Records Appraisal Report:
Board of Nurse Examiners

Contents of this report
Agency Contact | Agency History | Project Review | Record Series Reviews

Internal links to series reviews
Correspondence, Administrative
Rules and Regulations
Published Statutes, NPA
Board Meeting Minutes -- Public Hearings
Board Meeting Minutes
Biennial Budget Requests
Meeting Notice
Research Report, Final
Policies and Procedures Manuals
NCLEX Exam Statistics
Nursing Education Statistics
School Annual Reports
Correspondence, Nursing Schools
Proposals -- New Programs, Extended Campus, Curriculum Changes
Schools of Nursing (list)
Permit Log
Master Complaint Log
Organization Charts
Reports -- Annual and Biennial (Non-Fiscal)
Strategic Plans

Archival finding aid
Texas Board of Nurse Examiners: An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1909-2001

February 12, 1997, Tony Black, Appraisal Archivist

Agency Contact:

This agency contact information was current at the time of the report but may have changed in the interim. Please call (512-463-5455) for current contact information of the agency's records manager or records liaison for these records.

Ms. Laura Williford
Records Administrator
333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460
(P.O. Box 140466)
Austin, TX 78701 (78714)

Agency History and Structure:

In 1909 the legislature created the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, to ensure the competent practice of nursing in Texas (Senate Bill 111, 31st Legislature, Regular Session, 1909). As the legislative mandate was expressed in 1996, the board is responsible for licensing, regulating, and monitoring the status of approximately 155,000 registered nurses (RNs) currently licensed in Texas, and for accrediting 81 schools of professional nursing.

The board is composed of nine members (originally five members, increased to six in 1931, and to nine in 1981), appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms (increased from two years in 1929). Six of the members must be registered nurses, and (beginning in 1981) three of these must be nurse faculty members (each representing a school of nursing offering a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, and a diploma program). The remaining three board members represent the general public (beginning in 1981). The members selected their own president until 1993, after which date the governor named the president.

The regulation of the practice of professional nursing and nursing education involves prescribing the minimum requirements and standards for preparatory study programs for nurse practitioners, accrediting schools of nursing and education programs that meet its requirements, and establishing rules for professional conduct. The board may recognize, prepare, or implement continuing education programs, and require participation in these programs as a condition of license renewal. The board issues licenses by examination, and also by endorsement from licensing authorities in other states. It disciplines registered nurses who violate the Nursing Practice Act. Use of the title Registered Nurse (or RN) is limited to those licensed by the board. Re-registration occurs every two years. Over 155,000 persons were licensed to practice professional nursing in Texas as of August 31, 1996.

In 1923, legislation added regulation of nursing education to the board's duties, and created the position of Educational Secretary (to be appointed by the board). And in 1981, the board was instructed and authorized to prescribe three programs of study to prepare professional nurse practitioners: the Baccalaureate Program, the Associate Degree Program, and the Diploma Program.

From 1909 to 1923, the board had the power to revoke any certificate for "gross incompetency, dishonesty, habitual intemperance, or any act derogatory to the morals or standing of the profession of nursing." Between 1923 and 1967, a certificate could be revoked only by a county court after a complaint had been filed by unanimous action of the board; appeal of this decision would then be to a district court, whose judgment would be final. Beginning in 1967 again, however, the board was granted a broad range of disciplinary powers, including refusal to admit persons to its examinations, refusal to issue a license or certificate of registration or re-registration, refusal to issue temporary permits, issuance of warnings or reprimands, temporary suspension of licenses, and revocation of licenses. These sanctions may be exercised for a variety of reasons, including violations of nursing laws, regulations, or orders; fraud; felony convictions or moral turpitude; revocation, suspension, or denial of a nursing license in another jurisdiction; alcohol or drug abuse; unprofessional or dishonorable conduct; mental incompetence; and lack of fitness to practice. Appeal may still be made in district courts.

The law requires the executive secretary "to keep a record of each meeting of said board, including a register of the names of all nurses registered under this law, which shall be at all times open to public inspection."

Organizational Complexity:

In March 1994, the agency contained three departments: Licensing, Practice and Compliance, and Education and Examination. However, a reorganization fully implemented in 1995 resulted in five divisions: Licensing/Human Resources, Nursing Education/Examination, Nursing Practice, Investigations/Legal, and Finance/Administrative Services. The agency staff consists of approximately 50 full-time equivalent employees.

Attached to the board were three Advisory Committees (as of FY 1994): the Nursing Practice Advisory Committee (15 members); the Advanced Nurse Practitioner Advisory Committee (16 members); and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Texas Department of Health and Board of Nurse Examiners Advisory Committee (12 members). These committees have subsequently been disbanded.

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Project Review:

I was assigned to appraise the records of this agency on October 12, 1995. This agency has passed its third recertification, and is due for a fourth recertification in March 1997.

I reviewed the Guide to State Agencies (8th edition, 1994); the laws (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4513 thru 4528; General and Special Laws, 1909, 1923, 1929, 1931, 1967, 1969, 1979, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1995); and agency publications, including the Annual Report, FY 1994; the Request for Legislative Appropriations for FYs 1996 and 1997; and Strategic Plans for 1995-1999 and 1997-2001.

I reviewed the records retention schedule, a recertification approved March 13, 1995.

Nine series on the agency records retention schedule are marked "A", as archival: published statutes, NPA; board meeting minutes -- public hearings; meeting minutes -- board; biennial budget request; meeting notice; advisory committee minutes; schools of nursing (list); permit log; and organization charts.

Sixteen series are marked "R", for archival review: correspondence, administrative; rules and regulations; legal opinions and advice; speeches; reports, consultant/ committees; research report, final; ANP lawsuit -- legal documents; policies and procedures manuals; news or press releases; planning records; NCLEX exam statistics; nursing education statistics; school annual reports; correspondence, nursing schools; proposals -- new programs, extended campus, curriculum changes; and master complaint log.

One of the "A" series (advisory committee minutes), and six of the "R" series (legal opinions and advice; speeches; reports, consultant/committees; ANP [Advanced Nurse Practitioner] lawsuit -- legal documents; news or press releases; and planning records) have been determined by the staff of the Board of Nurse Examiners to be empty of any records. Therefore they should be removed from the agency records retention schedule.

I also reviewed the agency's records retention schedule for series marked neither "A" nor "R," but which seemed worthy of further attention, especially those series designated permanent.

Ten series consist of files on individual applicants and licensees, and contain the kind of information which the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission has decided not to routinely maintain. Licensing and disciplinary files are too voluminous for the amount of historical information which can be gleaned from them to merit permanent preservation by the Archives and Information Services Division. (Rosters of Nurses were published annually until 1986, when the list was automated and thereafter produced on request for a fee; the State Publications Depository Program of the Library and Archives Commission holds rosters for 1976-1984 and 1986.) In addition, licensing and disciplinary files are likely to contain personal or private data. Registered nurses who have been formally charged with violations of the Nursing Practice Act are mentioned by name in the board meeting minutes, along with sufficient summary information concerning the charge and the board's action. (For example, "[Name and license number of RN], license placed under stipulations for a minimum period of three years or to run concurrent with the order issued by the Alabama Board of Nursing. The stipulations regard employment, therapy, random screens for controlled substances and alcohol and support group attendance." Or, for another example, "The board voted unanimously to revoke license number [ ] heretofore issued to Mr. [ ] for violation of Article 4525(a)(8) and (9), Revised Civil Statutes of Texas." To reiterate, complaint files are confidential, and formal actions (board orders) are open records and are included in the minutes, which is an archival series. Most of these licensing and disciplinary records are marked permanent at the agency, and many are microfilmed, after which the hard copy is destroyed; therefore the information contained in these files is not likely to be lost. These include the following series:

RN licenses (L14); RN affidavits (L14a); applications -- Texas first time (E29a); application files -- foreign nurse (E1a); application files -- GSOT, GSOT-RPT (E7a); documentation regarding approved or denied candidates/ convictions, mental illness, chemical dependency, denied licensure and/or disciplinary action... (E44) (confidential, microfilmed with application when candidate becomes licensed); applications (approved), ANP [Advanced Nurse Practitioner] & PDO [Prescriptive Drug Orders] (P3); PDO identification number list (P5); list of denied applications and old pending applications, and list of approved applications by petition (P6); and investigations/ disciplinary files (I7) (confidential). There will be no record series reviews on any of these records.

