What are the required qualifications of a Dean or Director of a professional nursing education (RN) program?
The dean or director of a professional nursing education (RN) program shall:
- hold a current license or privilege to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Texas
- hold a master’s degree or a doctorate degree in nursing
- hold a doctoral degree if administering a baccalaureate or master's degree program
- have a minimum of 3 years teaching experience in an RN program
- possess knowledge, skills and abilities in administration within an RN program
What are the required qualifications of a Director or Coordinator of a vocational nursing education program?
The director or coordinator of a vocational nursing education program shall:
- hold a current license or privilege to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Texas
- have been actively employed in nursing for the past 5 years, preferably in supervision or teaching
- have a degree or equivalent experience that will demonstrate competency and advanced preparation in nursing, education, and administration
- have had 5 years of varied nursing experience since graduation from an RN program
If the individual has not been actively employed in nursing for the past 5 years, other factors that will be considered:
- advanced preparation in nursing
- nursing education
- nursing administration
- prior relevant nursing employment
What is the difference between a program director and a program coordinator? What is the role of an assistant director or coordinator?
The individual who is the director of a professional nursing education (RN) program usually has the title of dean, director or coordinator. The individual who has authority for the program, signs off on official documents, is responsible for evaluation of the faculty and is in the director role regardless of job title. He/she shall meet the qualifications in Rule 215.6(f)(1-6).
The director may assign some of the day-to-day managerial tasks to others in an assistive role and may give them a title of "assistant" or "coordinator" but the program director is still the main person accountable for the program. Some individuals in the director role carry the title of "coordinator," but they are still the individual responsible and accountable for the program.
The director or coordinator of a vocational nursing education (VN) program is the individual who has the authority to direct the program in all its phases, including approval of teaching staff, selection of appropriate clinical sites, admission, progression, probation, and dismissal of students. This individual is also responsible to provide evidence of faculty expertise and knowledge to teach curriculum content, act as agent of the Board and issues temporary permits to eligible graduates upon completion of the program, verifies student's completion of program requirements on the Affidavit of Graduation, completes and submits the Annual Report to the Board office by the required date. This individual may hold the title of "director" or "coordinator." He/she may also assign some of the day-to-day managerial tasks to an assistant but still maintain the role of program director. Some programs with several extension sites have coordinators at the sites to manage the program at those sites, but the program director is still the one ultimately responsible for the program.
VN and RN programs may have different organizational structures but the program director (whether dean, director or coordinator) is the qualified individual approved by the Board and ultimately responsible for the program.