Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, March 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment redefines academic,
experiential, and nurse licensure requirements for nursing
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 tran-script(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;
or
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;
3.
Academically and experientially qualified and maintain expertise in areas of
responsibility;
4. Contingent
faculty approval may be granted if-
A. The
program meets requirements for full board program approval;
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 a board-approved faculty; and
5. Academic transcript(s) that reflects
eligibility for the position shall be submitted to the board. Faculty
candidates shall be approved by the board prior to appointment.
(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 fulltime, 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.
*Original authority: 335.036, RSMo 1975, amended 1981,
1985, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 335.071, RSMo 1975, amended 1981,
1999.