Examination planning records (1.1.024 - E16) are marked neither "A" nor "R," even though the Texas State Records Retention Schedule designates planning records eligible for archival review ("R"). However, the Board no longer administers the exam, as of February 1994. At that time, computerized adaptive testing was implemented; the National Council State Board of Nursing has a contract with Chauncy Group International Testing Service. Therefore this series is now obsolete. The records were destroyed six months after the new testing procedure was implemented. Therefore there will be no record series review on this series. The board should remove this series from its records retention schedule.

Reports -- annual and biennial (non-fiscal) (1.1.032 - A36) are designated permanent, but neither "A" nor "R." The Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission considers these narrative reports archival, even though they are published. Strategic plans, also an archival series, is not on the agency records retention schedule, but is produced by the agency. Record series reviews have been done for both of these series.

On July 16, 1990, Chris LaPlante mailed a letter to Dorothy Chesley, Education Secretary/Deputy Director of the Board of Nurse Examiners, concerning the need to contact the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission concerning "A" series and "R" series. There was no response to this letter in the files of the Archives and Information Services Division.

On March 21, 1996, I mailed the introductory letter from Chris LaPlante, Director of the Archives and Information Services Division, to the Executive Director of the Board of Nurse Examiners, Katherine Thomas. On July 18, I spoke with (former) Records Administrator Mark Majek, who informed me that the agency's new Records Administrator was Laura Williford; at his suggestion I mailed a copy of the introductory letter to Ms. Williford. Ms. Williford telephoned me on July 22 to set up our appointment and to request copies of 27 worksheets (one per series) so that she and her staff could compile as much of the data as possible before our meeting. On September 12, I met with Laura Williford and Sue Lawson (Records Consultant from the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission, who has been newly assigned to this agency), in the offices of the Board of Nurse Examiners. Most of the information I needed was provided at that meeting, and after three telephone calls for additional data, I was able to complete this report. On October 31, I picked up copies of the board meeting minutes which Ms. Williford made to fill gaps in our holdings.

Archives Holdings:

Meeting Minutes, 1909-1996, 1.65 cubic feet (AC 1996/121 and 1997/34)

Previous Destructions:

Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and the following were found:

Renewal cards, unused and void licenses and certificates, office correspondence, 1982-1985 (approved January 30, 1986).
Compliance and miscellaneous files (approved July 29, 1986).
Vouchers, Social Security and group insurance reconciliation reports, TEC employee's quarterly reports, payroll detail sheets, cash receipts, etc., 1980-1984 (approved July 29, 1986).
Cash receipts, vouchers, payroll and tax reports, 1974-1980 (approved September 10, 1986).
Cash receipts, bank statement and receipt book, vouchers, and W-2 forms, FY 79, FY 81, 1978-1981, 3 cubic feet (?) (approved September 14, 1987).
Duplicate inventory control numbers, blank licenses/ certificate forms, incomplete verification forms, 1986-1989, 4.5 cubic feet (approved October 6, 1989).
Name change affidavits, 1988-1989, 3 cubic feet (approved October 6, 1989).
Discipline Board Orders, prior to 1985, 1.5 cubic feet (approved October 6, 1989).
Applications for Texas licensure, 1989, 3 cubic feet (approved October 20, 1989).
Name change documents, RN examination applications, 1989, 4.5 cubic feet (approved October 31, 1989). Requests for investigation files, 1984-1986, 1.5 cubic feet (approved October 31, 1989).
Applications for Texas licensure, RN examination applications, name change documents, 1989, 7.5 cubic feet (approved February 14, 1990).

Project Outcome:

This agency appraisal is now complete. The appraisal decisions are summarized as follows:

Continue to use "A" as the archival code for the following series:

Meeting Minutes -- Board (A14) (Copies of minutes of future meetings should continue to be regularly transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission, preferably on an annual basis.)
Biennial Budget Request (A15) (Add the following statement to the Remarks column: "The archival requirement will be met by sending required copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Texas State Library and Archives Commission." If possible, send one copy of the budget request dated 1980 (for FY 1982/1983) to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission for inclusion in the holdings of the Texas State Publications Depository Program.)
Organization Charts (A35) (Add the following statement to the Remarks column: "Included in Strategic Plan. The archival requirement will be met by sending required copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Texas State Library and Archives Commission." Alternately, the agency may choose to simply print off each organization chart prior to updating it, and transfer that loose organization chart -- now superseded -- to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.)
Schools of Nursing (List) (E37b) (Transfer the paper copies of the lists -- or photocopies of the lists -- to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission, and continue to do so annually.)

Change the "R" designation to "A" for the following series:

Policies and Procedures Manuals (A30) (Transfer superseded manuals to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission, both now and in the future. Those manuals which are routine employee/personnel manuals should be placed in a separate series, perhaps titled "Personnel manuals," and given no archival code.)
Nursing Education Statistics (E43) (Transfer those files which have met the retention period to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission, and continue to do so in the future, perhaps on an annual basis.)
School Annual Reports (E38) (For existing microfiche (1924-1990) if the board can locate the master negatives, and also for microfiche in the future if the board continues to have this series microfilmed, request the State and Local Records Management Division to make one additional copy for transfer to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission. Also make arrangements with the State and Local Records Management Division for proper storage of those masters offsite at the State Records Center.)
Correspondence, Nursing Schools (E39) (For existing microfiche (1924-1990) if the board can locate the master negatives, and also for microfiche in the future if the board continues to have this series microfilmed, request the State and Local Records Management Division to make one additional copy for transfer to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission. Also make arrangements with the State and Local Records Management Division for proper storage of those masters offsite at the State Records Center.)
Proposals -- New Programs, Extended Campus, Curriculum Changes (E41) (For existing microfiche (1924-1990) if the board can locate the master negatives, and also for microfiche in the future if the board continues to have this series microfilmed, request the State and Local Records Management Division to make one additional copy for transfer to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission. Also make arrangements with the State and Local Records Management Division for proper storage of those masters offsite at the State Records Center.)

Create a new series, and add it to the schedule with an Archival Code of "A":

Strategic Plans (number to be assigned) (The Remarks column should read "The archival requirement will be met by sending required copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.")

Remove the "A" from the archival code column for the following series, and add this statement to the Remarks column: "Archival code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997":

Published Statutes, NPA (A04) (Revise the Remarks column to say "Send the required number of copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.")
Board Meeting Minutes -- Public Hearings (A13) (Revise the title to be more accurate, such as "Request-to-appear forms for public hearings," and remove the record series item number (1.1.017), leaving that column blank.)
Meeting Notice (A24) (Remove the record series item number (1.1.016), leaving that column blank. Remove the statement "copies to State Archives" from the Remarks column.)
Permit Log (E08)

Remove the "R" from the archival code column for the following series, and add this statement to the Remarks column: "Archival review code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997":

Correspondence, Administrative (A02) (Change the record series item number on the records retention schedule to 1.1.008, and rename the series to avoid confusion, for example "General Correspondence (Executive Director).")
Rules and Regulations (A03)
Research Report, Final (A22) (Copy this report and transfer to the Archives and Information Services Division, Library and Archives Commission. Maintain the series on the retention schedule, but change its retention period to PM (permanent).)
NCLEX Exam Statistics (E20)
Master Complaint Log (I12)

Either remove the following obsolete series from the records retention schedule, or (if the board wants to keep the existing reports permanently) change the Remarks column:

Reports -- Annual and Biennial (Non-fiscal) (A36) (Add the following statement to the Remarks column: "Currently an obsolete series. The archival requirement has been fulfilled by sending copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission." Should the publication of this series ever be resumed in the future, place an "A" designation in the Archival Code column, and adjust the Remarks column to say "The archival requirement is met by sending copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.")

