Kan. Admin. Regs. § 60-1-104

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 49, December 5, 2024

Section 60-1-104 - Definitions

Each of the following terms, as used in the board's regulations except articles 5, 6 and 17, shall have the meaning specified in this regulation:

(a) "Affiliating agency" means an agency that cooperates with the nursing program to provide facilities and clinical resources for selected student experiences.

(b) "Approval" means the status granted by the board to a nursing program that provides evidence of both of the following:

(1) The nursing program is operating on a sound educational basis that is consistent with the educational requirements as specified in the nurse practice act and the board's regulations.

(2) The nursing program has no deficiencies that would adversely affect student learning outcomes.

(c) "Articulation" means the process by which a registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, or mental health technician who is enrolled in a nursing program is given credit for previous education in nursing or mental health technology.

(d) "Bilevel program" means a nursing program that has one application process, with faculty teaching practical nurse (PN) and registered nurse (RN) content from the first day of the nursing program. The student can opt out of the RN program, which is known as the PN exit option, take the national council license examination-practical nursing (NCLEX-PN), and become licensed as a PN; or the student can matriculate through the entire nursing program, take the national council license examination-registered nurse (NCLEX-RN), and become licensed as an RN.

(e) "Capstone course" means an experiential nursing course for students to demonstrate integration of knowledge and professional nursing supervised by a preceptor during the final semester of the professional nursing program.

(f) "Clinical learning experience" means an active process in which the student participates in nursing activities while being guided by a member of the faculty.

(g) "Clinical observational experience" means the process in which the student views health care interventions but does not participate in the interventions. Affiliating agency personnel shall be responsible for patient care. However, a student may use any of the five senses while with the patient for the sole purpose of observing as the agency professional assesses and provides care to the patient. The instructor shall not be required to be present, but the students shall be included in the faculty-student ratio.

(h) "Community-based health care" means health care provided outside of hospitals and long-term care facilities, including public health departments, ambulatory health clinics, prenatal and well-baby clinics, hospice agencies, doctors' offices, industrial settings, homeless shelters, nursing centers, home health agencies, and patients' homes.

(i) "Conditional approval" means the status that the board imposes on an approved nursing program for a limited time to comply after finding evidence that the nursing program no longer meets educational requirements as specified in the nurse practice act or the board's regulations. When placed on conditional approval, the nursing program may be directed by the board to limit or cease admissions.

(j) "Contractual agreement" means a written contract signed by the legal representatives for the nursing program and the affiliating agency.

(k) "Criteria for unscheduled survey" means indications that the nursing program no longer meets the requirements in the nurse practice act or the board's regulations.

(l) "Debriefing" means an activity that follows a simulation experience and is led by a facilitator. Participants' reflective thinking is encouraged and feedback is provided regarding the participants' performance while various aspects of the completed simulation are discussed. Participants are encouraged to explore emotions and question, reflect, and provide feedback to one another in order to facilitate the transfer of learning to future situations.

(m) "Faculty degree plan" means the plan for a course of study leading to a degree appropriate for a teaching position.

(n) "Faculty hire exception" means that a nursing program is allowed by the board to hire, on a limited-time basis and in accordance with K.A.R. 60-2-103, an instructor who does not meet the faculty qualifications if no qualified individuals are available.

(o) "Generic student" means one who enters at the beginning of a prelicensure nursing program and plans to complete the entire curriculum.

(p) "Initial approval" means the approval period from the first admission of nursing students to the nursing program through the first full implementation of the curriculum and graduation.

(q) "Loss of approval" means the status that results when the board withdraws its approval of a nursing program.

(r) "National nursing accreditation agency" means the accreditation commission for education in nursing, the commission for nursing education accreditation, or the commission on collegiate nursing education.

(s) "Nursing program administrator" means an individual with successful experience in administration or teaching and with a graduate degree in nursing. However, an individual with successful experience in administration or teaching whose graduate degree is not in nursing and was conferred on or before July 1, 1999 shall be acceptable. This individual has the primary responsibility and dedicated time for effective and continuous oversight of a nursing program, including the following:

(1) Verification that the nursing program complies with the nursing act and the board's regulations;

(2) assurance that nursing program and educational outcomes are met;

(3) assessment of and recommendations for material, human, and clinical resources for effective nursing program implementation;

(4) collaboration with faculty for continuous nursing program improvement; and

(5) responsibility for the development and implementation of the nursing program.

(t) "Nursing program" means practical nursing program or professional nursing program, or both.

(u) "One-plus-one program" means a nursing program that includes two application processes, one for the practical nurse (PN) program and one for the registered nurse (RN) program. The first level has only PN content, and the student must obtain a PN license before continuing in the RN program.

(v) "Online or distance learning" means the acquisition of knowledge and skills through information and instruction provided by means of a variety of technologies.

(w) "PN exit option" means in the bilevel programs that there is one application process for the PN and RN programs. Therefore, a PN exit option allows students to opt out of the RN program at a designated point in the curriculum. At this point, these students apply for licensure and take the NCLEX-PN.

(x) "Practical nursing program" means a course of study leading to a certificate and preparing an individual for licensure as a practical nurse.

(y) "Preceptor" means a registered professional nurse supervising a student in the clinical setting who is not employed as nursing faculty. The preceptor provides oversight of each student's patients and gives feedback to the student and clinical instructor. The nursing program faculty shall not be required to be in the affiliating agency's facilities but shall be immediately available.

(z) "Professional nursing program" means a course of study preparing an individual for licensure as a registered professional nurse. This term shall include baccalaureate degree programs and associate degree programs.

(1) A "baccalaureate degree program" shall lead to a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing.

(2) An "associate degree program" shall lead to an associate of science or applied science degree, each with a major in nursing.

(aa) "Program evaluation plan" means a nursing program's written systematic methodology or plan for measuring and analyzing student learning outcomes and program outcomes against defined standards and timelines to determine effectiveness and provide for ongoing nursing program improvement.

(bb) "Refresher course" means an educational program for nurses whose licenses are inactive or have lapsed for more than five years.

(cc) "Review course" means an education offering used to prepare students for the licensing examination.

(dd) "Satellite program" means an existing, approved nursing program that is offered at a location geographically separate from the parent nursing program. The students may spend a portion or all of their time at the satellite location. The curricula in all locations shall be the same, and the credential shall be given by the parent institution.

(ee) A "school of nursing" means a nursing program. This term may include any of the following:

(1) A college;

(2) a school;

(3) a division;

(4) a department;

(5) an academic unit; or

(6) a program.

(ff) "Simulation" means a teaching strategy utilizing technology to replace or amplify clinical situations with guided experiences that evoke or replicate substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive manner.

(gg) "Survey or site visit" means an in-person assessment of all components of a nursing program to validate information submitted by the nursing program or to follow up on the board's determination that there is consistent evidence reflecting deficiencies in meeting the requirements.

(hh) "Student learning outcomes" means the achievement of expected knowledge, skills, and attributes demonstrated by students at course and program levels. Student learning outcomes are measured in classroom and experiential settings and are reported in individual and aggregate formats, including retention and graduation rates, performance on licensure and certification examinations, and employment rates.

(ii) "Transfer student" means one who is permitted to apply nursing courses completed at another institution to a nursing program of study.

This regulation shall be effective on and after January 1, 2022.

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 60-1-104

Authorized by K.S.A. 65-1129; implementing K.S.A. 65-1119; effective April 4, 1997; amended Jan. 24, 2003; amended Nov. 7, 2008; amended by Kansas Register Volume 40, No. 50; effective 1/1/2022.