The Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners adopts new §237.1 relating to Definitions with changes to the proposed text published in the June 25, 1999 issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 4692). The change is in (13) Delinquent License. The word licensure should read relicensure.

New §237.1 is adopted for clarification and to establish a numbering system for all definitions.

No comments were received relative to the adoption of this rule.

The rule is adopted under Texas Civil Statutes, Article 4528c, Section 4(f), which provides the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners with the authority to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry in effect the purposes of the law.

§237.1.Definitions.

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

(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)

Accredited--Recognized as having met certain predetermined standards or qualifications. The accreditation applies to an agency or organization which is recognized by the Board to approve programs and providers.

(3)

Approved--Recognized as having met established standards and predetermined criteria of the Board.

(4)

Approver--Agency or organization recognized by the Board to approve programs and/or providers. May be referred to as credentialing agency.

(5)

Audit--Verification of a licensee's (or provider's) satisfactory completion of the Board's criteria related to continuing education during a specified time period.

(6)

Auditing Academic Courses--Attending courses in nursing or health care in a university or college program without receiving formal credit.

(7)

Authorship--Development of an original manuscript for a journal article or text accepted by a publisher for statewide or national distribution on a subject related to nursing or health care.

(8)

Board--Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners

(9)

C.E.U.--continuing education unit. Unit of measure used to designate 10 contact hours. One CEU = 10 contact hours.

(10)

Classroom Instruction--Workshops, seminars, institutes, conferences or short-term courses which the individual attends and are approved for continuing education credit.

(11)

Contact Hour--50 consecutive minutes of participation in an approved learning activity.

(12)

Continuing Education--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.

(13)

Delinquent License--One which has not been renewed by the Board due to failure to meet relicensure requirements. Also referred to as a lapsed license.

(14)

Endorsement--Process by which a licensee from another state whose requirements are equal to those of Texas, and whose individual qualifications are equivalent to those required by law is granted a license to practice as a licensed vocational nurse in this state without examination after paying the required fee and meeting all other requirements.

(15)

External Nursing Degree Courses--Courses leading to a degree in nursing that are granted by an accredited institution via distance learning. The institution is not required to be located in Texas but is required to meet the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's rules for degree granting in Texas and recognized by a state board of nursing.

(16)

Inactive License--License which provides legal authority to use the title vocational nurse, but which prohibits the nurse from being gainfully employed.

(17)

Individualized Instruction--A program initiated by the individual and completed at the individual's pace. Activities which may be approved for credit include home study and programmed instruction.

(18)

Inservice--Programs sponsored by the employing agency to provide information about the work-setting, such as philosophy, policies and procedures, on-the-job training, orientation, and equipment demonstration. These do not meet criteria for continuing education credit.

(19)

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 meets the Board's criteria may be approved for C. E. credit. This shall not be inservice programs.

(20)

Nursing Practice--Performance of services for compensation appropriate for licensed vocational nurses employed in clinical settings, administration, education, or research

(21)

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.

(22)

Program--An organized educational activity designed and evaluated to meet a set of behavioral objectives. May be presented in one session or a series of sessions.

(23)

Program Development--The development and presentation of a program which is not part of the licensee's primary employment responsibilities may be considered for continuing education credit for the program presenter.

(24)

Provider--Individual, partnership, organization, agency or institution which offers continuing education programs.

(25)

Provider Number--Unique number assigned to the provider upon approval by a credentialing agency.

(26)

Reactivation--Process of making a license current, which has been held in abeyance per licensee's request for placement on the inactive list. This process does not involve Board action at any juncture.

(27)

Refresher Course--Program designed to update knowledge of current nursing theory and clinical practice. Consists of a didactic and clinical component to ensure entry level competencies into vocational nursing practice. Refresher courses are not acceptable for continuing education credit.

(28)

Reinstatement--The individual with a revoked or suspended license must demonstrate or supply evidence to the Board of their rehabilitation or current fitness to hold a license. Reinstatement petitions shall be considered no sooner than five years following a revocation order, one year following a voluntary surrender revocation order, or in the case of a suspension order, upon conclusion of the specified period of suspension.

(29)

Renewal Period--Two year period determined by the licensee's birth month and year. It begins on the first day of the month following the birth month and ends on the last day of the birth month in odd or even-numbered years. Also called biennium.

(30)

Self-directed Study--An educational activity where the learner takes the initiative and the responsibility for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the activity.

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 August 4, 1999.

TRD-9904806

Mary M. Strange, RN, BSN, CNA

Executive Director

Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners

Effective date: August 24, 1999

Proposal publication date: June 25, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 305-8100

Subchapter A. Definitions