Remove from the records retention schedule, as empty series:

Legal Opinions and Advice (A08) (Possibly also rename series A09 Legal Opinions and Advice (from Attorney General))
Speeches (A18)
Reports, Consultant/Committees (A20)
Advisory Committee Minutes (A25)
ANP Lawsuit -- Legal Documents (A26)
News or Press Releases (A33)
Planning Records (S08)
Examination Planning Records (E16)

Thus, the revised records retention schedule of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should have ten series designated as archival ("A"):

Meeting Minutes -- Board (A14)
Biennial Budget Request (A15)
Strategic Plans (number to be assigned)
Policies and Procedures Manuals (A30)
Organization Charts (A35)
Schools of Nursing (List) (E37b)
School Annual Reports (E38)
Correspondence, Nursing Schools (E39)
Proposals -- New Programs, Extended Campus, Curriculum Changes (E41)
Nursing Education Statistics (E43)

Special notes concerning microfilmed series:

The Archives and Information Services Division recommends to the Board of Nurse Examiners that the agency consider making (throughout their retention schedule) two separate series for each record series which is microfilmed, positioned next to each other (e.g., E38, School Annual Reports, followed by E38-M, School Annual Reports -- Microfilm). This would facilitate the management of these records, making clear the different retention periods and final dispositions of each medium.

The Board of Nurse Examiners is also urged strongly to consider the legal requirements for the creation and storage of microfilmed records, especially those which are considered archival and/or vital. (See 13 Texas Administrative Code, Sections 6.8(b)(1), 6.23(d), and 6.26.)

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Record Series Reviews

Record Series Review
Series Title: Correspondence, Administrative

Dates: 1993-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: less than 1 cubic foot

Agency holdings: Administrative correspondence is in the agency's office (9 cubic feet). These records are retained by the agency for three years. The agency's actual holdings are 1993-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: These records constitute the general correspondence of the Executive Director of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, dating 1993-[ongoing], consisting of incoming and outgoing letters with state agencies, regarding relatively ordinary and mundane business of the agency. This correspondence does not deal with truly substantive administrative issues.

The label "Correspondence, Administrative" was misinterpreted by staff creating the retention schedule to mean "correspondence of the Administrative Division." The series labeled "Correspondence, General" (A1) represents the general correspondence of the entire agency.

Purpose: What the agency is calling administrative correspondence is created by the Administrative Division during the course of daily agency business, and relates to mundane, non-substantive issues.

Agency Program: The board is charged with the regulation of the practice of professional nursing and (since 1923) nursing education. The board prescribes the minimum requirements and standards for preparatory study programs for nurse practitioners, accredits schools of nursing and education programs that meet its requirements, and establishes rules for professional conduct. The board may recognize, prepare, or implement continuing education programs, and require participation in these programs as a condition of license renewal. The board issues licenses by examination, and also by endorsement from licensing authorities in other states. It disciplines registered nurses who violate the Nursing Practice Act. From 1909 to 1923, and from 1967 to the present, the board could revoke licenses. Beginning in 1967, the board was granted a broad range of disciplinary powers, including refusal to admit persons to its examinations, refusal to issue a license or certificate of registration or re-registration, refusal to issue temporary permits, issuance of warnings or reprimands, temporary suspension of licenses, and revocation of licenses. (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4513 thru 4528)

Arrangement: Alphabetical by name of correspondent/agency

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Gaps? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and one was found for "office correspondence" (presumably general correspondence), 1982-1985 (an RMD-102 was approved January 30, 1986).

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Correspondence, Administrative
Series item number: 1.1.007
Agency item number: A2
Archival code: R
Retention: 3

Appraisal Decision: This series is general correspondence (of the Executive Director) rather than administrative correspondence; it does not deal with substantive issues of policy formulation or implementation.

The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should therefore remove the archival review designation of "R" from their records retention schedule for this series, and add the following statement to the Remarks column: "Archival review code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997."

The record series item number on the records retention schedule should be changed to 1.1.008. The board might also rename the series to avoid confusion, for example "General Correspondence (Executive Director)." The board has indicated a preference for a retention period of 2 years; the Records Administrator should consult with the assigned Records Consultant from the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission concerning this matter.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Rules and Regulations

Dates: 1970-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: 1 cubic foot

Agency holdings: Rules and regulations are maintained in the agency's offices (3 cubic feet). These records are retained by the agency until superseded, after an annual review, then are stored for 15 years. Actual holdings are 1970-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

The agency is required to send 55 copies of published compendia of regulations to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Library and Archives Commission (13 Texas Administrative Code, Section 3.3(1)(E)). The State Publications Depository Program holds the following years: 1975, 1978, 1991-1993 (two revisions each year), and 1994-1995.

Description: These records are the files containing rules and regulations proposed and adopted by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, dating 1970-[ongoing]. These rules, when adopted, are compiled into the Texas Administrative Code, which currently contains the following chapters: bylaws, practice and procedure, nurse education, licensure and practice, delegation of selected nursing tasks, advanced nurse practitioner program, advanced practice nurses, advanced practice nurses with limited prescriptive authority, and fees. Sections within each chapter deal with such details as unprofessional conduct, granting of temporary licenses, accreditation, faculty qualifications, curriculum, etc.

In accordance with the Texas Administrative Procedures Act, rules (both proposed and adopted) are submitted for publication to the Texas Register; the copies so submitted are also on file in that office.

Purpose: Rules and regulations are created to be proposed, discussed in public hearings, and finally adopted, for the purpose of establishing definitions, procedures, and standards for the administration of law and fulfillment of the legislative mandates of a state agency. When adopted, they have the force of administrative law.

The Remarks column on the agency records retention schedule states "Record copy only used for research." Agency staff use these files frequently.

Agency Program: The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas is charged with the regulation of the practice of professional nursing and (since 1923) nursing education. The board prescribes the minimum requirements and standards for preparatory study programs for nurse practitioners, accredits schools of nursing and education programs that meet its requirements, and establishes rules for professional conduct. The board may recognize, prepare, or implement continuing education programs, and require participation in these programs as a condition of license renewal. The board issues licenses by examination, and also by endorsement from licensing authorities in other states. It disciplines registered nurses who violate the Nursing Practice Act. From 1909 to 1923, and from 1967 to the present, the board could revoke licenses. Beginning in 1967, the board was granted a broad range of disciplinary powers, including refusal to admit persons to its examinations, refusal to issue a license or certificate of registration or re-registration, refusal to issue temporary permits, issuance of warnings or reprimands, temporary suspension of licenses, and revocation of licenses. (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4513 thru 4528)

Arrangement: Chronological

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: Proposed and adopted rules are published in the Texas Register, and adopted rules are published in the Texas Administrative Code, both publications of the Office of the Secretary of State.

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Rules and Regulations
Series item number: 1.1.039
Agency item number: A3
Archival code: R
Retention: AR + US

Appraisal Decision: This agency considers rules and regulations to be vital records, and retain them for 15 years after they are superseded (following an annual review). However, the Texas Register section of the Office of the Secretary of State permanently maintains the original public inspection files of all state agency rules (Agency Item Number 50.60 on the records retention schedule of the Secretary of State). These rules (both proposed and adopted) are also published in the Texas Register, and adopted rules are published in the Texas Administrative Code. There is no need to designate this series archival, since the Secretary of State copy is a permanent record and because the rules are published.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Published Statutes, NPA

Dates: 1935-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: Published statutes, Nursing Practice Act, are in the agency's offices (1.5 cubic feet). According to the retention schedule, these records are retained by the agency permanently. The agency's actual holdings are 1935 and 1967-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

The agency is required to send 55 copies of published compendia of statutes to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Library and Archives Commission (13 Texas Administrative Code, Section 3.3(1)(D)). The State Publications Depository Program holds 1975, 1991, and 1993.

Description: These records are the published copies of the statutes affecting nursing in Texas, primarily the Nursing Practice Act as periodically amended, dated 1935 and 1967-1995. They are compiled by the staff of the Board of Nurse Examiners.

