Virginia Law

A. Qualifications for all faculty.

1. Every member of the nursing faculty, including the program director, shall (i) hold a current license or a multistate licensure privilege to practice nursing in Virginia as a registered nurse without any disciplinary action that currently restricts practice and (ii) have had at least two years of direct client care experience as a registered nurse prior to employment by the program. No person providing instruction in topics other than nursing shall be required to hold a license as a registered nurse.

2. Every member of a nursing faculty supervising the clinical practice of students, including simulation in lieu of direct client care, shall meet the licensure requirements of the jurisdiction in which that practice occurs and shall provide evidence of education or experience in the specialty area in which they supervise student clinical experience for quality and safety. Prior to supervision of students, the faculty providing supervision shall have completed a clinical orientation to the site in which supervision is being provided. Faculty members who supervise clinical practice by simulation shall also demonstrate simulation knowledge and skills in that methodology and shall engage in ongoing professional development in the use of simulation.

3. The program director and each member of the nursing faculty shall maintain documentation of professional competence through such activities as nursing practice, continuing education programs, conferences, workshops, seminars, academic courses, research projects, and professional writing. Documentation of annual professional development shall be maintained in employee files for the director and each faculty member until the next survey visit and shall be available for board review.

4. For baccalaureate degree and prelicensure graduate degree programs:

a. The program director shall hold a doctoral degree with a graduate degree in nursing.

b. Every member of the didactic nursing faculty shall hold a graduate degree; the majority of the faculty shall have a graduate degree in nursing. Faculty members with a graduate degree with a major other than in nursing shall have a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing.

c. Clinical nursing faculty shall hold:

(1) A graduate degree in nursing;

(2) A baccalaureate degree in nursing and be actively enrolled in a graduate degree program; or

(3) A baccalaureate degree in nursing and hold alternative credentials.

d. Clinical nursing faculty with a graduate degree other than in nursing must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing.

5. For associate degree and diploma programs:

a. The program director shall hold a graduate degree with a major in nursing.

b. Didactic members of the nursing faculty shall hold:

(1) A graduate degree, preferably with a major in nursing; or

(2) A baccalaureate degree and be actively enrolled in a graduate program.

c. Each member of the clinical nursing faculty shall hold:

(1) A baccalaureate degree in nursing; or

(2) An associate degree in nursing and be actively enrolled in a baccalaureate program in nursing.

6. For practical nursing programs:

a. The program director shall hold a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing.

b. All nursing faculty shall hold:

(1) A baccalaureate degree, preferably with a major in nursing; or

(2) An associate degree and be actively enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program.

B. Number of faculty.

1. The number of faculty shall be sufficient to prepare the students to achieve the objectives of the educational program and to ensure safety for clients to whom students provide care.

2. When students are giving direct care to clients, the ratio of students to faculty shall not exceed 10 students to one faculty member, and the faculty shall be on site solely to supervise students.

3. When preceptors are utilized for specified learning experiences in clinical settings, the faculty member may supervise up to 15 students.

C. Functions. The principal functions of the faculty shall be to:

1. Develop, implement, and evaluate the philosophy and objectives of the nursing education program;

2. Design, implement, teach, evaluate, and revise the curriculum. Faculty shall provide evidence of education and experience necessary to indicate that the faculty member is competent to teach a given course;

3. Develop and evaluate student admission, progression, retention, and graduation policies within the framework of the controlling institution;

4. Participate in academic advisement and counseling of students in accordance with requirements of the Financial Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 USC § 1232g);

5. Provide opportunities for and evidence of student and graduate evaluation of curriculum and teaching and program effectiveness; and

6. Document actions taken in faculty and committee meetings using a systematic plan of evaluation for total program review.