Part 11.
BOARD OF NURSE EXAMINERS
Chapter 215.
PROFESSIONAL NURSING EDUCATION
22 TAC §215.6, §215.7
The Board of Nurse Examiners (Board) adopts amendments to §215.6
and §215.7, concerning Professional Nursing Education. Section 215.7
is adopted with changes to the text as proposed in the May 13, 2005, issue
of the
Texas Register
(30 TexReg 2823). Section
215.6 is adopted without changes and will not be republished.
The proposal amended §215.6(f)(2) and §215.7(c) by adding an
option of a doctorate degree in nursing to the requirements for a dean, director
and nursing faculty, and the requirement that a dean or director be required
to teach not more than three clock hours per week was moved from §215.7,
Faculty Qualifications, to §215.6 under the Dean and Director qualifications.
In addition, the existing language in §215.6(g)(1) was modified to provide
clarity in the intent of the rule.
Two comments from one individual were received requesting that the Board
consider the addition of the wording "or doctorate degree" into proposed §215.7(c)(1)(D)
to be reflective of the intent of proposed §215.7(c)(1)(C) and to encourage
more individuals to become nurse faculty at schools of nursing. The Board
agrees with this proposal and believes that in order to provide consistency
to the proposed amendment in §215.7(c)(1)(C), the wording "or doctorate
degree" should be added to §215.7(c)(1)(D).
The amendments are adopted pursuant to the authority of Texas
Occupations Code §301.151 and §301.152 which authorizes the Board
of Nurse Examiners to adopt, enforce, and repeal rules consistent with its
legislative authority under the Nursing Practice Act.
§215.7.Faculty Qualifications and Faculty Organization.
(a)
There shall be written personnel policies for nursing faculty
that are in keeping with accepted educational standards and are consistent
with those of the governing institution. Policies which differ from those
of the governing institution shall be consistent with nursing unit mission
and goals (philosophy and outcomes).
(1)
Policies concerning workload for faculty and the dean or
director shall be in writing.
(2)
Sufficient time shall be provided faculty to accomplish
those activities related to the teaching-learning process.
(3)
Teaching activities shall be coordinated among full-time,
part-time faculty, clinical preceptors and clinical teaching assistants.
(b)
A professional nursing education program shall employ sufficient
faculty members with graduate preparation and expertise necessary to enable
the students to meet the program goals. The number of faculty members shall
be determined by such factors as:
(1)
The number and level of students enrolled;
(2)
The curriculum plan;
(3)
Activities and responsibilities required of faculty;
(4)
The number and geographic locations of affiliating agencies
and clinical practice settings; and
(5)
The level of care and acuity of clients.
(c)
Faculty Qualifications and Responsibilities.
(1)
Documentation of faculty qualifications shall be included
in the official files of the programs. Each nurse faculty member shall:
(A)
Hold a current license or privilege to practice as a registered
nurse in the State of Texas;
(B)
Show evidence of teaching abilities and maintaining current
knowledge, clinical expertise, and safety in subject area of teaching responsibility;
(C)
Hold a master's degree or doctorate degree, preferably
in nursing.
(D)
A nurse faculty member holding a master's degree or doctorate
degree in a discipline other than nursing shall hold a bachelor's degree in
nursing from an approved or accredited baccalaureate program in nursing; and
(i)
if teaching in a diploma or associate degree nursing program,
shall have at least six semester hours of graduate level content in nursing
appropriate to assigned teaching responsibilities, or
(ii)
if teaching in a baccalaureate level program, shall have
at least 12 semester hours of graduate-level content in nursing appropriate
to assigned teaching responsibilities.
(E)
In fully approved programs, if an individual to be appointed
as faculty member does not meet the requirements for faculty as specified
in this subsection, the dean or director is permitted to petition for a waiver
of the Board's requirements, according to Board guidelines, prior to the appointment
of said individual.
(F)
In baccalaureate programs, an increasing number of faculty
members should hold doctoral degrees appropriate to their responsibilities.
(2)
All nursing faculty, as well as non-nursing faculty, who
teach theory nursing courses, e.g., pathophysiology, pharmacology, research,
management and statistics, shall have graduate level educational preparation
verified by the program dean or director as appropriate to these areas of
responsibility.
(3)
Non-nursing faculty assigned to teach didactic nursing
courses shall be required to co-teach with nursing faculty in order to meet
nursing course objectives.
(d)
Teaching assignments shall be commensurate with the faculty
member's education and experience in nursing.
(e)
The faculty shall be organized with written policies and
procedures and/or bylaws to guide the faculty and program's activities.
(f)
The faculty shall meet regularly and function in such a
manner that all members participate in planning, implementing and evaluating
the nursing program. Such participation includes, but is not limited to the
initiation and/or change of academic policies, personnel policies, curriculum,
utilization of affiliating agencies, and program evaluation.
(1)
Committees necessary to carry out the functions of the
program shall be established with duties and membership of each committee
clearly defined in writing.
(2)
Minutes of faculty organization and committee meetings
shall document the reasons for actions and the decisions of the faculty and
shall be available for reference.
(g)
There shall be written plans for faculty orientation, development,
and evaluation.
(1)
Orientation of new faculty members shall be initiated at
the onset of employment.
(2)
A program of faculty development shall be offered to encourage
and assist faculty members to meet the nursing program's needs as well as
individual faculty member's professional development needs.
(3)
A variety of means shall be used to evaluate faculty performance
such as self, student, peer and administrative evaluation.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been
reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's
legal authority.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on July 22, 2005.
TRD-200503006
Katherine Thomas
Executive Director
Board of Nurse Examiners
Effective date: August 11, 2005
Proposal publication date: May 13, 2005
For further information, please call: (512) 305-6823
Chapter 223.
FEES