Purpose: Published statutes (Nursing Practice Act), are created to provide for the general public a convenient and up-to-date compilation of the law which regulates the practice of professional nursing and nursing education in Texas. They are also frequently used in-house by the staff of the Board of Nurse Examiners.

Arrangement: Chronological

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No published statutes have been found prior to 1935. At the agency: 1936-1966. At the Texas State Publications Depository Program: 1935-1974, 1976-1990, 1992, and 1994-1996.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: Legislative bill files in Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission (1909-1972) and in Legislative Reference Library (1973-[ongoing]).

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Published Statutes, NPA
Series item number: 1.1.029
Agency item number: A4
Archival code: A
Retention: PM

Appraisal Decision: This compilation of Texas law affecting nursing is a very convenient research tool. But as an archival record it is redundant, because the law itself can be found both in its printed form in the General and Special Laws, and in its bill version in the bill files located in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission and the Legislative Reference Library. Furthermore, the published compilation is conveniently found at the Board of Nurse Examiners, as well as in the Texas State Publications Depository Program (although there are major gaps in the latter).

The Board of Nurse Examiners should therefore remove the archival designation of "A" from their records retention schedule for this series, and add the following statement to the Remarks column: "Archival code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997. Send the required number of copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Texas State Library and Archives Commission."

If at all possible, duplicate copies of the published statutes which are missing from the State Publications Depository Program (for 1935, 1967-1974, 1976-1990, 1992, and 1994-1996) should be sent to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission for inclusion in the holdings of the State Publications Depository Program. And in the future, to comply with 13 Texas Administrative Code, Section 3.3(1)(D), the board should continue to send the required number of copies directly to the State Publications Depository Program.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Board Meeting Minutes -- Public Hearings

Dates: 1990-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: Public hearings correspondence files are located in the agency's offices (1 cubic foot). According to the retention schedule, these records are retained by the agency for one year after their purpose is served. The agency's actual holdings are 1990-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: These records (which are clearly mistitled) consist of request-to-appear forms for public hearings, and any correspondence received by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas as a result of public hearings, regarding proposed changes in nursing programs and adoption of new nursing programs. The records date from 1990-[ongoing].

Purpose: These records document requests by interested parties to appear before the Board of Nurse Examiners of the State of Texas, as well as correspondence received from interested parties in response to those public hearings.

The board is composed of nine members (originally five members, increased to six in 1931, and to nine in 1981), appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms (increased from two years in 1929). Six of the members must be registered nurses, and (beginning in 1981) include three nurse faculty members (each representing a school of nursing offering a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, and a diploma program). The remaining three board members represent the general public (beginning in 1981). The members selected their own president until 1993, after which date the governor named the president. (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4513 thru 4528)

Arrangement: Chronological

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No public hearings correspondence files have been found prior to 1990.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Board Meeting Minutes -- Public Hearings
Series item number: 1.1.017
Agency item number: A13
Archival code: A
Retention: PS + 1

Appraisal Decision: The agency says that their staff have never referred to these records, and they believe that they have no historical value.

I find no evidence that this series is archival. It is mistitled, and certainly does not contain minutes. Requests to appear before the board have transitory value, and any significant correspondence is included as attachments to the board meeting minutes, which is an archival series.

In addition, the title of the series should be revised to be more accurate, such as "Request-to-appear forms for public hearings," and the series item number (1.1.017) should be removed and that column left blank, since this series does not correspond with any on the Texas State Records Retention Schedule.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Board Meeting Minutes

Dates: 1909-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: Board meeting minutes are in the agency's offices, locked in the safe (1.65 cubic feet). These records are retained by the agency permanently. The agency's actual holdings are 1909-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: Board Meeting Minutes, 1909-1996, 1.65 cubic feet
[see Description below]

Description: These records consist of meeting minutes of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, dating 1909-[ongoing], including regular meetings, annual and semi-annual meetings, special meetings, planning sessions, and committee meetings. These minutes contain summaries of board discussions and actions, and reports of board officers and committees, plus attachments. The minutes cover the full range of board responsibilities, in varying formats over time. Typical minutes of the 1920s, for example, contain summaries of letters read and acted upon, of exam questions accepted, of applications discussed, and of reports made. Between 1923 and 1928, the full monthly reports of the Educational Secretary are appended, including details of conferences and addresses, schools visited (with reports of inspections and recommendations), and expense accounts. Typical minutes of the 1940s and 1950s contain treasurer's reports, statistical reports of grades, and summary reports of the various committees (Budget, By-laws, Library, etc.). Minutes in the 1980s contain summaries of hearings (disciplinary, revocations and suspensions of licenses, reinstatements, reactivations of licenses, licensure with stipulations, warnings against impostors, etc.); consent orders (for suspensions and reprimands); board actions on examinations; education reports (on survey visits, annual reports of nursing programs, curriculum changes, faculty petitions, requests for new programs, requests for clinical facilities, etc.); adoptions of rules; and miscellaneous other matters. Beginning in July 1993, the minutes are formatted into three columns, summarizing agenda item, discussion, and action.

Minutes of committees, 1989-[ongoing], include those for the following committees: Finance, Education, Legislative/ Public Relations, Practice, Planning and Performance, Operations, Eligibility and Disciplinary, and Strategic Planning. Between September 1989 and September 1990, each committee's minutes were printed on a different color of paper.

Attachments to the minutes include monthly financial statements, position statements, cumulative statistical reports, comparative surveys, significant correspondence, etc.

Agenda of these meetings are apparently not published. The "meeting notices" (Agency Item Number A24) are simple notices of time and place of the meetings, and are not agenda.

Purpose: Minutes are created to document in a thorough but usually summary fashion the official actions of the board in its meetings.

The board is composed of nine members (originally five members, increased to six in 1931, and to nine in 1981), appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms (increased from two years in 1929). Six of the members must be registered nurses, and (beginning in 1981) include three nurse faculty members (each representing a school of nursing offering a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, and a diploma program). The remaining three board members represent the general public (beginning in 1981). The members selected their own president until 1993, after which date the governor named the president. (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4513 thru 4528)

Arrangement: Chronological

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? None

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Board Meeting Minutes
Series item number: 1.1.017
Agency item number: A14
Archival code: A
Retention: PM

Appraisal Decision: Board meeting minutes provide what is probably the most important documentation of the agency's activities; they are thorough yet succinct.

The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should continue to use "A" as the archival code for this series on the agency's records retention schedule. The Remarks column is correct and sufficient.

Copies of minutes of future meetings should continue to be regularly transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission, preferably on an annual basis.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Biennial Budget Requests

Dates: 1980-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: Biennial budget requests are in the agency's offices (0.1 cubic foot). These records are retained by the agency for six years after the passage of the Appropriations Act. Actual holdings, however, are 1980-[ongoing] (for Fiscal Years 1982-1997).

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

The archival requirement for this series is fulfilled by sending two copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Library and Archives Commission (13 Texas Administrative Code, Section 3.3(3)). The State Publications Depository Program holds copies dating 1982-1996 (for fiscal years 1984-1999).

Description: This series consists of requests for legislative appropriations which the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas has submitted each biennium to the Legislative Budget Board and other offices. The requests date from 1980-[ongoing]. The requests generally contain an administrator's statement of agency functions. The program objectives are listed, along with a description of each objective, a discussion of performance measures, statistics, efficiency measures, and expenses -- expended, current, and projected. Budget requests also contain an organizational chart through the request for FY 1992/1993.

Purpose: These records are created to request specific appropriations from the legislature and to provide justification for the amounts requested.

