S.C. Code Regs. § § 91-11

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 91-11 - Criteria for Initial and Continuing Approval of Basic Programs Preparing Registered Nurses

A. Organization

1. The nursing program is either affiliated with or a part of an institution of higher learning approved by the appropriate state authority.

(a) An organizational chart reflects the reporting mechanism of the administrator of the nursing program to the administrator of the parent institution.

(b) The relationship of the nursing program to other programs within the parent institution is delineated in the institution's bylaws or organizational policies.

(c) Institutional policies pertaining to salary, rank, promotion, tenure, leave, benefits, professional development and service are applicable to the faculty of the nursing program.

(d) Written statements of philosophy or mission, purpose and objectives of the nursing program are consistent with those of the parent institution and are periodically reviewed.

(e) Financial resources are sufficient to give assurance of stability of the program, educational resources and qualified administrative and instructional personnel.

(f) Criteria for budget allocation to the nursing programs are consistent with the criteria utilized for other programs.

(g) Nursing program faculty serve on the institution's central councils and committees.

2. The nursing program is organized with clearly defined authority, responsibility, and channels of communication.

(a) An organizational chart for the nursing program is available.

(b) Organizational policies, committee structure and corresponding minutes reflect how the business of the program is conducted.

3. The nursing program is administered by a qualified registered nurse licensed in the State or another Compact state.

(a) The nurse administrator meets parent institution requirements for administrative and faculty appointment.

(b) The nurse administrator meets Board requirements for nurse faculty appointment.

(c) A curriculum vitae indicates appropriate preparation and experience for administration.

(d) The nurse administrator is employed full time with adequate time designated for administrative responsibilities.

4. The position responsibilities of the nursing education program administrator are congruent in scope, authority and accountability with other administrative positions of the same level and are consistent with general institutional policies. There is a written position description that reflects the authority and responsibility for:

(a) Leadership within the faculty for the development and implementation of the curriculum;

(b) Creation and maintenance of an environment conducive to teaching and learning;

(c) Liaison with the central administration and other units of the parent institution;

(d) Participating in the preparation and administration of the budget;

(e) Facilitation of faculty development and performance review;

(f) Recommendation of faculty for appointment, promotion, tenure, and retention;

(g) Maintenance of relationships with central administration, other program administrators, clinical agencies, and appropriate state, regional, and national agencies.

B. Students

Student admission, readmission, progression and graduation are governed by the established policies and procedures of the parent institution and the nursing program.

1. The catalog and/or student handbooks of the institution and nursing program includes the admission, readmission, progression and graduation criteria.

2. Student admission, readmission, progression and graduation criteria policies are implemented and periodically reviewed.

3. The nursing program has written rationale for policies for admission, readmission, progression and graduation that differ from the parent institution.

C. Faculty

1. The number of qualified faculty is adequate to meet the goals and objectives of the nursing program.

(a) The maximum ratio of faculty to students in an acute inpatient setting where students are providing direct patient care is one faculty member to eight students (1:8). If the parent institution and the clinical affiliate determine that the safety of patients, nursing faculty and students can be insured, the maximum acceptable ratio in acute inpatient settings is no greater than one faculty to ten students (1:10).

(b) The maximum ratio of faculty to students in non-acute clinical settings where students are providing direct patient care is one faculty member to ten students (1:10).

(c) The maximum ratio of faculty to students in preceptored clinical learning experiences is one faculty to fifteen students (1:15).

(d) The majority of the faculty fulfill the full-time faculty role as defined by the parent institution and nursing program.

2. The academic and experience qualifications of the faculty are appropriate to support the goals and objectives of the nursing education program. Faculty appointed prior to June 30, 1992 and serving continuously since that time are recognized as meeting the academic and experience requirements of this section.

(a) All full and part-time faculty in the nursing program meet the parent institution's requirements for faculty appointment.

(b) Faculty teaching nursing courses must meet all the following requirements:

(1) hold an unencumbered active license as a registered nurse in South Carolina or another Compact state;

(2) have a minimum of a Master's (or higher) degree in nursing; and

(3) have a minimum of two years of clinical experience as a registered or advanced practice nurse related to the primary area of responsibility.

(c) All non-nursing faculty teaching courses under the nursing designation have (1) a Doctor's or Master's degree in the teaching discipline or (2) Doctor's or Master's degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in the teaching discipline).

3. Faculty personnel policies for the nursing program are written and, consistent with those of the parent institution and implemented.

(a) Faculty personnel policies for the nursing program include criteria for the following:

(1) faculty qualifications;

(2) faculty rights and responsibilities;

(3) faculty appointment, reappointment, promotion and tenure requirements;

(4) faculty workload;

(5) continuing faculty professional development.

(b) There is a written rationale for faculty personnel policies or practices that differs from those of the parent institution.

4. The full time equivalent (FTE) of qualified clinical instructors will not exceed 30 percent of the full time equivalent faculty (FTE) filled positions for the nursing program.

(a) The clinical instructor must meet all the following:

(1) hold an unencumbered active license as a registered nurse in South Carolina or another Compact state; and

(2) hold a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing; and

(3) have a minimum of two years of clinical experience related to the area of assigned clinical teaching responsibilities.

(b) The clinical instructor functions under the supervision of a nursing faculty member who has overall course responsibility.

