The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
(1) Academic course--A specific set of learning experiences
offered in an accredited school, college or university. Academic credit
will convert on the following basis: One academic quarter hour = 10
contact hours; one academic semester hour = 15 contact hours.
(2) Advanced practice nurse (APN)--A registered nurse,
currently licensed in the State of Texas, who has been approved by
the board to practice as an advanced practice nurse based on completing
an advanced educational program of study acceptable to the board.
The term includes a nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, nurse anesthetist,
and a clinical nurse specialist.
(3) Applicant--An individual who has met the eligibility
requirements and applied to take the National Council Licensure Examination
for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN ) or completed an accredited nursing
program and has applied to take the National Council Licensure Examination
for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), or an individual who has applied
for Temporary Licensure/Endorsement into Texas.
(4) Approved--Recognized as having met established
standards and predetermined criteria of the credentialing agencies
recognized by the board. Applies to providers and programs.
(5) Approved/Accredited nursing program--A school,
department, or division of nursing approved/accredited by a nursing
board or other licensing authority which has jurisdiction over approval/accreditation
of nursing programs.
(6) Board--The Texas Board of Nursing.
(7) Credential Evaluation Services (CES)--Documentation
that verifies the educational credentials and licensure of graduates
of foreign nursing schools.
(8) Declaratory order--An order issued by the Board
pursuant to Texas Occupations Code §301.257, determining the
eligibility of an individual for initial licensure as a licensed vocational
or registered nurse and setting forth both the basis for potential
ineligibility and the Board's determination of the disclosed eligibility
issues.
(9) Delinquent license--A license lapsed due to failure
to renew the certificate of re-registration.
(10) Direct supervision--Requires a nurse to be immediately
available to coordinate, direct, and observe at firsthand another
individual for whom the nurse is responsible.
(11) Eligibility order--An order, issued by the Board
pursuant to Texas Occupations Code §§301.256, 301.257, and
301.259 determining the eligibility of an individual for licensure.
(12) Endorsement--The process of issuing a permanent
license without further examination to a nurse from another jurisdiction
or licensing authority after determination is made that the applicant
meets the same standards as those required of Texas nurses.
(13) First level, general nurse--Refers to the International
Council of Nurses (ICN) classification of nurses. A first-level nurse
is called a registered or professional nurse in most countries. A
general nurse has studied theory and had clinical practice in a variety
of nursing areas.
(14) Graduate of a foreign nursing school--An individual
who graduated from a post-secondary nursing education program that
prepares nurse generalists or enrolled nurses for licensure and is
approved/accredited by a governmental authority.
(15) Graduate nurse (GN)--Graduates of approved professional
nursing programs who are issued a permit to practice for a specific
time period until they successfully meet all licensure requirements.
(16) Graduate vocational nurse (GVN)--Graduates of
approved vocational nursing programs who are issued a permit to practice
for a specific time period until they successfully meet all licensure
requirements.
(17) Impaired practice--Practice in which the nurse's
ability to perform the essential functions of a nurse is impaired
by chemical dependency on drugs and/or alcohol or by mental illness.
(18) Indirect supervision--Requires a nurse to be readily
available if needed for consultation to coordinate, direct, and observe
another individual for whom the nurse is responsible.
(19) Jurisdiction--A state or territory of the United
States using the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered
Nurses (NCLEX-RN ) and the National Council Licensure Examination
for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN ) as the licensing examination.
(20) Licensed Vocational Nurse--See Vocational Nurse.
(21) Licensing authority--A legislated or governmentally
appointed agency which approves, accredits or otherwise regulates
legally defined behaviors of institutions or individuals.
(22) National Council Licensure Examination for Practical
Nurses (NCLEX-PN)--The test used by the board to measure minimal competence
for licensure as a vocational nurse.
(23) National Council Licensure Examination for Registered
Nurses (NCLEX-RN)--The test used by the board to measure minimal competence
for licensure as a registered professional nurse.
(24) Nurse--a person required to be licensed under
Texas Occupations Code chapter 301 to engage in professional or vocational
nursing.
(25) Nursing curriculum--The equivalent of all nursing
courses in the program of study within an approved/accredited nursing
program.
(26) Nursing program--The equivalent of all non-nursing
and nursing courses in the program of study within an approved/accredited
program.
(27) Peer assistance program--An approved program designed
for nurses whose nursing practice is or may be impaired by chemical
dependency on drugs and/or alcohol or certain mental illnesses and
which meets the minimum criteria established by the Texas Commission
on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the additional criteria established
by the Board.
(28) Practitioner--As related to radiology practice,
a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, dentistry, or chiropractic
who is licensed under the laws of Texas and who prescribes radiologic
procedures for other persons (See 25 TAC §143.2).
(29) Professional boundaries--The appropriate limits
which should be established by the nurse in the nurse/client relationship
due to the nurse's power and the patient's vulnerability. Refers to
the provision of nursing services within the limits of the nurse/client
relationship which promote the client's dignity, independence and
best interests and refrain from inappropriate involvement in the client's
personal relationships and/or the obtainment of the nurse's personal
gain at the client's expense.
(30) Professional nursing education program (general)--Post-secondary
general nursing program of at least two academic years in length that
provides both theory and clinical instruction in:
(A) medical-surgical nursing;
(B) maternal/child nursing;
(C) pediatric nursing; and
(D) mental health nursing.
(31) Professional nursing practice--As defined in the
Occupations Code §301.002(2).
(32) Program of study--The courses and learning experiences
that constitute the requirements for completion of a basic nursing
education program (vocational nursing education program, associate
degree nursing education program, baccalaureate degree nursing education
program, master's degree nursing education program, or diploma nursing
education program) or a post-licensure nursing education program.
(33) Radiologic procedure--Any procedure or article
used with clients, including diagnostic x-rays or nuclear medicine
procedures, through the emission of ionizing radiation as stated in
the Occupations Code §601.002(9).
(34) Reactivation--The process of making a license
current when a nurse has allowed his or her license to become delinquent
and/or is in inactive/retired status.
(35) Refresher course--A program designed to update
knowledge of current nursing theory and clinical practice consisting
of didactic and clinical components to ensure entry level competencies
into vocational, professional, or advanced nursing practice. Refresher
courses are not accepted for continuing education credit and must
meet current board requirements.
(36) Registered nurse--A person currently licensed
by the board to practice professional nursing.
(37) Registered nurse, retired--An individual on inactive
status who has met the requirements for using the title as stated
in §217.9 of this title (relating to Inactive and Retired Status).
(38) Renewal period--Two-year period determined by
the licensee's birth month and year. Specific time frame for renewal
may vary from six months to 29 months as determined by board policies.
Cont'd... |
