How can students have input into program development?
Student policies should provide for student representation on program committees. Students should be encouraged to have a class organization and a mechanism for feedback related to the program and issues that can be communicated to faculty. Students can be encouraged to provide individual feedback about the program through their advisors.
Does the BON have specific admission requirements for entry into a school of nursing?
The BON does not establish admission requirements but leaves these policies up to the programs. The BON does require that programs provide written student policies related to admission and progression of students. Vocational nursing education programs are required to include pretesting (measuring reading comprehension and mathematical ability) and evidence of the student's ability to meet objectives/outcomes of the program.
Does the BON have requirements for the exact items that must be kept in the student's record?
Vocational nursing education programs are to retain the following items for a minimum of 2 years:
- student application
- evidence of student's ability to meet objectives/outcomes of the program
- clinical practice evaluation
- transcript (to be retained in the permanent record)
- signed receipt of written student policies
- evidence of student receipt of eligibility information
- statement of withdrawal, if applicable
Professional nursing education (RN) programs are to retain the following:
- records of current students
- transcripts/permanent record cards of graduates
What can a nursing student do in their job as a nurse tech/medical tech when not functioning as a student in their nursing education program?
The exemption of nursing from the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) § 301.004(6) does not apply to jobs in which the nursing student is employed outside of the educational experience. Students functioning as unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) for compensation may only perform tasks that do not require the use of independent nursing judgment as described in §224.8 (c) Nursing Tasks Prohibited from Delegation. Students employed as UAPs also cannot engage in prohibited tasks "by proxy" for the RN; for example, an RN co-signing a nursing assessment performed by a UAP who is also a nursing student.
No student may hold herself/himself out as a "nurse" since this is a protected title (§301.351 and §217.10). In order for a person to hold him/herself out as a "nurse," the person must possess a valid LVN or RN license.
When can a nursing student be reported to the BON?
A nursing education program shall report a student to the BON if they have reasonable cause to suspect that the ability of the nursing student to perform the services of the nursing profession would be, or would reasonably be expected to be, impaired by chemical dependency (§301.404).
Does the BON have policies or statements pertaining to students with disabilities?
The BON does not have statements or policies that specifically address students with disabilities in nursing education programs. Both Rule 214 and 215 require that the curriculum for a nursing education program be designed so that graduates are able to demonstrate the appropriate Differentiated Entry Level Competencies for Graduates of Texas Nursing Programs: Vocational (VN), Diploma/Associate Degree (DIP/ADN), Baccalaureate Degree (BSN), also referred to as DELC.
It is also up to each individual nursing education program to determine the method(s) to ensure that each student/graduate is able to meet the program/course outcomes in the curriculum. It may require that policies be developed by the program to address the needs of students with disabilities once enrolled in the program.
Any graduate from an approved vocational or professional nursing education program may apply to take the NCLEX examination in Texas and for licensure. Eligibility for licensure in Texas as a nurse is determined on an individual basis. Eligibility questions on the Application by NCLEX Examination do not address general physical disabilities, i.e., blindness, loss of hearing.
Once licensed as a nurse, it is the nurse, taking into consideration client/patient safety, who must determine which client/patient care assignments can be accepted that are commensurate with the nurse's educational preparation, experience, knowledge, and physical and emotional ability.