| (a) New Programs.
(1) New vocational nursing education programs must
be approved by the Board in order to operate in the State of Texas.
The Board has established guidelines for the initial approval of vocational
nursing education programs.
(2) Proposal to establish a new vocational nursing
education program.
(A) An educational unit in nursing within the structure
of a school, including a college, university, or career school or
college, or a hospital or military setting is eligible to submit a
proposal to establish a vocational nursing education program.
(B) The new vocational nursing education program must
be approved/licensed or deemed exempt by the appropriate Texas agency,
the THECB or the TWC, as applicable, before approval can be granted
by the Board for the program to be implemented. The proposal to establish
a new vocational nursing education program may be submitted to the
Board at the same time that an application is submitted to the THECB
or the TWC, but the proposal cannot be approved by the Board until
such time as the proposed program is approved by the THECB or the
TWC.
(C) The process to establish a new vocational nursing
education program shall be initiated with the Board office one (1)
year prior to the anticipated start date of the program.
(D) The individual writing the proposal for a new vocational
nursing education program should hold a current license or privilege
to practice as a registered nurse in Texas and should meet the qualifications
for the program director as specified in §214.6(f) of this chapter
(relating to Administration and Organization).
(i) The name and credentials of the author of the proposal
must be included in the document.
(ii) A qualified director or coordinator must be employed
by the program early in the development of the proposal, and in no
event shall the director or coordinator be hired later than six (6)
months prior to the submission of the proposal to the Board.
(iii) The prospective program director must review/revise
the proposal and agree with the components of the proposal as being
representative of the proposed program that the individual will be
responsible for administratively.
(E) At least one (1) potential faculty member shall
be identified before the curriculum development to assist in planning
the program of study.
(F) The proposal shall include information outlined
in Board Education Guideline 3.1.1.a. Proposal to Establish a New
Vocational Nursing Education Program.
(G) After the proposal is submitted and determined
to be complete, a preliminary survey visit shall be conducted by Board
Staff prior to presentation to the Board.
(H) The proposal shall be considered by the Board following
a public hearing at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. The
Board may approve the proposal and grant initial approval to the new
program, may defer action on the proposal, or may deny further consideration
of the proposal. In order to ensure success of newly approved programs,
the Board may, in its discretion, impose any restrictions or conditions
it deems appropriate and necessary.
(i) In addition to imposing restrictions and conditions,
the Board may also require specific monitoring of newly approved programs
that are high-risk.
(ii) A program may be considered high-risk if it meets
one or more of the following criteria, including, but not limited
to: inexperience of the governing entity in nursing education; inexperience
of the potential director or coordinator in directing a nursing program;
potential for director or faculty turnover; or potential for a high
attrition rate among students.
(iii) Board monitoring of a high-risk program may include
the review and analysis of program reports; extended communication
with program directors; and additional survey visits. A monitoring
plan may require the submission of quarterly reports of students'
performance in courses and clinical learning experiences; remediation
strategies and attrition rates; and reports from an assigned mentor
to the program director. Additional survey visits by a Board representative
may be conducted at appropriate intervals to evaluate the status of
the program. The Board may alter a monitoring plan as necessary to
address the specific needs of a particular program. When the Board
requires monitoring activities to evaluate and assist the program,
monitoring fees will apply.
(I) The program shall not enroll students until the
Board approves the proposal and grants initial approval.
(J) Prior to presentation of the proposal to the Board,
evidence of approval from the appropriate regulatory agencies shall
be provided.
(K) When the proposal is submitted, an initial approval
fee shall be assessed per §223.1 of this title (relating to Fees).
(L) A proposal without action for one (1) calendar
year shall be inactivated and a new proposal application and fee will
be required.
(M) If the Board denies a proposal, the educational
unit in nursing within the structure of a school, including a college,
university, or career school or college, or a hospital or military
setting must wait a minimum of twelve (12) calendar months from the
date of the denial before submitting a new proposal to establish a
vocational nursing education program.
(3) Survey visits shall be conducted, as necessary,
by staff until full approval status is granted.
(b) Extension Site/Campus.
(1) Only vocational nursing education programs that
have full approval with a current NCLEX-PN® examination pass rate
of 80% or better are eligible to initiate or modify an extension site/campus.
(2) Instruction provided for the extension site/campus
may include a variety of instructional methods, shall be consistent
with the main campus program's current curriculum, and shall enable
students to meet the goals, objectives, and competencies of the vocational
nursing education program and requirements of the Board as stated
in §§214.1 - 214.13 of this chapter (relating to Vocational
Nursing Education).