Agency Program: Biennial budget requests are a mandatory requirement of the state budgetary process. The board is charged with the regulation of the practice of professional nursing and (since 1923) nursing education. The board prescribes the minimum requirements and standards for preparatory study programs for nurse practitioners, accredits schools of nursing and education programs that meet its requirements, and establishes rules for professional conduct. The board may recognize, prepare, or implement continuing education programs, and require participation in these programs as a condition of license renewal. The board issues licenses by examination, and also by endorsement from licensing authorities in other states. It disciplines registered nurses who violate the Nursing Practice Act. From 1909 to 1923, and from 1967 to the present, the board could revoke licenses. Beginning in 1967, the board was granted a broad range of disciplinary powers, including refusal to admit persons to its examinations, refusal to issue a license or certificate of registration or re-registration, refusal to issue temporary permits, issuance of warnings or reprimands, temporary suspension of licenses, and revocation of licenses. (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4513 thru 4528)

Arrangement: Chronological

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No biennial budget requests have been located prior to 1980. The Texas State Publications Depository Program is missing the one request dated 1980 (for FY 1982/1983).

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: Legislative Budget Board, Legislative Budget Estimates have been published since fiscal years 1954 and 1955. This publication, a compilation of data for all state agencies, summarizes the fiscal information found in agency-submitted budgets or appropriation requests, but omits most of the narrative.

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Biennial Budget Requests
Series item number: 1.1.004
Agency item number: A15
Archival code: A
Retention: AC + 6

Appraisal Decision: Biennial budget requests provide evidence of the agency's fiscal performance and needs. The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should continue to use "A" as the archival code for this series on the agency's records retention schedule.

The archival requirement is fulfilled by sending copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program of the Library and Archives Commission, and the Remarks column in agency's records retention schedule should so indicate.

If possible, the board should send one copy of the budget request dated 1980 (for FY 1982/1983) to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission for inclusion in the holdings of the Texas State Publications Depository Program.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Meeting Notice

Dates: 1994-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: Meeting notices are in the agency's offices (fractional). These records are retained by the agency for two years. Although the schedule lists them as permanent, they are not agenda as such (as their record series item number of 1.1.016 would indicate). The agency's actual holdings are 1994-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: These records are the notices of public meetings of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, containing only the time and place of the meeting. They contain no agenda. They date 1994-[ongoing].

Purpose: Meeting notices are created to announce open meetings of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, as required by the Open Meetings Law. They are filed with the Texas Register's office (Secretary of State) for public posting and for publication in the Texas Register.

The board is composed of nine members (originally five members, increased to six in 1931, and to nine in 1981), appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms (increased from two years in 1929). Six of the members must be registered nurses, and (beginning in 1981) include three nurse faculty members (each representing a school of nursing offering a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, and a diploma program). The remaining three board members represent the general public (beginning in 1981). The members selected their own president until 1993, after which date the governor named the president. (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4513 thru 4528)

Arrangement: Chronological

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No meeting notices have been located prior to 1994.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: Open Meetings section of the Texas Register

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Meeting Notices
Series item number: 1.1.016
Agency item number: A24
Archival code: A
Retention: PM

Appraisal Decision: These are not meeting agenda; these simple notices of meeting dates, times, and places are published in the Texas Register, and have no enduring value.

Therefore I recommend that the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas remove the "A" from the archival code column for these records, and add the following statement to the Remarks column: "Archival code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997." Remove the statement "copies to State Archives" from the Remarks column.

The board should also remove the Record Series Item Number (1.1.016), and leave that column blank, since this series does not correspond with any on the Texas State Records Retention Schedule. Any changes in the retention period (e.g., PS + 1) should be done in consultation with the Records Consultant at the State and Local Records Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Research Report, Final

Dates: 1989

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: not applicable.
Ongoing record series? No

Agency holdings: The final research report is in the agency's offices (fractional). According to the records retention schedule, these records are retained by the agency for three years, with an annual review. However, the agency's actual holdings are 1989.

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

None in the Texas State Publications Depository Program of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: This series was created for one single report, titled "An Evaluation of Quality Assurance Provisions for Nursing Practice in Texas: Mandatory Reporting, Peer Review, and Rules for Delegation of Nursing Care Activities to Unlicensed Personnel," dated 1989.

Purpose: This report was created to comply with a legislative mandate, implementing two quality assurance mechanisms: mandatory reporting, and peer review (Senate Bill 1160, 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987).

Arrangement: Not applicable

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? Not applicable, since this is a one-item series.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Research Report, Final
Series item number: 1.1.038
Agency item number: A22
Archival code: R
Retention: 3 + AR

Appraisal Decision: This is a one-time report, rather than an active series. This report is archival, since it was produced to comply with a legislative mandate, implementing quality assurance mechanisms.

The Executive Director believes this report has permanent value for the agency, and wants to keep their sole copy in the agency's reference library. Since I have found no copy in the State Texas State Publications Depository Program, I recommend that the agency make a photocopy and transfer it to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

The Records Consultant of the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission advised the Records Administrator that if this is a reference work maintained in the agency library, it may be removed from the records retention schedule. However, the Archives and Information Services Division has reservations about that, since libraries can be weeded. We suggest that the board keep the report as a single item series on its schedule, and change its retention period to PM (permanent). Once a photocopy is transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division, there is no need to designate it "A" for archival, so the "R" can be removed. The board should add this statement to the Remarks column: "Archival review code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997."

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Policies and Procedures Manuals

Dates: 1987-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: Policies and procedures manuals are in the agency's offices (3 cubic feet). These records are retained by the agency until superseded. Actual holdings are 1987-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: These records are manuals describing the policies and procedures of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and address the board's education, licensure, practice, investigation, and administration functions. The manuals date 1987-[ongoing]. Most manuals explain the actual procedures used to accomplish the agency's various tasks (e.g., how to process an application). There is a separate manual, however, covering routine personnel matters.

Purpose: These records are created to establish guidelines for internal activities of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas.

Arrangement: Chronological

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No policies and procedures manuals have been located prior to 1987.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Policies and Procedures Manuals
Series item number: 1.1.025
Agency item number: A30
Archival code: R
Retention: US

Appraisal Decision: Those policies and procedures manuals which document the substantive office procedures unique to the work of the agency are considered archival. Manuals which are merely employee/personnel manuals, covering routine office policies, are not considered archival. Therefore the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should change the "R" designation to "A" in the archival code column of the agency records retention schedule for this series. Manuals which are superseded should be transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the State Library and Archives Commission, both now and in the future.
Those manuals which are routine employee/personnel manuals should be placed in a separate series, perhaps titled "Personnel manuals," and given no archival code.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: NCLEX Exam Statistics

Dates: 1924-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional (one file folder)

Agency holdings: NCLEX [National Council of Licensure by Examination] exam statistics are in the agency's offices (12 cubic feet). These records are retained by the agency for ten years after the purpose has been served. However, the agency's actual holdings are 1924-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: These records consist of three types of statistical reports published by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing: summary statistics; RN results by school; and RN results by test date/quarter. They date 1924-[ongoing].

Purpose: National Council of Licensure by Examination exam statistics are created to document statistical information regarding applicants for initial licensure by exam, and to provide information demonstrating adherence with Rule 215.5. This rule requires that at least 75% of the first-time candidates in a given nursing program must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (22 Texas Administrative Code, Section 215.5).

Arrangement: Chronological by year, and then alphabetical by name of program/school within each report.

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No NCLEX exam statistics were produced prior to 1924.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: These statistics were summarized in the annual reports (A36) when that series was active, 1972-1984 and 1990-1994.

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: NCLEX Exam Statistics
Series item number: --
Agency item number: E20
Archival code: R
Retention: PS + 10

Appraisal Decision: These reports are not created by or for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, but are published by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. For both of these reasons, they are not truly archival. The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should remove the "R" designation in the archival code column of the agency records retention schedule for this series, and add the following statement to the Remarks column: "Archival review code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997.".

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Nursing Education Statistics

Dates: 1973-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional (one file folder)

Agency holdings: Nursing education statistics are in the agency's offices (0.12 cubic foot). These records are retained by the agency for ten years after their purpose has been served. However, the agency's actual holdings are 1973-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: This series consists of summaries of student enrollment, graduation, and faculty for accredited nursing programs in Texas. They date 1973-[ongoing]. These statistics are generated from nursing school annual reports (record series E38).

Purpose: Nursing education statistics are created to communicate data on nursing education to schools of nursing, governmental bodies, and the general public.

