Sec. 10.27.01.01. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Active nursing practice" as used in Health Occupations Article, §8-312, Annotated Code of Maryland, means:

(a) The practice of registered nursing or licensed practical nursing as defined in Health Occupations Article, §8-101, Annotated Code of Maryland;

(b) Related nursing activities approved by the Board, including but not limited to a generic nursing education program, degree completion programs, or graduate programs within the last 5 years; and

(c) Completion of a generic nursing education program, degree completion program, or a graduate program within the last 5 years.

(2) "Biennial renewal" means renewal of a license every 2 years in the licensee’s birth month.

(3) "Board" means the Maryland Board of Nursing.

(4) "Central Repository" means the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

(5) "Continuing education" means planned, organized learning experiences designed to augment the knowledge, skill, and ability to enhance nursing practice and therefore improve health care delivered to the public.

(6) "Continuing education unit (CEU)" means 1 contact hour of 50—60 minutes.

(7) "Cosign" means a registered nurse verifies that:

(a) An activity was performed safely and accurately by the nursing graduate; and

(b) The documentation is complete and accurate.

(8) "Criminal history records check" means the performance of both a State criminal history check by the Central Repository, and a national criminal history check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

(9) "Criminal history records information" means information provided by the criminal history records check regarding an applicant's criminal arrests, charges, and convictions, and other dispositions of criminal charges.

(10) "Educational qualifications" means that at the time the applicant graduated from a registered nursing or licensed practical nursing education program, that program was substantially equivalent to the registered nursing or practical nursing education programs approved in this State.

(11) "Endorsement" means, for qualified applicants who have an unencumbered license from another state or country to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing, a waiver of the initial licensure requirement to take the national licensure examination in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §8-307, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(12) "English language competency examination" means a Board-approved examination with a certain minimum score recognized by the Board for the purpose of determining proficiency in the oral and written communication of the English language.

(13) "Multistate licensure privilege" means an authorization to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing in Maryland that is granted to a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who has an active multistate license issued by another state in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact.

(14) "NCLEX" means the National Council Licensure Examination for initial licensure as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.

(15) "Preceptor" means a registered nurse who meets the qualifications of faculty as described in Regulation .16 of this chapter.

(16) "Preceptorship" means an individualized refresher course approved by the Board and offered by an institution employing nurses which complies with Regulation .16 of this chapter.

(17) "Student" means a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who is required to complete a refresher course in order to maintain or reestablish an active license.

(18) "Substantially equivalent" has the meaning stated in §C of this regulation.

(19) "Volunteer" means a licensee who, at the time of licensure renewal, elects to receive a license which only allows the licensee to provide professional services without remuneration.

C. "Substantially equivalent" means a registered nursing or licensed practical nursing education program that:

(1) Contains theoretical learning experiences and related clinical learning experiences that include direct patient care within various settings consistent with program objectives, outcomes, or competencies conducted either concurrently with or after the theoretical learning experience; and

(2) Meets the curriculum requirements for Maryland schools of nursing at the time of the applicant’s graduation, including, but not limited to:

(a) The appropriate level of the graduate's intended scope of practice;

(b) Didactic and clinical learning experiences that are diverse and consistent with program objectives, outcomes, or competencies;

(c) Didactic and clinical instruction in nursing care of families and clients throughout the life span in a variety of care settings requiring nursing measures appropriate for:

(i) The maintenance or restoration of mental and physical health;

(ii) Preventive, rehabilitative, and curative aspects of health care;

(iii) Biophysical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual components of health and illness; and

(iv) Professional issues content; and

(d) Didactic and clinical instructional content that includes, but is not limited to, the areas of:

(i) Medical and surgical nursing;

(ii) Maternal and child health;

(iii) Psychiatric nursing; and

(iv) Geriatric nursing.