Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22 § 97900

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 49, December 6, 2024

Section 97900 - Chapter Definitions

The following definitions shall apply to the regulations contained in this Chapter:

(a) "Academic year" means a period of time, usually eight or nine months, which a full-time college or university student would normally be expected to complete the equivalent of two semesters or three quarters of instruction.

(b) "Associate degree nursing program" means an education program with a two or three year curriculum that includes nursing theory and clinical coursework that leads to an associate degree of nursing. Graduates of associate degree nursing programs are eligible to take the state board examination to become registered nurses in California.

(c) "Contract" means a written agreement between the Office and a recipient of a scholarship or loan repayment, which obligates the recipient, in exchange for financial assistance, to practice their profession in a medically underserved area in California for a specified period of time after graduation.

(d) "Direct patient care" means the provision of health care services directly to individuals being treated for, or suspected of having, physical or mental illness. Direct patient care includes preventative care. The first line supervision of direct patient care shall be considered "direct patient care."

(e) "Director" means the Director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

(f) "Educational loan" means a loan of money by a commercial lender or a government entity, which requires repayment with interest, and was obtained by an individual for the purpose of defraying the costs associated with vocational nursing education.

(g) "Full-time student" means a student who is enrolled in a semester, trimester, or quarter program of not less than twelve (12) credit hours or units or their equivalent, and can reasonably expect to graduate, if the student progresses in good standing, in the recognized number of academic years it takes a full-time student to graduate.

(h) "Part-time student" means a student who is enrolled in a semester, trimester, or quarter program of not less than six (6) credit hours or units or their equivalent.

(i) "Medically underserved area" means any of the following:

(1) A Medically Underserved Area or Medically Underserved Population (MUA or MUP) as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions' Shortage Designation Branch.

(2) A Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions' Shortage Designation Branch.

(3) A California Primary Care Shortage Area as designated by the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission.

(4) A facility determined by the Director to have a shortage of nursing personnel under section 128385 of the Health and Safety Code.

(j) "Office" means the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

(k) "Registered Nurse Education Program" (RNEP) means the program established pursuant to Section 128385 of the Health and Safety Code.

(l) "Scholarship" means financial assistance provided to an eligible individual who agrees, in return for the assistance, to practice their nursing profession for a specified period of time in a medically underserved area in California.

(m) "Service obligation" means the contractual obligation agreed to by a recipient of a scholarship or loan repayment where the recipient agrees to practice their nursing profession for a specified period of time in a medically underserved area in California.

(n) "Vocational nurse" means a person licensed to practice nursing under the Vocational Nursing Practice Act (commencing with Business and Professions Code Section 2840).

(o) "Vocational nursing program" means a fourteen- to twenty four-month education program, which includes nursing theory and clinical coursework that leads to the state certification exam to become a licensed vocational nurse.

(p) "Vocational Nurse Education Fund" means the fund established pursuant to Section 128500 of the Health and Safety Code.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 97900

1. New chapter 16 (articles 1-3, sections 97900-97927), article 1 (sections 97900-97902) and section filed 7-24-2006; operative 7-24-2006 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2006, No. 30).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 127010 and 127015, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 128350 and 128485, Health and Safety Code.