201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 20:310

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 20:310 - Faculty for prelicensure registered nurse and practical nurse programs

RELATES TO: KRS 314.111, 314.475

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 314.131(1) authorizes the Board of Nursing to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to enable it to carry into effect the provisions of KRS Chapter 314. This administrative regulation establishes standards for faculty of programs of nursing that prepare graduates for licensure as registered nurses or practical nurses.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Clinical instructor" means a registered nurse who is employed by a program of nursing to provide students with traditional clinical or simulated experiences.

(2) "Nurse faculty" means a registered nurse who is employed by a program of nursing, either full-time, part-time, or adjunct, to provide didactic instruction, and may also provide clinical instruction or simulated experiences.

(3) Nursing experience" means employment in a position that requires the individual to hold an active nursing license, such as nursing clinical practice, nursing administration, nursing education, or nursing research.

(4) "Preceptor" means a nurse with demonstrated competence in a specific clinical area who serves as a role model and mentor to assist in the development and validation of the competencies of a student.

(5) "Skills laboratory instructor" means a non-faculty instructor primarily assigned to a clinical skills or simulation laboratory who manages the daily operations of the skills laboratory or assists nursing faculty to implement student learning activities for the development of psychomotor nursing skills.

(6) "Unencumbered" means a license without current disciplinary conditions or restrictions. Enrollment in an alternative to discipline program is not an encumbrance.

Section 2. Faculty for Prelicensure Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse Programs.

(1)

(a) The faculty shall include a program administrator and shall include at least one (1) other nurse faculty.

(b) The faculty shall be adequate in number to implement the curriculum as determined by program outcomes, course objectives, the level of the students, the number of students and classes admitted annually, and the educational technology utilized.

(c) The program administrator and all nurse faculty and clinical instructors shall be appointed by and be responsible to the governing institution of the program of nursing.

(d) A program shall develop and implement a plan of organization and administration that clearly establishes the lines of authority, accountability, and responsibility for each program location.

(2) Program administrator qualifications. The program administrator for a registered nurse or a practical nurse program shall have:

(a) A minimum of a master's or higher degree in nursing from an accredited college or university. In lieu of a master's degree, the program administrator shall have completed that portion of a doctoral degree that would be equivalent to a master's in nursing degree while enrolled in an accredited college or university with a timeline in place for degree attainment. The program administrator shall provide documentation that shows active and steady progression towards the doctoral degree;

(b) A minimum of five (5) years of nursing experience within the immediate past seven (7) years;

(c) A minimum of two (2) years of full time teaching experience at or above the academic level of the program of nursing;

(d) An unencumbered current license, privilege, or temporary work permit to practice as a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Kentucky;

(e) A current knowledge of nursing practice at the level of the program; and

(f) Demonstrated experience or preparation in education that includes teaching adults, adult learning theory teaching methods, curriculum development, and curriculum evaluation. A program administrator without previous program administrator experience shall have a mentor assigned by the governing institution and an educational development plan implemented. The mentor shall have documented experience in program administration.

(3) A program administrator who is currently employed at a practical nurse program and who does not meet the requirements of subsection 2(a) of this Section may continue to be employed at the program of nursing where the program administrator is presently, but shall earn the master's degree or higher in nursing on or before July 1, 2021.

(4) Didactic faculty qualifications.

(a) Didactic faculty in a registered nurse program shall meet the qualifications set out in KRS 314.111(6)(b), (c), or (d).

(b) Nurse faculty in a practical nurse program shall have a minimum of an associate degree with a major in nursing from an accredited college or university.

(c) The nurse faculty shall hold a temporary work permit or a current unencumbered license or privilege to practice as a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

(d) The nurse faculty shall document a minimum of two (2) years full time or equivalent experience as a registered nurse within the immediate past five (5) years and shall have and maintain expertise in the clinical or functional area of responsibility. (e) The nurse faculty shall document preparation in educational activities in the area of teaching and learning principles for adult education, including curriculum development and implementation. The preparation shall be acquired through planned faculty inservice learning activities, continuing education offerings, or academic courses.