Arrangement: Chronological by year; then alphabetical by type of school.

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? Although nursing school annual reports began in 1924, no nursing education statistics have been found prior to 1973.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: Usually summarized in annual reports (A36) when that series was active, 1972-1984 and 1990-1994.

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Nursing Education Statistics
Series item number: --
Agency item number: E43
Archival code: R
Retention: PS + 10

Appraisal Decision: Since the accreditation of nursing education programs in Texas is one of the core functions of the Board of Nurse Examiners, nursing education statistics are of interest in reflecting some of the components of that function (i.e., numbers of students, graduates, and faculty). These summaries were further summarized in the board's annual report when that series was active, but there is a significant gap in annual reports (1980s). Nursing education statistics should be considered archival.

Therefore the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should change the "R" designation to "A" in the archival code column of the agency records retention schedule for this series. The board should now transfer to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission those files which have met the retention period, and continue to do so in the future, perhaps on an annual basis.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: School Annual Reports

Dates: 1924-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: 3.5 cubic feet

Agency holdings: Annual School Reports are retained by the agency for six years, and then microfilmed by the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission; hard copy is then destroyed and the microfiche retained permanently. (A use copy of the microfiche is maintained at the agency's offices, but there is no master copy stored offsite at the State Records Center.) The agency's actual holdings of hardcopy are 1991-[ongoing] (17 cubic feet). The agency's actual holdings of microfiche are 1924-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: These records consist of reports of accredited nursing programs in Texas to the Board of Nurse Examiners, dating 1924-[ongoing]. Each report covers the various components of Board of Nurse Examiners standards: new programs, accreditation, pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, program administration and organization, faculty qualifications, faculty policies, faculty organization, faculty development and evaluation, curriculum, curriculum changes, extended campuses/extension sites, students, educational resources and facilities, records and reports, and total program evaluation.

Related series: Between 1923 and 1928, the full monthly reports of the Educational Secretary are appended to board meeting minutes (A14), including details of schools visited (with reports of inspections and recommendations).

Purpose: School annual reports are created to document adherence to Board of Nurse Examiners standards.

Arrangement: Chronological by year, and alphabetical by school within each year.

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? None; the first annual reports were produced in 1924, after the board assumed the function of regulating nursing education in 1923.

Problems: No master copy of the microfiche is stored off-site at the State Records Center of the Library and Archives Commission. It is uncertain whether the copies held by the Board of Nurse Examiners are of archival quality.

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: Summarized in education statistics, 1973-[ongoing] (E43), and in annual reports (A36) when that series was active, 1972-1984 and 1990-1994.

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: School Annual Reports
Series item number: --
Agency item number: E38
Archival code: R
Retention: PM + 6 [sic]

Appraisal Decision: One of the core functions of the Board of Nurse Examiners is the accreditation of programs of nursing education, and a key part of the process is the submission of annual reports by schools offering such programs. Board meeting minutes contain actions taken on the annual reports of nursing schools, but these actions are usually phrased in general terms, e.g. "Tyler Junior College, ADN: Members of the board reviewed the annual report and the report of the survey visit to the associate degree nursing program. The board voted to continue full accreditation of the nursing program with commendations, recommendations and requirements to be met." Earlier minutes give additional details, especially 1923-1928; nevertheless, the full details of each school's nursing program are found in this series, School Annual Reports. The summaries found in education statistics (E43), and in annual reports (A36) are much too summary, and include no data prior to 1972. There is no guarantee that each school will keep archival copies of all their reports. For all these reasons, the series should be considered archival.

Microfilming of this series has been done by the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission, and according to the division's records, both roll microfilm and microfiche were produced, but the Board of Nurse Examiners received both copies (presumably at the board's request). At any rate, no master copy is stored off-site at the State Records Center.

The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should change the "R" designation to "A" in the archival code column of the agency records retention schedule for this series.

For existing microfiche (1924-1990), if the board can locate the master negatives, they should make arrangements with the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission for proper storage of those masters offsite at the State Records Center. The board should also request the State and Local Records Management Division to make one additional copy for transfer to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission. In the future, if the board continues to have this series microfilmed, they should request the State and Local Records Management Division to make two copies (a use copy for the board, and another copy for transfer to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission), and then store the masters offsite at the State Records Center. This is the only way to guarantee that American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for archival quality are met. (See 13 Texas Administrative Code, Sections 6.8(b)(1), 6.23(d), and 6.26.)

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Correspondence, Nursing Schools

Dates: 1924-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: 3.5 cubic feet

Agency holdings: Nursing schools correspondence is retained by the agency for six years, and then microfilmed by the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission; hard copy is then destroyed and the microfiche retained permanently. (A use copy of the microfiche is maintained at the agency's offices, but there is no master copy stored offsite at the State Records Center.) The agency's actual holdings of hardcopy are 1991-[ongoing] (17 cubic feet). The agency's actual holdings of microfiche are 1924-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: This series consists of correspondence, including both incoming and outgoing letters, between the Board of Nurse Examiners and nursing programs/schools in Texas regarding accreditation status. They date 1924-[ongoing]. An example of typical correspondence would be when the board required certain changes for accreditation, and the school in question replied explaining what changes were made, or why certain changes were not made.

Purpose: Nursing schools correspondence is created to document communication with nursing programs.

Arrangement: Chronological by year; alphabetical by school within each year.

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? Although the board assumed the function of regulating nursing education in 1923, no nursing school correspondence has been found prior to 1924.

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Nursing Schools Correspondence
Series item number: --
Agency item number: E39
Archival code: R
Retention: PM + 6 [sic]

Appraisal Decision: One of the core functions of the Board of Nurse Examiners is the accreditation of programs of nursing education, and a key part of the process is the correspondence between the board and schools offering such programs. Board meeting minutes contain actions taken on the accreditation of nursing schools, but these actions are usually phrased in general terms, e.g. "Tyler Junior College, ADN: Members of the board reviewed the annual report and the report of the survey visit to the associate degree nursing program. The board voted to continue full accreditation of the nursing program with commendations, recommendations and requirements to be met." Exactly what those "recommendations and requirements" were can only be answered by consulting this series, Nursing Schools Correspondence. There is no guarantee that each school will keep archival copies of this correspondence. For all of these reasons, the series should be considered archival.

The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should change the "R" designation to "A" in the archival code column of the agency records retention schedule for this series.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Proposals -- New Programs, Extended Campus, Curriculum Changes

Dates: 1924-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: 2 cubic feet

Agency holdings: This series (proposals for new programs, extended campus, and curriculum changes) is retained by the agency for six years, and then microfilmed by the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission; hard copy is then destroyed and the microfiche retained permanently. (A use copy of the microfiche is maintained at the agency's offices, but there is no master copy stored offsite at the State Records Center.) The agency's actual holdings of hardcopy are 1991-[ongoing] (14 cubic feet). The agency's actual holdings of microfiche are 1924-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: This series consists of proposals submitted to the Board of Nurse Examiners for new programs, extended campuses, and curriculum changes. The proposals date 1924-[ongoing].

Purpose: Proposals for new programs, extended campus, and curriculum changes are created to enable the Board of Nurse Examiners to make accreditation determinations.

Arrangement: Alphabetical by name of school.

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? Although the board assumed the function of regulating nursing education in 1923, no proposals for changes, etc., have been found prior to 1924.

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Proposals -- New Programs, Extended Campus, Curriculum Changes
Series item number: --
Agency item number: E41
Archival code: R
Retention: PM + 6 [sic]

Appraisal Decision: One of the core functions of the Board of Nurse Examiners is the accreditation of programs of nursing education, and a key part of the process is the submission of proposals for new programs, extended campuses, and curriculum changes by schools offering such programs. Board meeting minutes contain actions taken on such proposals, but these actions are usually phrased in general terms, e.g. "Members of the board considered the request of North Harris/Montgomery County Community College ADN program to close the extended campus in Huntsville. The board voted to approve the plan as submitted." The full details of each school's requests are found in this series, Proposals -- New Programs, Extended Campus, Curriculum Changes. There is no guarantee that each school will keep archival copies of all their proposals. For all these reasons, the series should be considered archival.

