Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 23, June 7, 2024
Section 19-1-2 - DefinitionsThese words and terms mean the following:
2.1. "Accredited college, department or school of nursing" means a college, department or school nursing education program which has Board Approval, or is accredited by a national nursing accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and therefore has Board Approval and meets the requirements of W. Va. Code § 30-7-1 et seq, this rule, and any other applicable laws and rules. For purposes of considering applications for licensure, the Board recognizes nursing education programs accredited by a national nursing accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education or approved by a comparable Board or other recognized authority in another jurisdiction. All nursing education programs shall provide evidence of current accreditation by a national nursing accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education by July 1, 2022 and a program created after July 1, 2018 shall have 5 years after full Board approval to obtain this accreditation.2.2. "Administrator employment time" means the devotion of 80% time to school administrative duties. The administrator of the nursing program's teaching responsibilities is not to exceed 6 academic semester credits per year, no more than 3 academic credits per semester. Administrators may teach more semester credits per year and per semester if they request to do so.2.3. "Associate degree program in nursing" means a program conducted by a college or university that leads to an associate degree with a major in nursing.2.4. "Baccalaureate degree program in nursing" means a program conducted by a college or university and leads to a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing.2.5. "Board" means the West Virginia board of examiners for registered professional nurses.2.6. "Board approved" means a nursing program that meets the requirements of W. Va. Code § 30-7-1 et seq, this rule, and any other applicable laws and rules. For purposes of considering applications for licensure, the Board may recognize nursing education programs approved by a comparable Board or other recognized authority in another jurisdiction. Programs accredited by a national nursing accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education are considered Board approved and exempt from rules related to Board approval.2.7. "Clinical Preceptor" means a registered professional nurse in good standing in the state in which he or she is providing the preceptorship with education preparation at or above the level for which the student is preparing; who may serve as a teacher, mentor, role model or supervisor in a clinical setting, shall possess competencies related to the area of assigned clinical teaching responsibilities and has a minimum of 1 year of experience as a registered professional nurse providing direct patient care during the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the written agreement.2.8. "College", "Department" or "School" mean a nursing education unit charged with responsibility to prepare its graduates for practice as registered professional nurses, qualified to meet licensing requirements in West Virginia. This nursing education unit may have multiple programs and may be structured in a university, college, or hospital.2.9. "Continuing Board Approval" means continuation of board approval of a nursing education program because the program meets the requirements of W. Va. Code § 30-7-1 et seq, of this rule, any other applicable laws and rules and when applicable, has current accreditation by a national nursing accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of.2.10. "Curriculum" means a planned nursing educational experience based on the philosophy, mission, goals and outcomes of the nursing education program. The curriculum will include clinical assignments to meet the objectives of each nursing course.2.11. "Diploma program" means a program which is usually, but not necessarily, conducted by a hospital and leads to a diploma in nursing.2.12. "Distance education" means a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction in a course/program occurs when instructors and students are not physically in the same location. The educational process may use various methodologies for communication, instruction, and evaluation.2.13. "Generic Masters degree program" means a program conducted by a university and leads to a masters degree in nursing for individuals preparing for initial licensure as a registered professional nurse.2.14. "Governing organization" means the university, college, or other organization of which the nursing education unit is an integral part.2.15. "Graduation" means the candidate has satisfied all requirements of the college, department or school of nursing granting the diploma or degree.2.16. "New program" means any education program planning to prepare individuals for initial licensure that has not been Board approved and has not received a unique NCLEX-RN program code by the Board.2.17. "Online Program Manager" means any entity that provides services to assist programs with the conversion or development of its curriculum to a distance education modality or that provides services to deliver the curriculum via distance education. OPM services could include, but are not limited to: student recruitment and enrollment, student and graduate retention, curriculum development, course design, course delivery or instruction, student placement for educational purposes, or any program administrative function required to be administered by the nursing administrator or its faculty under 19CSR1.2.18. "Part-time faculty" means faculty employed by the nursing education program in a position with fewer hours than the organization's definition of full-time faculty status.2.19. "Prelicensure Nursing Education Standards" means a standard prescribed by the Board for educational programs preparing persons for licensure to practice registered professional nursing.2.20. "Provisionally approved college, department or school of nursing" means a college, department or school of nursing which has not been in operation long enough to qualify for full approval, or one which fails to meet the requirements of the law and of the Board, and has received notification of its deficiencies.2.21 "Recommendations" means suggestions for the guidance of colleges, departments or schools of nursing in the development of their programs.2.22. "Requirements" means mandatory conditions which a college, department or school of nursing must meet in order to be approved.2.23. "Visit" means the on-site evaluation occurring as part of the ongoing approval process of the nursing education unit.