Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
7.1. The sponsoring agency shall submit evidence that all faculty members meet minimum requirements of the board as set forth in this section.7.2. The number of faculty members in an accredited program of practical nursing may vary according to the size of the class, distribution of students in the clinical facilities and the philosophy of the educational program. The sponsoring agency shall employ part-time instructors to assist faculties numbering less than 3 and in other instances as considered necessary by the board or the sponsoring agency.7.3. The ratio of students to faculty in the clinical area shall be 10 students to 1 instructor. The sponsoring agency shall consider a lower ratio when clinical space and patient census are not sufficient to accommodate the 10 to 1 ratio or when the nature of the student assignment requires close individual supervision.7.4. The sponsoring agency shall designate a nurse coordinator for each practical nursing program. The nurse coordinator is the supervisor of the program of instruction and is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating the entire program.7.5. Instructors are responsible for the supervision of students within the clinical areas, and for the development and teaching of theory.7.6. Each faculty member shall have experience as a registered professional nurse within the 3 years immediately preceding employment as a faculty member; and 7.6.1. Be a registered professional nurse currently licensed in West Virginia;7.6.2. Have or be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program, preferably in nursing, with completion within 5 to 7 years of date of hire as demonstrated by submission of transcripts to the program coordinator; and7.6.3. Have a minimum of 3 years of experience as a registered professional nurse which should include:7.6.3.a. 2 years of patient side nursing care experience in an acute, intermediate or long term care clinical facility; and,7.6.3.b. 1 year experience in one or more of the following areas: teaching, supervision or administration; and,7.6.3.c. Present evidence of continuing education.7.7. Each part-time and substitute faculty shall meet the same criteria as full-time faculty. The board may make exceptions for faculty employed to teach specific subject areas, i.e., nutrition. A program may request an exemption from the board on a time-limited basis in an emergency situation for the use of faculty who do not fully meet the above-stated criteria. 7.7.1. The nurse coordinator will require each adjunct, part time, or substitute faculty to demonstrate their participation in the planning and evaluation of each course they teach, co-teach, or for which they supervise students in the clinical area.7.7.2. The nurse coordinator shall determine how this participation shall be demonstrated in each program.7.8. Faculty members are responsible for all activities relating to classroom and clinical experience, administration and organization, curriculum development, classroom and clinical instruction, student guidance and for maintaining a learning environment for the student. Faculty shall participate in a minimum of 15 contact hours of continuing education each year relating to their specific employment responsibilities as identified under faculty functions outlined in subsection 7.9 of this rule.7.9. Faculty functions. 7.9.1. The nurse coordinator shall: 7.9.1.a. Assume responsibility for organizing and directing the program under the jurisdiction of the sponsoring agency;7.9.1.b. Seek recommendations from the practical nursing advisory committee for establishing policies for the recruitment, selection, admission, progression, dismissal and counseling of students;7.9.1.c. Schedule regular faculty conferences and maintain a written record of discussions and decisions;7.9.1.d. Establish a system to maintain essential records that will be used to evaluate a student's progress while the student is enrolled in the program and to follow up on the student after his or her graduation;7.9.1.e. Report, at least monthly, the status of the program to the sponsoring agency administrator and to the advisory committee as necessary;7.9.1.f. Visit clinical practice areas regularly to evaluate student experience and maintain communications with facility administration and staff;7.9.1.g. Plan and implement, with the sponsoring agency administrator, an annual budget for the program;7.9.1.h. Make recommendations for faculty appointments and promotions;7.9.1.i. Arrange for activities for selecting students including testing and interviewing;7.9.1.j. Interpret changing practices in the utilization of the graduate practical nurse and adjust the educational program to accommodate these changes;7.9.1.k. Develop short and long range objectives and strategies for strengthening the program;7.9.1.l. Establish criteria for the ongoing evaluation of the curriculum, the clinical facilities and the faculty; and,7.9.1.m. Either individually or in collaboration with the administrator of the sponsoring agency, evaluate and document, at least every 6 months, a new instructor's performance in terms of personal and professional achievement. Evaluation and documentation of a new instructor's performance in the clinical area shall be completed by the nurse coordinator.7.9.1.n. Either individually or in collaboration with the administrator of the sponsoring agency, evaluate and document, annually an experienced faculty member's performance in terms of personal and professional achievement. Evaluation and documentation of an instructor's performance in the clinical area shall be completed by the nurse coordinator.7.9.2. The nurse coordinator is not expected to carry a teaching load equal to that of other faculty members. The sponsoring agency administrator shall allot adequate time to the nurse coordinator to carry out activities related to coordination of the program.7.9.3. The nurse coordinator may: 7.9.3.a. Develop course outlines and lesson plans for teaching the nursing skills and related courses;7.9.3.b. Direct and supervise student learning in the classroom and clinical areas;7.9.3.c. Evaluate and record student performance;7.9.3.d. Participate in the counseling and guidance of students related to their course of instruction; and7.9.3.e. Perform other duties, related to the program of practical nursing, assigned by the sponsoring agency administrator.7.9.4. The instructors shall: 7.9.4.a. Develop course outlines and lesson plans for teaching nursing skills and related courses;7.9.4.b. Direct and supervise student learning in the classroom and clinical areas;7.9.4.c. Evaluate and record student performance;7.9.4.d. Participate in the counseling and guidance of students related to their course of instruction;7.9.4.e. Assist with administrative duties when requested by the nurse coordinator or sponsoring agency administrator including the reviewing, testing and selecting of students; and7.9.4.f. Perform other duties, related to the program of practical nursing, assigned by the nurse coordinator.