Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 410-9-.07

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through April 18, 2024

Rule 410-9-.07 - Nursing Faculty

(1) Number of Nursing Faculty. An adequate number of nurse faculty members, as necessary for quality education, must be employed to carry out the nursing education program's purpose and objectives.

(a) Such an adequate number shall be reasonably proportionate to the:

1.Number of students enrolled;

2.Frequency of admissions;

3.Education and experience of faculty members;

4.Number and location of affiliating clinical facilities; and

5.Total responsibilities of the faculty.

(b) The availability of faculty for directing and critiquing students during clinical learning activities shall be based upon criteria which ensures the safety of patients/clients; AND

1.Shall be documented in writing at a ratio of NOT more than ten (10) students per one (1) instructor.

2.The sponsoring agency shall consider a lower ratio when clinical space, patient acuity and patient census are insufficient to accommodate the ten (10) to one (1) ratio.

(c) The majority of nursing faculty shall be full time employees of the sponsoring agency.

(2) Qualifications for Employment.

(a) The nursing education program director and all nursing faculty members:

1.Shall hold a current Georgia license in good standing from the initial date of employment as a registered professional nurse.

2.Shall have had a minimum of three (3) years of practice as a licensed registered nurse within the preceding seven (7) years.

(b) In addition to the qualifications set forth in subsection (a) above, the director of a nursing education program shall have at least a baccalaureate degree in nursing and one (1) year of teaching experience in a nursing education program, (included in the required three (3) years of nursing practice).

(c) The program director and each member of the nursing faculty shall maintain professional competence through such activities as continuing education programs, nursing practice, and/or academic study courses, and shall submit documentation of these activities in writing annually to the Board in the program's Annual Report, or Practical Nursing Program's Self-Study Report.

(d) The sponsoring agency shall submit evidence that all faculty members meet minimum requirements of the Board pursuant to Rule 410-9-.07. A Nursing Faculty Qualification Record and a copy of the current Georgia Registered Nurse license must be submitted to the Board within one (1) month of the faculty member's employment.

(3) Faculty Functions.

(a) The nursing education program director shall supervise all nursing faculty, shall be the administrative coordinator for the program, and shall be the direct communicator with the Board.

(b) The nursing faculty shall participate in the development, implementation, instruction, evaluation, and revision of the entire nursing education program. The faculty shall:

1.Seek recommendations from the practical nursing program's advisory committee for establishing policies for the recruitment, selection, admission, progression, dismissal, and counseling of students.

2.Develop and evaluate the theoretical and clinical learning activities of the program.

3.Direct and supervise student learning in the classroom and clinical areas.

4.Participate in the counseling and guidance of students related to the course of instruction.

5.Establish a system to maintain essential records that will be used to evaluate a student's progress.

6.Interpret changing practices in the utilization of the graduate practical nurse and adjust the educational program to accommodate these changes.

7.Develop short and long range plans for strengthening the program based upon the feedback obtained from the program's evaluations.

8.Be readily available for consultation with clinical preceptors and students during preceptorial learning experiences.

(4) Faculty Organization.

(a) The nursing faculty shall hold regular (at least monthly) nursing faculty conferences to discuss the nursing education program and maintain nursing faculty meeting minutes as a written record of discussions and decisions.

(b) Policies in effect for nursing faculty shall be consistent with those in effect for all faculty employed by the sponsoring agency.

(c) There shall be a written school policy for the selection, orientation, and utilization of full time and part time nursing faculty.

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 410-9-.07

O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-25, 43-26-2, 43-26-5(a)(4) -(6), and 43-26-32.

Original Rule entitled "Nursing Faculty" adopted. F. Aug. 24, 2015; eff. Sept. 13, 2015.