(a) Purpose. The purpose of the board is to protect and promote the welfare of the people of Texas. This purpose supersedes the interest of any individual, the nursing profession, or any special interest group. The board fulfills its mission through two principle areas of responsibility:      
        (1) regulation of the practice of professional and vocational nursing, and       
        (2) accreditation of schools of nursing.       
      (b) Functions. The board shall perform the following functions as outlined in Texas Occupations Code chapters 301, 303, and 304.      
        (1) Establish standards of nursing practice and regulate the practice of professional and vocational nursing.       
        (2) Interpret the Nursing Practice Act and the Rules and Regulations Relating to Nurse Education, Licensure and Practice to nurses, employers, and the public to ensure informed professionals, allied health professionals, and consumers.       
        (3) Receive complaints and investigate possible violations of the Nursing Practice Act and rules and regulations.       
        (4) Discipline violators through appropriate legal action to enforce the Nursing Practice Act and rules and regulations.       
        (5) Provide a mechanism for public comment with regard to the rules and regulations and the Nursing Practice Act and review and modify the rules and regulations when necessary and appropriate.       
        (6) Examine and license qualified applicants to practice professional and vocational nursing and recognize qualified applicants to practice advanced practice nursing in the state of Texas in a manner that ensures that applicable standards are maintained and that practitioners are minimally competent.       
        (7) Grant licensure by endorsement to vocational and registered nurses and grant recognition of advanced practice nurses from other states to ensure standards are maintained and applicable practices are consistent.       
        (8) Recommend to legislature appropriate changes in the Nursing Practice Act to ensure that the act is current and applicable to changing needs and practices.       
        (9) Establish standards for nursing education and accredit or deny accreditation to schools of nursing and educational programs which fail to meet or maintain the prescribed course of study or other applicable standards to ensure that high levels of education are achieved.       
        (10) Monitor the examination results of licensure applicants to determine variances in the level of educational effectiveness.       
        (11) Provide consultation and guidance to nurse education institutions to facilitate self-study, evaluation, and the development of effective nurse education programs.       
        (12) Provide advice and counsel to the faculty of educational programs, to staff of health agencies utilizing nursing services, and to practitioners of nursing to continually improve professional service delivery.       
        (13) Implement and manage all other programs and responsibilities as authorized and mandated from time to time by the Texas Legislature.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §211.2 adopted to be effective March 31, 2002, 27 TexReg 2236; amended to be effective May 17, 2004, 29 TexReg 4884