Administrator/Faculty

PURPOSE: This rule defines the categories, qualifications and competencies, responsibilities, and employment policies of administrator/faculty. (1) Program Administrator. (A) The administrator shall have primary responsibility and the authority for the administration of the nursing program and be employed full-time. (B) Criteria for Appointment— 1. Current, active RN license or privilege to practice. No current disciplinary action in the state of Missouri on licensee’s RN license. No past disciplinary action in the state of Missouri or any other U.S. state or territory unless the disciplinary action has no nexus to patient safety. For example, failure to pay taxes or file tax returns, practice on an expired license, failure to pay child support, or default on a student loan; 2. Baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing that includes a clinical component. Any program administrator appointed to the position prior to December 9, 1993, is exempt from the requirement of having a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; 3. Academically and experientially qualified and maintains expertise in area of responsibility; and 4. Approved by the board prior to appointment. Academic transcript(s) that reflects eligibility for the position shall be submitted to the board for approval prior to appointment. (C) Program administrators with responsibility for two (2) or more educational programs and/or additional campus and satellite location(s) shall designate full-time faculty as program coordinators at each site. The coordinator’s workload shall allow time for day-to-day management of one (1) nursing program at the home campus, an additional campus or satellite location under the direction of the program administrator. Each program coordinator shall meet faculty requirements for appointment. (2) Nursing Faculty. (A) Nurse faculty shall have responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating the nursing program. (B) Criteria for Appointment— 1. Current, active RN license or privilege to practice. No current disciplinary action in the state of Missouri on licensee’s RN license. No past disciplinary action in the state of Missouri or any other U.S. state or territory unless the disciplinary action has no nexus to patient safety. For example, failure to pay taxes or file tax returns, practice on an expired license, failure to pay child support, or default on a student loan; 2. Educational requirements— A. Nursing faculty teaching in a practical nursing program shall have a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a clinical component. Faculty providing clinical instruction should have a minimum of an Associate Degree in Nursing and clinical practice experience equivalent to four thousand one hundred sixty (4,160) clock hours; and B. Nursing faculty appointed prior to January 1, 1999, are exempt from this requirement; 3. Academically and experientially qualified and maintain expertise in areas of responsibility; 4. The program must request contingent faculty approval for any faculty that do not meet the requirements of this rule. Contingent faculty approval may be granted if— A. The program has full approval by the board; B. The program presents sufficient evidence that all options to fill the respective position with a candidate who meets academic requirements have been exhausted; C. The candidate has current, active RN license or privilege to practice. No current disciplinary action in the state of Missouri on licensee’s RN license. No past disciplinary action in the state of Missouri or any other U.S. state or territory unless the disciplinary action has no nexus to patient safety. For example, failure to pay taxes or file tax returns, practice on an expired license, failure to pay child support, or default on a student loan; D. The candidate is experientially qualified and maintains expertise in areas of responsibility; E. The candidate is projected to receive the required degree within twelve (12) calendar months of hire; and F. Faculty approved on contingency shall work under the direction of faculty who meet the requirements of subsection (2)(A) and paragraphs (2)(B)1.-3. of this rule; and 5. Academic transcript(s) that reflects eligibility for the position shall be retained by the nursing program and available for inspection by the board at any time. (3) Responsibilities. The administrator and faculty of the program shall be responsible for, but not limited to— (A) Compliance with minimum standards; (B) Ongoing, systematic development, implementation, and evaluation of the total program in relation to stated philosophy and/or mission and graduate competencies of the program; (C) Instruction and evaluation of students; (D) Providing input on program related policies regarding recruitment, admission, retention, promotion, and graduation of students; (E) Availability of academic advisement and guidance of students; (F) Maintenance of student records in compliance with institutional policy; (G) Ensuring confidentiality of student records; (H) Maintenance of clinical and educational competencies in areas of instructional responsibilities. Professional competence activities may include nursing practice, continuing education, writing for publication, and/or participation in professional associations; evidence of ongoing professional competence related to specialty area instruction shall be maintained; (I) Faculty involved in clinical simulation will have documented ongoing professional development in clinical simulation; (J) Participation in the development of program and institutional policies and decision making; and (K) Experienced faculty shall serve as assigned mentors for less seasoned and new faculty. Records of assigned mentors shall be maintained. (4) Minimum Number of Faculty. One (1) full-time nursing faculty in addition to the program administrator with sufficient faculty to achieve the objectives of the educational program and such number shall be reasonably proportionate to number of students enrolled, frequency of admissions, education and experience of faculty members, number and location of clinical sites, and total responsibilities of the faculty. Records indicating student to faculty ratios in theory, lab, and clinical instruction shall be maintained. (5) Faculty workload, as documented in a policy or procedure, shall allow time for class and laboratory preparation, instruction, program evaluation, and professional development. (6) Non-nurse faculty shall have professional preparation and qualifications in the specific areas for which they are responsible. (7) Employment Policies. (A) To the extent required by the law, age, marital status, sex, national origin, race, color, creed, disability, and religion shall not be determining factors in employment. (B) Nursing Program. 1. Personnel policies shall be available in writing and consistent with the sponsoring institution. 2. Position descriptions shall be in writing and shall detail the responsibilities and functions for each position. 3. A planned orientation and mentoring support for new full-time, part-time, clinical, and adjunct faculty shall be in writing and implemented. It shall include review of the Missouri Nursing Practice Act (NPA). Completed faculty orientation documents shall be maintained. 4. Evidence that the nursing program maintains an institution account in the board-approved national database for verification of licensure, discipline, and practice privileges. Evidence that all nursing faculty and program administrators are enrolled in the institution account. AUTHORITY: section 335.036, RSMo Supp. 2023, and section 335.071, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 2003.060. Original rule filed Jan. 29, 1974, effective Feb. 8, 1974. Amended: Filed Dec. 12, 1975, effective Dec. 22, 1975. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Oct. 14, 1981, effective Jan. 14, 1982. Rescinded and readopted: Filed March 25, 1993, effective Dec. 9, 1993. Amended: Filed Aug. 6, 1998, effective Feb. 28, 1999. Moved to 20 CSR 2200-3.060, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Rescinded and readopted: Filed April 17, 2007, effective Dec. 30, 2007. Amended: Filed Jan. 11, 2013, effective July 30, 2013. Amended: Filed Feb. 9, 2018, effective Aug. 30, 2018. Amended: Filed Feb. 14, 2022, effective Aug. 30, 2022. Amended: Filed Oct. 4, 2023, effective April 30, 2024. *Original authority: 335.036, RSMo 1975, amended 1981, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2018, 2023, and 335.071, RSMo 1975, amended 1981, 1999. AND INSURANCE