(3) An approved vocational nursing education program
desiring to establish an extension site/campus that is consistent
with the main campus program's current curriculum and teaching resources
shall:
(A) Complete and submit an application form for approval
of the extension site to Board Staff at least four (4) months prior
to implementation of the extension site/campus; and
(B) Provide information in the application form that
evidences:
(i) a strong rationale for the establishment of the
extension site in the community;
(ii) availability of a qualified coordinator, if applicable,
and qualified faculty;
(iii) adequate educational resources (classrooms, labs,
and equipment);
(iv) documentation of communication and collaboration
with other programs within twenty-five (25) miles of the extension
site;
(v) signed commitments from clinical affiliating agencies
to provide clinical practice settings for students;
(vi) projected student enrollments for the first two
(2) years;
(vii) plans for quality instruction;
(viii) a planned schedule for class and clinical learning
activities for one (1) year;
(ix) notification or approval from the governing entity
and from other regulatory/accrediting agencies, as required. This
includes regional approval of out-of-service extension sites for community
colleges; and
(x) letters of support from clinical affiliating agencies.
(4) When the curriculum of the extension site/campus
deviates from the original program in any way, the proposed extension
is viewed as a new program and Board Education Guideline 3.1.1.a.
applies.
(5) Extension programs of vocational nursing education
programs that have been closed may be reactivated by submitting notification
of reactivation to the Board at least four (4) months prior to reactivation,
using the Board Education Guideline 3.1.2.a. Initiating or Reactivating
an Extension Nursing Education Program for initiating an extension
program.
(6) A program intending to close an extension site/campus
shall:
(A) Notify the Board office at least four (4) months
prior to closure of the extension site/campus; and
(B) Submit required information according to Board
Education Guideline 3.1.2.a., including:
(i) reason for closing the program;
(ii) date of intended closure;
(iii) academic provisions for students; and
(iv) provisions made for access to and storage of vital
school records.
(7) Consolidation. When a governing entity oversees
an extension site/campus or multiple extension sites/campuses with
curricula consistent with the curriculum of the main campus, the governing
entity and the program director/coordinator may request consolidation
of the extension site(s)/campus(es) with the main program, utilizing
one (1) NCLEX-PN® examination testing code thereafter.
(A) The request to consolidate the extension site(s)/campus(es)
with the main campus shall be submitted in a formal letter to the
Board office at least four (4) months prior to the effective date
of consolidation and must meet Board Education Guideline 3.1.2.b.
Consolidation of Vocational Nursing Education Programs.
(B) The notification of the consolidation will be presented,
as information only, to the Board at a regularly scheduled Board meeting
as Board approval is not required.
(C) The program will receive an official letter of
acknowledgment following the Board meeting.
(D) After the effective date of consolidation, the
NCLEX-PN® examination testing code(s) for the extension site(s)
will be deactivated/closed.
(E) The NCLEX-PN® examination testing code assigned
to the main campus will remain active.
(c) Transfer of Administrative Control by the Governing
Entity. The authorities of the governing entity shall notify the Board
office in writing of an intent to transfer the administrative authority
of the program. This notification shall follow Board Education Guideline
3.1.3.a. Notification of Transfer of Administrative Control of a Vocational
Nursing Education Program or a Professional Nursing Education Program
by the Governing Entity.
(d) Closing a Program.
(1) When the decision to close a program has been made,
the director/coordinator must notify the Board by submitting a written
plan for closure which includes the following:
(A) reason for closing the program;
(B) date of intended closure;
(C) academic provisions for students to complete the
vocational nursing education program and teach-out arrangements that
have been approved by the appropriate Texas agency (i.e., the THECB,
the TWC, or the Board);
(D) provisions made for access to and safe storage
of vital school records, including transcripts of all graduates; and
(E) methods to be used to maintain requirements and
standards until the program closes.
(2) The program shall continue within standards until
all students enrolled in the vocational nursing education program
at the time of the decision to close have graduated. In the event
this is not possible, a plan shall be developed whereby students may
transfer to other approved programs.
(3) A program is deemed closed when the program has
not enrolled students for a period of two (2) years since the last
graduating class or student enrollment has not occurred for a two
(2) year period. Board-ordered enrollment suspensions may be an exception.
(e) Approval of a Vocational Nursing Education Program
Outside Texas' Jurisdiction to Conduct Clinical Learning Experiences
in Texas.
(1) The vocational nursing education program outside
Texas' jurisdiction seeking approval to conduct clinical learning
experiences in Texas should initiate the process with the Board at
least four (4) months prior to the anticipated start date of the clinical
learning experiences in Texas.
(2) A written request and the required supporting documentation
shall be submitted to the Board office following Board Education Guideline
3.1.1.f. Process for Approval of a Nursing Education Program Outside
Texas' Jurisdiction to Conduct Clinical Learning Experiences in Texas.
(3) Evidence that the program has been approved/licensed
or deemed exempt from approval/licensure by the appropriate Texas
agency (i.e., the THECB, the TWC), to conduct business in the State
of Texas, must be obtained before approval can be granted by the Board
for the program to conduct clinical learning experiences in Texas.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §214.3 adopted to be effective February 13, 2005, 30 TexReg 545; amended to be effective July 10, 2005, 30 TexReg 3996; amended to be effective January 10, 2008, 33 TexReg 179; amended to be effective October 19, 2008, 33 TexReg 8501; amended to be effective December 27, 2010, 35 TexReg 11662; amended to be effective October 21, 2012, 37 TexReg 8294 |
