Sec. 10.27.03.01. Definitions

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

B. Terms Defined.

(1) “Approval” means the status granted to a nursing education program that:

(a) Is in compliance with the regulations of the Board; and

(b) Holds a certificate of approval from the Board of Nursing.

(2) “Articulation” means the process by which a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who is enrolled in a nursing education program is given credit for previous nursing education.

(3) “Board” means the Board of Nursing.

(4) “Board-recognized nursing accreditation agency (BRNAA)” means a national or regional nursing education accreditation agency recognized by the:

(a) Secretary of the United States Department of Education (USDOE); and

(b) Board.

(5) Clinical Learning Experience.

(a) “Clinical learning experience” means faculty planned and guided learning activities designed to assist students to meet the course objectives and apply nursing knowledge and skills in the direct care of patients.

(b) “Clinical learning experience” includes:

(i) Direct care of patients within the relevant practice setting;

(ii) Clinical support activities such as clinical conferences; and

(iii) Simulation laboratories.

(6) “Clinical nurse faculty” means an individual with at least a baccalaureate degree in nursing who is employed by the program solely for clinical learning of nursing students.

(7) “Clinical preceptor” means a registered nurse employee of a cooperating clinical agency acting to facilitate and supervise student learning in a manner specified in a signed written agreement between the cooperating clinical agency and the educational institution.

(8) “Clinical preceptorship” means an organized system of clinical experience that allows a nursing student to be paired with a clinical preceptor for the purpose of attaining specific learning objectives.

(9) “Conditional approval” means a limited-time status that:

(a) Is imposed by the Board if the Board finds evidence that the program has failed to meet or maintain the regulations or requirements, or both, set by the Board; and

(b) Allows the program to continue to operate subject to the program conforming to the Board’s requirements and recommendations within a time period set by the Board.

(10) “Controlling institution” means an organization that offers a nursing education program.

(11) “Cooperating clinical agency” means an agency that provides the facilities and clinical resources for clinical learning experiences in nursing, with the nurse faculty or the clinical nurse faculty of the program responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of these experiences.

(12) “Curriculum changes” means changes in course offerings that will alter the curriculum, philosophy, objectives, outcomes, competencies, or conceptual framework of the program.

(13) “Full time nurse faculty equivalent” means nursing faculty who are designated as full time employees by their institution.

(14) “Generic student” means one who enters at the beginning of the nursing education program and plans to complete the entire curriculum.

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

(16) “Informatics” means the use of technology in nursing practice.

(17) “Licensed practical nurse” means an individual who:

(a) Is licensed by the Board to practice licensed practical nursing; or

(b) Has a multistate licensure privilege to practice licensed practical nursing.

(18) “Multistate licensure privilege” has the meaning set forth in COMAR 10.27.01.01B.

(19) “MHEC” means Maryland Higher Education Commission.

(20) “Nurse faculty” means an individual with a graduate degree in nursing who is employed to teach full-time or part-time in a nursing education program.

(21) Program.

(a) “Program” means a registered nursing or licensed practical nursing educational program.

(b) “Program” includes any of the following:

(i) A college;

(ii) A school;

(iii) A division;

(iv) A department;

(v) An academic unit; or

(vi) A program.

(22) “Regional nursing education accrediting agency” means an accrediting agency that operates in a specific geographic region of the United States and accredits post-secondary institutions and primary and secondary schools.

(23) “Registered nurse (RN)” means an individual who:

(a) Is licensed by the Board to practice registered nursing; or

(b) Has a multistate licensure privilege to practice registered nursing.

(24) “Requirement” means a mandatory condition that a program meets:

(a) For the program to be approved; and

(b) To ensure that graduates of the program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN®.

(25) “Simulation” means instructional activities and strategies that mimic the reality of a clinical environment and complement other clinical learning experiences.

(26) “Transfer student” means a student who is permitted to apply nursing courses completed at another institution to a nursing education program of study.

(27) “USDOE” means the United States Department of Education.