These records consist of copies of minutes and attachments, which include narrative reports, monthly financial statements, position statements, cumulative statistical reports, comparative surveys, and significant correspondence. They comprise the meeting minutes of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners, dating 1909-2001, including regular meetings, annual and semi-annual meetings, special meetings, planning sessions, retreats, 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 the following: 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, 1989-1996, 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.

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

These records consist of a manual, with periodic updates, describing the policies and procedures of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners, addressing the board's education, licensure, practice, investigation, and administration functions. The manual, as updated, dates 1995-1999. The manual explains in detail the actual procedures used to accomplish the agency's various tasks (e.g., how to process an application). The topics in the manual include the following: Advanced Practice Nurse, data processing, education, endorsement, initial licensure, financial affairs, general policies, compliance/disciplinary matters, licenses, mail, name and address changes, office equipment and supplies, permits, board statements, publications, verification, microfilming/printing, and interpretive statements. Each policy contains a general statement of policy, followed by an explanation of procedure, itemizing responsible staff and actions.

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

This series consists of annual lists of professional schools of nursing (referred to as professional nursing programs, beginning in 1986) accredited by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners. These lists date 1970-2000. The various types of programs are grouped separately in each list: diploma programs, associate degree programs, baccalaureate degree programs, and (beginning in 1988) master's degree programs. Beginning in 1978, lists of specialty programs accredited by the Board are also included (e.g., Advanced Nurse Practitioner programs, baccalaureate degree programs for Registered Nurses). Information given includes the name of the program/school, including extension sites and extended campuses (now called Distance Education Initiatives); address; telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address; and name of director. Also indicated by codes is the state accreditation status: full accreditation, initial accreditation, conditional accreditation, and warning status. Other codes indicate the following (the number and variety increasing practically each year): National League for Nursing (NLNAC) accreditation, Multiple entry/exit curriculum, Separate track for RNs approved by the Board, American Nurses' Association accreditation, LVN leveling course, MSN program, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive Health, RN-BSN track, Re-education program, LVN transition/bridging course for advanced placement, Tech prep program, Post basic MSN program, LVN to ADN only, LVN-RN track, RN-BSN bridging course for advanced placement.

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.

This series consists of one single final research 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. Main sections of the 172-page report include background to the evaluation, methods, results, and recommendations. Half of the report consists of eight appendices.

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).