The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should change the "R" designation to "A" in the archival code column of the agency records retention schedule for this series.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Schools of Nursing (list)

Dates: 1955-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional (8-10 pages)

Agency holdings: Lists of schools of nursing are in the agency's offices (0.12 cubic foot). These records are retained by the agency permanently, both on microfiche and in paper copy. Microfilming of this series has been done by the State and Local Records Management Division of the Library and Archives Commission. The agency's actual holdings are 1955-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: This series consists of annual lists of accredited nursing programs in Texas. These lists date 1955-[ongoing]. The lists are kept both on paper and on microfiche.

Purpose: Lists of schools of nursing are created to provide an updated listing of accredited programs of nursing education in Texas, and are consulted by nursing schools, governmental bodies, and the general public.

Arrangement: Chronological by year, then alphabetical by city/town; nursing programs are further alphabetized within each city/town.

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? 1923-1955 and 1986-1987

Known related records in other agencies: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, records on programs of nursing education

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: Nursing Programs in Texas: A Fact Book (published by the Board of Nurse Examiners in September 1992, containing directories of nursing education programs in Texas. The Texas State Publications Depository Program, Library and Archives Commission holds a copy of this publication.)

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Schools of Nursing (list)
Series item number: --
Agency item number: E37b
Archival code: A
Retention: PM

Appraisal Decision: Because of the board's mandate to accredit nursing education programs in Texas, this list of schools of nursing is the authoritative one and should be considered archival. The list is mentioned, but not reproduced, in the board's meeting minutes. It is reproduced in some of the board's annual reports of the 1970s, but there are no annual reports for 1955-1971. The list is reflected in nursing education statistics (series E43), but that series does not exist for the years 1955-1972. For all these reasons, the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should continue to use "A" as the archival code for this series on the agency's records retention schedule.

The board should transfer the paper copies of this series to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission at its earliest convenience, followed by annual updates. If for some reason the board wants to permanently maintain the paper copy in its offices (in addition to the microfiche), then photocopies of the original lists are acceptable for transfer to the Archives and Information Services Division.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Permit Log

Dates: 1994-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: Permit logs are in the agency's offices (fractional). These records are retained by the agency for two years after purpose has been served. The agency's actual holdings are 1994-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: This series is a name listing of candidates who are issued Graduate Nurse (GN) permits, which are temporary permits (valid 90 days from date of eligibility, or until NCLEX-RN results are received, for U.S. and Canadian candidates; valid 60 days for foreign candidates). Information on the list includes name, permit number, school, and issuance date. The log dates 1994-[ongoing]. The current number is 8,000 names, divided among 81 schools.

Purpose: The permit log is created to provide a record of candidates and permit numbers for Graduate Nurse (GN) permits.

The issuance of temporary permits to graduate nurses was first authorized in 1923. (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4523)

Arrangement: Alphabetical by school name, and therein alphabetical by candidate's name.

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No permit logs have been found prior to 1994, although the issuance of temporary graduate nurse (GN) permits began in 1923.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Permit Log
Series item number: --
Agency item number: E8
Archival code: A
Retention: PS + 2

Appraisal Decision: Graduate Nurse permits are valid for only 60 to 90 days; the Archives and Information Services Division can see no archival value in a mere name and number listing for these temporary permits. The Board of Nurse Examiners should therefore remove the archival designation of "A" from their records retention schedule for this series, and add the following statement to the Remarks column: "Archival code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997."

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Master Complaint Log

Dates: 1989-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: The master complaint log is in the agency's offices (0.2 cubic foot). These records are retained by the agency for four years after the end of the fiscal year. The agency's actual holdings are 1989-[ongoing].

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

Description: This series consists of a log of complaints which have been received in writing by the Board of Nurse Examiners of the State of Texas, against individual nurses registered by the board, alleging specific violations of the Nursing Practices Act. The log covers the dates 1989-[ongoing]. The following information is given on the log: a file number given to the complaint, the name of the person filing the complaint, the name of the registered nurse against whom the complaint is filed, and the date of the filing.

Purpose: The master complaint log was created, and is maintained, to track each written complaint against nurses who are registered by the Board of Nurse Examiners of the State of Texas. Thus it serves as one point of access to both the automated complaint file (I2), and the investigations/ disciplinary files (I7). (All three of these series are confidential under Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4525(g).) No oral or telephone complaints are logged, and no written complaints are logged if they do not pertain to a person regulated by the Board of Nurse Examiners, or to an alleged violation falling under the jurisdiction of the board.

Arrangement: Numerical by complaint number, which is also chronological.

Access Constraints: Confidentiality: "A complaint and investigation concerning a registered nurse under this article and all information and materials compiled by the board in connection with a complaint and investigation are confidential and not subject to disclosure...," with five stated exceptions. (Nursing Practice Act: Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4525(g)). The next section (h) of this law specifies that upon the filing of formal charges against a registered nurse by the board, the records so created are not confidential.

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? The master complaint log was not maintained by the board prior to 1989.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Master Complaint Log
Series item number: --
Agency item number: I12
Archival code: R
Retention: FY + 4

Appraisal Decision: The master complaint log is merely one means of tracking the filing of a written complaint, and by itself reveals nothing about the nature of the complaint, or the outcome of the investigation. And in any case, all complaint records (including this series) are confidential, subject to certain exceptions. Registered nurses who have been formally charged with violations of the Nursing Practice Act are mentioned by name in the board meeting minutes, along with sufficient summary information concerning the charge and the board's action. (For example, "[Name and license number of RN], license placed under stipulations for a minimum period of three years or to run concurrent with the order issued by the Alabama Board of Nursing. The stipulations regard employment, therapy, random screens for controlled substances and alcohol and support group attendance." Or, for another example, "The board voted unanimously to revoke license number [ ] heretofore issued to Mr. [ ] for violation of Article 4525(a)(8) and (9), Revised Civil Statutes of Texas." To reiterate, complaint files are confidential, and formal actions (board orders) are open records and are included in the minutes, which is an archival series. For all of these reasons, the master complaint log is not archival.

Therefore the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should remove the "R" designation in the archival code column of the agency records retention schedule for this series, and add the following statement to the Remarks column: "Archival review code removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, February 12, 1997.".

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Organization Charts

Dates: 1982-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: The agency's organization chart is maintained on-line, accessible by the agency's word processing software, and is updated as necessary. There is no file of loose charts.

Organization charts are also found in Biennial Budget Requests for FY 1984-1993, in the Annual Report for 1994, and in the Strategic Plan for 1994. The agency retains a copy of its biennial budget request in its offices for six years after the passage of the Appropriations Act, and copies of its annual reports and strategic plans permanently (fractional). Organization charts are retained by the agency until superseded. Actual holdings are 1982-[ongoing], published in the Biennial Budget Requests for Fiscal Years 1984-1993, and in the Annual Report as well as the Strategic Plan for 1994.

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

The archival requirement for this series has previously been fulfilled by sending two copies of the requests for legislative appropriations to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Library and Archives Commission (13 Texas Administrative Code, Section 3.3(3)). The State Publications Depository Program holds those copies containing organizational charts, dating 1982-1990 (for FY 1984-1993). More recently, the archival requirement for this series has been fulfilled by sending 55 copies of the strategic plan to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Library and Archives Commission (13 Texas Administrative Code, Section 3.3(1)(A)). The State Publications Depository Program holds those copies containing organizational charts, dating 1994.

Description: These records consist of charts showing the organizational structure of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, dating 1982-[ongoing], included in the published requests for legislative appropriations for FY 1984-1993, in the annual report for 1994, and in the strategic plan of 1994.

Purpose: The purpose of organization charts is to indicate agency staff organization in a graphic format.

