Reactivation--The process of making a license current when a registered nurse has allowed his or her license to become delinquent and/or is in inactive/retired status.
29. (29) Refresher course--A program designed to update knowledge of current nursing theory and clinical practice consisting of didactic and clinical components to ensure entry level competencies into professional nursing practice. Refresher courses are not accepted for continuing education credit.
30. (30) Registered nurse--A person currently licensed by the board to practice professional nursing.
31. (31) Registered nurse, retired--An individual on inactive status, 65 or older, who has met the requirements for using the title as stated in §217.9(b) of this title (relating to Inactive Status).
32. (32) Renewal period -Two-year period determined by the licensee's birth month and year.
33. (33) Shall, will and must--Mandatory requirements.
34. (34) State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE)--The test formerly used by the board prior to the NCLEX-RN to measure minimal competence for licensure as a registered nurse.
35. (35) Temporary authorization--An authorization to practice professional nursing for a specified period of time.
36. (36) Temporary license--A license that authorizes an individual licensed as a registered nurse in other jurisdictions to practice professional nursing in Texas for a specified period of time.
37. (37) Temporary permit--A permit issued to a registered nurse for a specific period of time which allows the RN to complete specific requirements in order for the license to be reissued.

Source Note:The provisions of this §217.1 adopted to be effective September 1, 1999, 24 TexReg 4001.