Excerpt from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing

Transcription

1 Excerpt from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Self Study February 2011 Narrative II-D. Faculty members are: Sufficient in number to accomplish the mission, goals, and expected student and faculty outcomes; Academically prepared for the areas in which they teach; and Experientially prepared for the areas in which they teach. Elaboration: The full-time equivalency (FTE) of faculty involved in each program is clearly delineated, and the program provides to CCNE its formula for calculating FTEs. The mix of fulltime and part-time faculty is appropriate to achieve the mission, goals and expected student and faculty outcomes. Faculty-to-student ratios ensure adequate supervision and evaluation and meet or exceed the requirements of regulatory agencies and professional nursing standards and guidelines. Faculty are academically prepared for the areas in which they teach. Academic preparation of faculty includes degree specialization, specialty coursework, or other preparation sufficient to address the major concepts included in courses they teach. Faculty teaching in the nursing program have a graduate degree. The program provides a rationale for use of any faculty who do not have a graduate degree. Faculty who are nurses hold current RN licensure. Faculty teaching in clinical/practicum courses are experienced in the clinical area of course and maintain clinical expertise. Clinical expertise may be maintained through clinical practice or other avenues. Faculty teaching in advanced practice clinical courses meet certification and practice requirements as specified by the relevant regulatory and specialty bodies. Advanced practice nursing tracks have lead faculty who are nationally certified in that specialty. Program Response: Faculty with full time appointments have a full time workload expectation for 40 hours per week of service to the school during the months of their contract. Texas Board of Regents Rules require a minimal assignment of 18 teaching workload credits to full time equivalent faculty as presented in Standard I Key Element C. Over the last three years, the percent of part time

2 faculty has trended from 42% (48 of 114 faculty) in FY 2009, up to 47.4% (53 of total 112) in FY- 2010, and back down to the low of 37.7% (43 of 114) for FY The Department Chairs appoint part time faculty and calculate part time FTE based on the number of days worked in a week, with one day considered a 20% FTE. For example, a faculty hired to teach two clinical groups per week for one semester, is allowed two days (40%) plus another day (total 60%) to complete other course related work such as participating in course meetings, holding office hours, developing lesson plans, and supporting exams or other course related projects. At this writing, fifty-four faculty have 9 month appointments compared to 60 with 12 month appointments. Of the full-time faculty, 39 (55%) are doctorally prepared. Fourteen faculty are tenured, 11 faculty are on the tenure eligible track and 89 faculty are on the clinical track. The total faculty to student ratio is 1:6.3. Teaching productivity goals are tied to FTE and calculation of workload credits. Scholarly productivity is based on promotion and tenure expectations and is acknowledged in calculation of WLC. The Texas State Board of Nursing (TBON) (Rule g) requires no more than 10 students per faculty in undergraduate clinical courses although the clinical agency may impose a stricter standard. Each agency identifies its acceptable student and faculty numbers per unit as assignments are negotiated each term. The SON consistently abides by the TBON rules and agency requirements. Occasionally, teaching assistants (TA) have been used. State requirements allow 1:15 faculty to student ratios if there is a TA and 1:24 faculty to student ratios if students are in a precepted experience (TBON Rule g, h). The goal for clinical courses in the undergraduate program is one faculty per eight students and is met at least half of the time, and the limit of 10 students per faculty is never exceeded. Graduate students have preceptored clinical experiences, most of which are one student per preceptor. Faculty, in keeping with state requirements, (TBON Rule f, and NTF guidelines) oversee only 6 graduate students per clinical course. Appendix Table II D 1 provides an overview of the numbers of faculty supervising each clinical course in each of the NP majors. For example, the largest major FNP with 60 students, of whom 25 are in clinical courses, has 7 faculty, demonstrating that the SON was able to maintain acceptable faculty: student ratios.

3 All faculty who are nurses hold a Texas RN license and are academically prepared for the areas in which they teach. (RR II D 1) Those teaching in clinical courses maintain expertise in the focal clinical area. All faculty are minimally prepared at the Master s level with a defined area of specialization. In order for a faculty to teach in areas outside of his/her professional preparation, the SON must obtain a waiver from the Texas State Board of Nursing (TBON). Faculty CVs are available upon request via the departments. Many of the faculty maintain expertise in their clinical area through their participation in the faculty practice/engagement plan. (RR II D 2) Faculty teaching in the advanced practice clinical courses meet certification and practice requirements as specified by regulatory and specialty bodies. For example the coordinator for the each of the NP focal areas (family, psych-mental health, pediatrics) holds appropriate specialty certification (i.e. FNP, PNP, PNP, ACNP). During the time when the CNS track was being offered, the coordinator and each faculty teaching in that track also held CNS specialty certification as required by Texas State Board of Nursing.

4

5

6