Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment updates the approval process
for nursing program faculty and clinical faculty.
(1) Program Administrator.
(A) The administrator shall have the primary
responsibility and the authority for the administration of the nursing program
and be employed full-time.
(B)
Criteria for Appointment-
1. Current, active
RN license or privilege to practice. No current disciplinary action in the
state of Missouri on licensee's RN license. No past disciplinary action in the
state of Missouri or any other U.S. state or territory unless the disciplinary
action has no nexus to patient safety. For example, failure to pay taxes or
file tax returns, practice on an expired license, failure to pay child support,
or default on a student loan;
2.
Graduate degree in nursing with a clinical component in either the bachelor's
or master's degree; a doctoral degree is recommended;
3. Academically and experientially qualified
and maintains expertise in area of responsibility; and
4. Approved by the board prior to
appointment. Academic transcript(s) that reflects eligibility for the position
shall be submitted to the board for approval prior to
appointment.
(C) Program
administrators with responsibility for two (2) or more educational programs
and/or additional campus and satellite location(s) shall designate full-time
faculty as program coordinators at each site. The coordinator's workload shall
allow time for day-to-day management of one (1) nursing program at the home
campus, an additional campus, or satellite location under the direction of the
program administrator. Each program coordinator shall meet faculty requirements
for appointment.
(2)
Nursing Faculty.
(A) Nurse faculty shall have
responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating the nursing
program.
(B) Criteria for
Appointment-
1. Current, active RN license or
privilege to practice. No current disciplinary action in the state of Missouri
on licensee's RN license. No past disciplinary action in the state of Missouri
or any other U.S. state or territory unless the disciplinary action has no
nexus to patient safety. For example, failure to pay taxes or file tax returns,
practice on an expired license, failure to pay child support, or default on a
student loan;
2. Educational
requirements.
A. Nursing faculty teaching in
associate degree or diploma programs shall have a minimum of a baccalaureate
degree in nursing with a clinical component. A graduate degree in nursing is
recommended.
B. Nursing faculty
teaching in baccalaureate programs shall have a minimum of a graduate degree.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of full-time faculty shall have a graduate degree
with major in nursing. A doctoral degree is recommended. Faculty without a
nursing major in their graduate degree shall have a bachelor's degree in
nursing with a clinical component.
C. Clinical faculty are exempt from the
graduate degree requirement if the faculty member has a minimum of a bachelor's
degree in nursing with a clinical component, is currently enrolled in a
graduate degree program, and holds a certificate of completion from the
Missouri Hospital Association's Clinical Faculty Academy;
3. Academically and experientially qualified
and maintain expertise in areas of responsibility;
4. The program must request contingent
faculty approval for any faculty that do not meet the requirements of this
rule. Contingent faculty approval may be granted if-
A. The program has full approval by the
board;
B. The program presents
sufficient evidence that all options to fill the respective position with a
candidate who meets academic requirements have been exhausted;
C. The candidate has current, active RN
license or privilege to practice. No current disciplinary action in the state
of Missouri on licensee's RN license. No past disciplinary action in the state
of Missouri or any other U.S. state or territory unless the disciplinary action
has no nexus to patient safety. For example, failure to pay taxes or file tax
returns, practice on an expired license, failure to pay child support, or
default on a student loan;
D. The
candidate is experientially qualified and maintains expertise in areas of
responsibility;
E. The candidate is
projected to receive the required degree within twelve (12) months of hire;
faculty candidates working on a doctoral degree shall complete the required
degree within twenty-four (24) months of hire; and
F. Faculty approved on contingency shall work
under the direction of faculty who meet the requirements of subsection (2)(A)
and paragraphs (2)(B)1.-3. of this rule; and
5. Academic transcript(s) that reflects
eligibility for the position shall be retained by the nursing program and
available for inspection by the board at any time.
(3) Responsibilities. The
administrator and faculty of the program shall be responsible for, but not
limited to-
(A) Compliance with minimum
standards;
(B) Ongoing systematic
development, implementation, and evaluation of the total program in relation to
stated philosophy and/or mission and graduate competencies of the
program;
(C) Instruction and
evaluation of students;
(D)
Providing input on program related policies regarding recruitment, admission,
retention, promotion, and graduation of students;
(E) Availability of academic advisement and
guidance of students;
(F)
Maintenance of student records in compliance with institutional
policy;
(G) Ensuring
confidentiality of student records;
(H) Maintenance of clinical and educational
competencies in areas of instructional responsibilities. Professional
competence activities may include nursing practice, continuing education,
writing for publication, and/or participation in professional associations;
evidence of ongoing professional competence related to specialty area
instruction shall be maintained;
(I) Faculty involved in clinical simulation
will have documented ongoing professional development in clinical simulation;
(J) Participation in the
development of program and institutional policies and decision making;
and
(K) Experienced faculty shall
serve as assigned mentors for less seasoned and new faculty. Records of
assigned mentors shall be maintained.
(4) Minimum Number of Faculty. One (1)
full-time nursing faculty in addition to the program administrator with
sufficient faculty to achieve the objectives of the educational program and
such number shall be reasonably proportionate to: number of students enrolled;
frequency of admissions; education and experience of faculty members; number
and location of clinical sites; and total responsibilities of the faculty.
Records indicating student to faculty ratios in theory, lab, and clinical
instruction shall be maintained.
(5) Faculty workload, as documented in a
policy or procedure, shall allow time for class and laboratory preparation,
instruction, program evaluation, and professional development.
(6) Non-nurse faculty shall have professional
preparation and qualifications in the specific areas for which they are
responsible.
(7) Employment
Policies.
(A) To the extent required by law,
age, marital status, sex, national origin, race, color, creed, disability, and
religion shall not be determining factors in employment.
(B) Nursing Program.
1. Personnel policies shall be available in
writing and consistent with the sponsoring institution.
2. Position descriptions shall be in writing
and shall detail the responsibilities and functions for each
position.
3. A planned orientation
and mentoring support for new full-time, part-time, clinical, and adjunct
faculty shall be in writing and implemented. It shall include review of the
Missouri Nursing Practice Act (NPA). Completed faculty orientation documents
shall be maintained.
4. Evidence
that the nursing program maintains an institution account in the board-approved
national database for verification of licensure, discipline, and practice
privileges. Evidence that all nursing faculty and program administrators are
enrolled in the institution account.
*Original authority: 335.036, RSMo 1975, amended 1981,
1985, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 335.071, RSMo 1975, amended 1981,
1999.