(f) Nurse faculty hired without prior teaching experience shall have a mentor assigned and an educational development plan implemented.

(g)

1. Non-nurse faculty members who teach nursing courses required within the curriculum shall have appropriate academic and experiential qualifications for the program areas in which they participate.

2. Non-nurse faculty shall be required to collaborate with a nurse faculty member in order to meet the nursing course outcomes.

(h) Nurse faculty who teach via distance or on-line shall hold an unencumbered active nursing license to practice as a registered nurse in the nurse faculty's primary state of residence.

(5) Skills laboratory and clinical instructor qualifications.

(a) A clinical instructor shall function under the guidance of the nurse faculty responsible for a given course.

(b) A clinical instructor for either a registered nurse or practical nurse program shall hold a current unencumbered license, privilege, or temporary work permit to practice as a registered nurse in the state of the student's clinical site.

(c) A clinical instructor shall have a minimum of two (2) years full time or equivalent experience as a registered nurse within the immediate past five (5) years and evidence of clinical competence appropriate to teaching responsibilities.

(d) For a registered nurse program, the clinical instructor shall meet the requirements of KRS 314.111(6)(a).

(e) For a practical nurse program, the clinical instructor shall be a registered nurse.

(f) A skills laboratory instructor shall have the same qualifications as a clinical instructor.

Section 3. Preceptors.

(1) A preceptor may be used to enhance clinical learning experiences. If a preceptor is used, it shall be done after a student has received clinical and didactic instruction from the program faculty in all basic areas for the course or specific learning experience.

(2) A preceptor shall hold a current unencumbered license, privilege, or temporary work permit to practice as a registered nurse in the state of the student's clinical site. In a practical nursing program, a preceptor may hold a current unencumbered license, privilege, or temporary work permit to practice as a licensed practical nurse in the state of the student's clinical site.

(3) A preceptor shall have evidence of clinical competencies related to the area of assigned clinical teaching responsibilities.

(4) A preceptor shall not be used to replace clinical instructors. The ratio of student to preceptor shall not exceed two (2) to one (1). Clinical instructors or nurse faculty retain responsibility for student learning and confer with the preceptor and student for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating learning experiences.

(5) There shall be documentation of orientation to the course, program outcomes, student learning objectives, evaluation methods to be utilized by the faculty, and documented role expectations of faculty, preceptor, and student.

Section 4. Reporting of Registered Nurse Program and Practical Nurse Program Faculty Qualifications and Appointments.

(1) Evaluation of faculty records. The program administrator shall submit to the board the qualifications of nurse faculty and clinical instructors within thirty (30) days of appointment.

(a) Official academic transcripts or copies verified by the nurse administrator or designee shall be available to the board upon request.

(b) A complete and official record of qualifications and workload for each faculty member shall be on file and available to the board upon request.

(c) Faculty appointments shall be reported to the board in writing.

(d) The program administrator shall report a change in faculty composition within thirty (30) days of appointment or vacancy.

(2) The board shall review annually the qualifications of the faculty employed in the program of nursing.

201 KAR 20:310

11 Ky.R. 1704; 12 Ky.R. 17; eff. 7-9-1985; 14 Ky.R. 591; eff. 11-6-1987; 16 Ky.R. 1400; eff. 3-8-1990; 17 Ky.R. 280; eff. 9-14-1990; 19 Ky.R. 1645; eff. 2-17-1993; 29 Ky.R. 2125; 2452; eff. 4-11-2003; 33 Ky.R. 865; 1290; eff. 11-15-2006; 34 Ky.R. 344; 711; eff. 10-17-2007; 37 Ky.R. 2911; eff. 8-17-2011; TAm. eff. 7-23-2012; 40 Ky.R. 1344; 1720; eff. 2-19-2014; 42 Ky.R. 2422, 2722; eff. 6-3-2016; 45 Ky.R. 1757, 2591; eff. 3-13-2019; 49 Ky.R. 417; eff. 11/15/2022.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 314.131(1)