According to TBON, the faculty member shall be responsible for the supervision of students in clinical learning experiences. The following ratios only apply to clinical learning experiences involving direct patient care:
When a faculty member is the only person officially responsible for a clinical group, then the group shall
total no more than ten (10) students. Patient safety shall be a priority and may mandate lower ratios, as
appropriate. The faculty member shall supervise that group in only one facility at a time, unless some
portion or all of the clinical group are assigned to observational experiences in additional settings.
Direct faculty supervision is not required for an observational experience. Observational experiences may
be used to supplement, but not replace patient care experiences, and must serve the purpose of student
attainment of clinical objectives.
Clinical preceptors may be used to enhance clinical learning experiences after a student has received clinical
and didactic instruction in all basic areas of nursing or within a course after a student has received clinical and
didactic instruction in the basic areas of nursing for that course or specific learning experience.
In courses which use clinical preceptors for a portion of clinical learning experiences, faculty shall have
no more than twelve (12) students in a clinical group.
In a course which uses clinical preceptors as the sole method of student instruction and supervision in
clinical settings, faculty shall coordinate the preceptorship for no more than twenty-four (24) students.
The preceptor may supervise student clinical learning experiences without the physical presence of the
faculty member in the affiliating agency or clinical practice setting.
The preceptor shall be responsible for the clinical learning experiences of no more than two students (2) at
a time per clinical group.
When faculty use clinical preceptors to enhance clinical learning experiences and to assist faculty in the
clinical supervision of students the following applies:
Faculty shall develop written criteria for the selection of clinical preceptors.
When clinical preceptors are used, written agreements between the vocational nursing education program,
clinical preceptor, and the affiliating agency, when applicable, shall delineate the functions and
responsibilities of the parties involved.
Faculty shall be readily available to students and clinical preceptors during clinical learning experiences.
The designated faculty member shall meet periodically with the clinical preceptors and student(s) for the
purpose of monitoring and evaluating learning experiences.
Written clinical objectives, evaluation criteria, and written description of expectations shall be shared with
the clinical preceptors prior to or concurrent with the experience.
The preceptor shall be accountable for evaluating the student using clinical objectives developed by
vocational nursing faculty.
Clinical preceptors shall have the following qualifications:
competence in designated areas of practice;
philosophy of health care congruent with that of the nursing program; and
current licensure or privilege to practice nursing in the State of Texas.
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