(c) The clinical instructor's responsibilities and guidelines for supervision are in writing.

5. The qualifications of clinical preceptors are appropriate to support the goals and objectives of the nursing program.

(a) The preceptor will be employed by the clinical agency in which the preceptored experience occurs.

(b) The preceptor will be currently licensed as a registered nurse according to the laws of the state in which employed.

(c) The preceptor will have a minimum of two years of clinical experience and demonstrated competencies related to the area of assigned clinical teaching responsibilities.

(d) Preceptors meet the nursing program's requirements for preceptor appointment.

(e) Appointments are determined collaboratively between administration of the nursing program and nursing administration of the clinical agency.

(f) The preceptor shall complete an orientation to the preceptor role and course objectives.

6. The nursing program and clinical agency policies governing the role and responsibilities of clinical preceptors are written and consistent.

(a) The preceptor will be assigned no more than two students for any preceptor experience.

(b) Preceptors will function according to course guidelines/criteria developed by nurse faculty. Faculty must be available in person or by telecommunication for consultation.

(c) The preceptor will have a written description of preceptor responsibilities.

(d) The preceptor will be physically present in the agency and available to the student at all times during the clinical assignment.

D. Support Services

1. Support services and facilities are appropriate to support the goals and objectives of the nursing program.

(a) Learning resources include print, on-line and media materials which support the program of learning and are readily available to students and faculty.

(b) The physical environment is conducive to the use of the resources.

(c) The library has provisions to obtain in a timely manner those resources not available in the library.

(d) Policies and procedures allow for faculty participation in evaluation, selection and deletion of library holdings and other learning resources.

(e) Documentation reflects periodic reviews of learning resources by faculty.

2. Student services provided by the parent institution are available to nursing students and institutional documents reflect college-wide policies/procedures regarding student services.

3. The institution provides for a system, including policies and procedures, to maintain student records in a manner that is designed to prevent unauthorized access, use, loss, and/or destruction.

4. A system of permanent and cumulative records is maintained for each nursing student and each graduate commensurate with the policies of the parent institution.

(a) Policies and procedures governing compilation and use of student records are written and current.

(b) Permanent and cumulative records are complete.

(c) Permanent and cumulative records are accessible.

5. Secretarial/support services are sufficient to meet needs of nursing program, administrator and faculty.

E. Facilities

1. The facilities are adequate to meet the goals and objectives of the nursing program. The following facilities are provided:

(a) offices for administration, faculty and staff;

(b) classrooms, laboratories and conference rooms for nursing and nursing related courses;

(c) storage space for supplies, equipment and instructional materials;

(d) skills laboratory sufficient in size and equipment to meet the needs of students.

2. The nursing program has written agreements with all affiliating agencies used to achieve program objectives.

(a) Agreements are jointly developed with the affiliating agency and are current.

(b) Agreements are developed with clinical facilities that provide diverse clinical experiences with sufficient number and variety of patients to meet educational objectives.

(c) Affiliating agencies are licensed by the appropriate state or federal authorities.

3. Agreements reflect that faculty retain responsibility for student learning experiences.

F. Curriculum

1. The nursing education curriculum is logically organized and internally consistent.

(a) Curriculum requirements are published.

(b) The curriculum reflects the philosophy, conceptual framework, goals, and objectives of the nursing program.

(c) There is a rationale for the organization and sequencing of learning experiences for the progressive development of knowledge and skills.

(d) Preceptored learning experiences may be used after the student has successfully completed a fundamentals of nursing course and a medical/surgical nursing course as determined by the program nurse administrator.

(e) There is a rationale for the allocation of credit for clinical and non-clinical courses and for the ratio of nursing to non-nursing courses in the curriculum.

(f) There is rationale for the selection, organization and sequencing of the general education courses.

2. The curriculum is developed, implemented and evaluated by faculty with opportunity for input from students in a manner consistent with the policies of the parent institution.

(a) The process for curriculum decision making is clearly defined for the parent institution and the nursing program.

(b) There is documentation of student input into faculty decisions in curriculum matters.

3. The curriculum reflects and is consistent with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are required for the practice of nursing.

(a) The curriculum includes learning experiences in the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health for clients across the life span.

(b) The curriculum provides learning experiences in the application of the nursing process, which includes the assessment and nursing diagnosis of human responses to actual or potential health problems and the planning, intervention and evaluation of care as utilized in nursing practice.

(c) The curriculum includes biophysical and social science principles basic to nursing practice.

(d) The curriculum includes the scope of practice for the registered nurse in South Carolina.

G. Program Evaluation

1. A written plan for the periodic evaluation of all components of the nursing program is developed and implemented.

(a) Written evaluations for the nursing education administrator(s), faculty and students are on file.

(b) Written evaluations from program graduates and their employers are on file.

(c) Records, reports and/or meeting minutes reflect evaluation of the curriculum and instruction.

(d) There is evidence that faculty and students participate in the evaluation of all major program components to include: clinical and campus facilities; learning resources and services; and instructional materials and equipment.

2. Findings from the evaluation of all components of the nursing program serve as the basis for program changes.

3. The nursing program prepares graduates that demonstrate competent practice at entry into nursing practice. The program's pass rate for first time takers of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) will be maintained annually at no greater than 5 percent below the national pass rate.

S.C. Code Regs. § 91-11

Added by State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 5, eff May 25, 2007.