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Virginia Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 10, 2017) |
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Title 18. Professional and Occupational Licensing |
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Agency 90. Board of Nursing |
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Chapter 20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing |
Section 10. Definitions
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Part I. General Provisions
In addition to words and terms defined in § 54.1-3030 of the Code of Virginia, the following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Accreditation" means having been accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or a national nursing accrediting organization recognized by the board.
"Active practice" means activities performed, whether or not for compensation, for which an active license to practice nursing is required.
"Advisory committee" means a group of persons from a nursing education program and the health care community who meets regularly to advise the nursing education program on the quality of its graduates and the needs of the community.
"Approval" means the process by which the board or a governmental agency in another state or foreign country evaluates and grants official recognition to nursing education programs that meet established standards not inconsistent with Virginia law.
"Associate degree nursing program" means a nursing education program preparing for registered nurse licensure, offered by a Virginia college or other institution and designed to lead to an associate degree in nursing, provided that the institution is authorized to confer such degree by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
"Baccalaureate degree nursing program" or "prelicensure graduate degree program" means a nursing education program preparing for registered nurse licensure, offered by a Virginia college or university and designed to lead to a baccalaureate or a graduate degree with a major in nursing, provided that the institution is authorized to confer such degree by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
"Board" means the Board of Nursing.
"CGFNS" means the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
"Clinical setting" means any location in which the clinical practice of nursing occurs as specified in an agreement between the cooperating agency and the school of nursing.
"Conditional approval" means a time-limited status that results when an approved nursing education program has failed to maintain requirements as set forth in this chapter.
"Contact hour" means 50 minutes of continuing education coursework or activity.
"Cooperating agency" means an agency or institution that enters into a written agreement to provide clinical or observational experiences for a nursing education program.
"Diploma nursing program" means a nursing education program preparing for registered nurse licensure, offered by a hospital and designed to lead to a diploma in nursing, provided the hospital is licensed in this state.
"FERPA" means the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 USC § 1232g).
"Initial approval" means the status granted to a nursing education program that allows the admission of students.
"NCLEX" means the National Council Licensure Examination.
"NCSBN" means the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
"National certifying organization" means an organization that has as one of its purposes the certification of a specialty in nursing based on an examination attesting to the knowledge of the nurse for practice in the specialty area.
"Nursing education program" means an entity offering a basic course of study preparing persons for licensure as registered nurses or as licensed practical nurses. A basic course of study shall include all courses required for the degree, diploma or certificate.
"Nursing faculty" means registered nurses who teach the practice of nursing in nursing education programs.
"Practical nursing program" means a nursing education program preparing for practical nurse licensure that leads to a diploma or certificate in practical nursing, provided the school is authorized by the Virginia Department of Education or by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
"Preceptor" means a licensed nurse who is employed in the clinical setting, serves as a resource person and role model, and is present with the nursing student in that setting providing clinical supervision.
"Primary state of residence" means the state of a person's declared fixed permanent and principal home or domicile for legal purposes.
"Program director" means a registered nurse who holds a current, unrestricted license in Virginia or a multistate licensure privilege and who has been designated by the controlling authority to administer the nursing education program.
"Recommendation" means a guide to actions that will assist an institution to improve and develop its nursing education program.
"Requirement" means a mandatory condition that a nursing education program must meet to be approved or maintain approval.
"Site visit" means a focused on-site review of the nursing program by board staff, usually completed within one day for the purpose of evaluating program components such as the physical location (skills lab, classrooms, learning resources) for obtaining initial program approval, in response to a complaint, compliance with NCLEX plan of correction, change of location, or verification of noncompliance with this chapter.
"Survey visit" means a comprehensive on-site review of the nursing program by board staff, usually completed within two days (depending on the number of programs or campuses being reviewed) for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining full program approval. The survey visit includes the program's completion of a self-evaluation report prior to the visit, as well as a board staff review of all program resources (including skills lab, classrooms, learning resources, and clinical facilities) and other components to ensure compliance with this chapter. Meetings with faculty, administration, students, and clinical facility staff will occur.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR 495-01-1 § 1.1, eff. April 15, 1985; amended, Volume 03, Issue 19, eff. July 22, 1987; Volume 05, Issue 05, eff. January 4, 1989; Volume 06, Issue 09, eff. March 1, 1990; Volume 06, Issue 17, eff. June 20, 1990; Volume 07, Issue 06, eff. January 16, 1991; Volume 07, Issue 24, eff. September 25, 1991; Volume 08, Issue 12, eff. April 10, 1992; Volume 10, Issue 07, eff. January 27, 1994; Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; Volume 15, Issue 03, eff. December 3, 1998; Volume 20, Issue 24, eff. September 8, 2004; Volume 21, Issue 21, eff. July 27, 2005; Volume 24, Issue 13, eff. April 2, 2008; Volume 26, Issue 07, eff. January 6, 2009; Volume 29, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 04, eff. November 20, 2013; Volume 32, Issue 04, eff. November 18, 2015.