(a) The program of study shall be:
(1) At least the equivalent of one (1) academic year;
(2) Planned, implemented, and evaluated by the faculty;
(3) Based on the philosophy/mission and objectives/outcomes;
(4) Organized logically and sequenced appropriately;
(5) Based on educational principles acceptable to the Board; and
(6) At or beyond the master's degree level.
(b) For clinical nurse specialist programs, the program of study must also qualify the graduate for a minimum of a master's degree in nursing.
(c) The curriculum content shall include:
(1) Didactic and clinical learning experiences necessary to meet the objectives/outcomes;
(2) Concepts and principles critical to advanced practice registered nursing;
(3) Professional and legal implications of the nurse in the advanced role;
(4) Knowledge and skills relevant to practice in the area of role and population focus; and
(5) Evidence of inclusion of the following curricular requirements:
(d) For clinical nurse specialist programs, the curriculum must also contain a minimum of nine (9) semester credit hours or the equivalent in a specific clinical major. Clinical major courses must include didactic content and offer clinical experiences in a specific clinical specialty/practice area recognized by the Board.
(e) A clinical nurse specialist program must include at a minimum a separate course in diagnosis and management of diseases and conditions within the clinical specialty area recognized by the Board. This course(s) must be an advanced level academic course(s) with a minimum of 45 clock hours.
(f) Individuals prepared in more than one (1) advanced practice registered nurse role and/or population focus (including blended role or dual specialty programs) shall be considered to have completed separate advanced practice registered nursing education programs of study for each role and/or specialty area.
(g) The program of study shall include a minimum of 500 separate, non-duplicated clinical hours for each advanced role and population focus within the advanced practice registered nursing education program.
(h) Post-master's preparation may be offered as graduate level course work through master's or higher level advanced practice registered nursing education programs that include the desired role and population focus and otherwise meet the standards in this chapter.
(1) Post-master's students are required to complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours in addition to the entire role, clinical major, and curricular requirements, or the equivalent set forth in this chapter. Courses may be waived if an individual's transcript indicates that an equivalent course has been successfully completed or if the student demonstrates proficiency, validating program outcomes according to written program policies. Clinical hours shall not be waived.
(2) Only registered nurses who hold master's degrees in nursing shall be eligible for post-master's preparation as clinical nurse specialists.
(i) Board staff approval is required prior to implementation of major curriculum changes. Proposed changes shall include information outlined in Board guidelines and shall be reviewed using Board standards. Changes that require approval include:
(1) Changes in program philosophy/mission and objectives/outcomes that result in a reorganization or reconceptualization of the entire curriculum, and/or
(2) An increase or decrease in program length by more than nine (9) semester credit hours or 25%.
Source Note: The provisions of this §219.9 adopted to be effective September 13, 2001, 26 TexReg 6889; amended to be effective January 8, 2008, 33 TexReg 184; amended to be effective December 9, 2018, 43 TexReg 7894