Arrangement: Chronological

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Gaps? Organizational charts were not published prior to the FY 1984 Biennial Budget Request.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Organizational Charts
Series item number: 1.1.023
Agency item number: A35
Archival code: A
Retention: US

Appraisal Decision: Organization charts assist in understanding the basic structure of an agency. The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should continue to use "A" as the archival code for this series on the agency's records retention schedule. The archival requirement is fulfilled by sending copies of the strategic plans to the Texas State Publications Depository Program of the Library and Archives Commission, so long as those charts are published in them. The Remarks column in agency's records retention schedule should state: "Included in Strategic Plan. The archival requirement will be met by sending required copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Texas State Library and Archives Commission."

Alternately, the agency may choose to simply print off each organization chart prior to updating it, and transfer that loose organization chart (now superseded) to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Reports -- Annual and Biennial (Non-Fiscal)

Dates: 1972-1994

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: narrative portions of Biennial Budget Requests (1.1.004, A-15)
Ongoing record series? No

Agency holdings: Annual reports are in the agency's offices (0.5 cubic foot). These records are retained by the agency permanently. Actual holdings are 1984 and 1990-1994. None have been produced since 1994.

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

The archival requirement for this series has been fulfilled by sending 55 copies of each annual report to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Library and Archives Commission (13 Texas Administrative Code, Section 3.3(1)(A)). The State Publications Depository Program holds 1972-1983 and 1990-1994, but is missing reports for the following years: 1909-1971 and 1984-1989.

Note: Annual financial reports (S28) do contain some minimal narrative; the State Publications Depository Program holds annual financial reports for fiscal years 1985, 1987-1990, 1992-1993, and 1995.

Description: This series consists of published narrative reports describing the activities of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas during the preceding year, including workload statistics. The reports date from 1972-1984 and 1990-1994. Typical contents of an annual report of the 1970s and 1980s include: mission and philosophy statements, lists of board members and staff, a financial statement, lists of accredited schools, and fairly detailed statistics regarding each of the board's missions (educational programs, examinations, foreign graduates, licensing for nurses registered in Texas, verifications and endorsements, disciplinary actions, etc.). In addition to the mission/philosophy statements and lists of members and staff, annual reports of the early 1990s tended to include lists of membership of the advisory committees, messages from the President of the board and also the Executive Director, an organization chart (in 1994), a list of agency goals, detailed strategic plan measurements, and graphs demonstrating nursing demographics.

Related series: Annual financial reports (S28), which are required by law, do contain some minimal narrative. The State Publications Depository Program holds annual financial reports for fiscal years 1985, 1987-1990, 1992-1993, and 1995. The 1995 report contains a statistical summary of the following: licenses renewed, issued, sanctioned, and revoked; school programs accredited; complaints received and resolved; investigations conducted; and informal and formal hearings held.

Purpose: Annual reports are created to provide summary information on the activities of the board to all interested parties.

Arrangement: Chronological

Access constraints: None

Use constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No annual reports have been located before 1972. The last annual report published was in 1994. Gaps at the agency: 1972-1983 and 1985-1989. Gaps in the Texas State Publications Depository Program: 1984-1989.

Note: The State Publications Depository Program holds annual financial reports (which contain some minimal narrative) for fiscal years 1985, 1987-1990, 1992-1993, and 1995. These help fill some of the gaps noted above.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Reports -- Annual and Biennial (Non-Fiscal)
Series item number: 1.1.032
Agency item number: A36
Archival code: --
Retention: PM

Appraisal Decision: Annual reports provide an excellent source of summary information about an agency's activities over time. However, this series is now obsolete (last produced in 1994). If the Board of Nurse Examiners decides to keep their existing copies of these reports permanently (and therefore to keep the series on their records retention schedule), there is no need to change the archival code. The Remarks column should read "Currently an obsolete series. The archival requirement has been fulfilled by sending copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission."

Should the publication of this series ever be resumed in the future, the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should place an "A" designation in the Archival Code column, and adjust the Remarks column to say "The archival requirement is met by sending copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission." The State Records Retention Schedule will be revised to carry an Archival Code of "A" for this series.

The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas should transfer a copy of the 1984 annual report to the State Publications Depository Program, by way of the Archives and Information Services Division. In addition, if the board ever locates duplicate copies of any of the other annual reports which are missing from the State Publications Depository Program (1909-1971 and 1985-1989), they should transfer these to the State Publications Depository Program, by way of the Archives and Information Services Division.

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Record Series Review
Series Title: Strategic Plans

Dates: 1992-[ongoing]

Agency: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Obsolete record series? No
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional

Agency holdings: Strategic plans are in the agency's offices (fractional). These records are retained by the agency permanently. The agency's actual holdings are 1992-[ongoing] (for the period 1992-1998, 1995-1999, and 1997-2001).

Archival holdings: None at the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission.

The archival requirement for this series is fulfilled by sending 55 copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Library and Archives Commission (13 Texas Administrative Code, Section 3.3(1)(C)). The State Publications Depository Program holds all three plans: 1992 (for 1992-1998), 1994 (for 1995-1999), and 1996 (for 1997-2001).

Description: Strategic plans are long-range planning tools prepared by the agency in which the goals and objectives of the agency are presented along with performance measures for each. The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas prepared its first plan in 1992 for the time frame of 1992-1998, its second plan in 1994 for the time frame of 1995-1999, and its third plan in 1996 for the time frame of 1997-2001. Plans contain a mission statement, a statement of philosophy, an external/internal assessment of the agency, and the goals of the agency. Each goal contains objectives, outcome measures, strategies, output measures, efficiency measures, and explanatory measures for measuring and achieving that goal. Also present in most agency strategic plans is an organizational chart of the agency.

Purpose: Strategic plans are created as long-range planning tools prepared by the agency, setting forth goals and objectives of the agency over a multi-year period.

Agency Program: Strategic plans are prepared in accordance with V.T.C.A., Government Code, Sections 2054.095 and 2056.002. The board is charged with the regulation of the practice of professional nursing and (since 1923) nursing education. The board prescribes the minimum requirements and standards for preparatory study programs for nurse practitioners, accredits schools of nursing and education programs that meet its requirements, and establishes rules for professional conduct. The board may recognize, prepare, or implement continuing education programs, and require participation in these programs as a condition of license renewal. The board issues licenses by examination, and also by endorsement from licensing authorities in other states. It disciplines registered nurses who violate the Nursing Practice Act. From 1909 to 1923, and from 1967 to the present, the board could revoke licenses. Beginning in 1967, the board was granted a broad range of disciplinary powers, including refusal to admit persons to its examinations, refusal to issue a license or certificate of registration or re-registration, refusal to issue temporary permits, issuance of warnings or reprimands, temporary suspension of licenses, and revocation of licenses. (Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 4513 thru 4528)

Arrangement: Chronological

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Indexes or finding aids required for, or an aid to access? None

Gaps? No strategic plans were produced prior to 1992.

Problems: None

Known related records in other agencies: None

Previous destructions: Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and none were found for this series or for equivalent or related series.

Publications based on records: None

Suggested series from state Records Retention Schedule:
Title: Strategic Plans
Series item number: 1.1.055
Agency item number: to be assigned
Archival code: A
Retention: PM

Appraisal Decision: Strategic plans document the long-range planning activities of the agency and are considered archival. Strategic plans are not currently on the retention schedule of the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas. Therefore the board should add strategic plans as a new series to their schedule, with an Archival Code of "A." The Remarks column should read "The archival requirement will be met by sending required copies to the Texas State Publications Depository Program, Texas State Library and Archives Commission."
The State Records Retention Schedule will be revised to carry an Archival Code of "A" for this series.

Records Appraisal Report: Board of Nurse Examiners

Contents of this report Agency Contact | Agency History | Project Review | Record Series Reviews

Archival finding aid Texas Board of Nurse Examiners: An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1909-2001

Agency Contact:

Agency History and Structure:

Project Review:

Archives Holdings:

Previous Destructions:

Project Outcome:

Record Series Reviews

Records Appraisal Report:
Board of Nurse Examiners

Contents of this report
Agency Contact | Agency History | Project Review | Record Series Reviews

Archival finding aid
Texas Board of Nurse Examiners: An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1909-2001