Section 2749.15  Definitions

"Accepted for admission" means a student has completed the requirements for entry into an associate degree in nursing program, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program, baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program at an approved institution, as documented by the institution.  (Section 3(10) of the Law)

"Advanced practice registered nurse" or "APRN" means a person who has met the qualifications for a certified nurse midwife (CNM), certified nurse practitioner (CNP); certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA); or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and has been licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.  (Section 50-10 of the Nurse Practice Act [225 ILCS 65])

"Approved institution" means a public community college, private junior college, hospital-based diploma in nursing program, or public or private college or university, or online institution, with a pre-licensure nursing education program that is physically located in this State that has approval by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing program, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program, baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in nursing program, or certificate in a practical nursing program or a post-licensure nursing education program approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education or any successor agency with similar authority.  (Section 3(3) of the Law)

"Associate degree in nursing program" or "hospital-based diploma in nursing program" means a program offered by an approved institution and leading to an associate degree in nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing, or hospital-based diploma in nursing.  (Section 3(7) of the Law)

"Baccalaureate degree in nursing program" means a program offered by an approved institution and leading to a bachelor of science degree in nursing.  (Section 3(4) of the Law)

"Continuous attendance" means enrollment in an approved institution's nursing program (as a full-time or part-time student), for an entire academic year and for the total duration of time it takes the student to complete the nursing degree or certificate up to the maximum number of years the recipient is eligible to receive the scholarship.  Continuous attendance need not be maintained for the summer term.  Continuous attendance shall be deemed to have been broken if the student goes more than one semester, quarter or trimester without successfully completing a nursing-related course.

"Deferment" means the temporary postponement, for a limited amount of time, of a recipient's repayment obligation after the repayment period begins.  Approved reasons for deferment are limited to specific circumstances.

"Direct patient care" means care of a patient provided by an advanced practice registered nurse, a registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse.  Direct patient care may involve any aspect of the health care of a patient, including treatment, counseling, in-service for self-care, education, and administration of medication.

"Educational loan" means any loan guaranteed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission under the Higher Education Student Assistance Law, any education loan made by an institution of higher education from the proceeds of a loan to the institution by the Illinois Finance Authority under the Higher Education Loan Act, or any other loan from public funds made for the purpose of financing an individual's attendance at an institution of higher education. (Section 1(a) of the Educational Loan Default Act [5 ILCS 385])

"Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance of an individual's status as a nursing student in an approved institution, regardless of the terms used at the institution to describe such status.  (Section 3(5) of the Law)

"Extension" means extending, for a limited amount of time, the period of time within which the employment obligation must be fulfilled.  Approved reasons for an extension are limited to specific circumstances.

"Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition to tuition, that all students enrolled in a nursing program must pay, including required course or lab fees.  (Section 3(11) of the Law)

"Full-time nursing employment" means providing direct patient care of at least 24 hours per week for those persons working weekend shifts, or 35 hours or more per week for those working weekday shifts.

"Full-time nursing student" means a student who is enrolled in a nursing program for at least 12 credit hours per term or as otherwise determined as full-time by the academic institution. (Section 3(12) of the Law) 

"Graduate degree in nursing program" means a program offered by an approved institution and leading to a master of science degree in nursing or a doctorate of philosophy in nursing, doctorate of nursing, doctorate of nursing practice, doctorate of nursing science, doctorate of nursing education, or doctorate of nurse anesthesia practice.  (Section 3(8) of the Law)

"Health care facility" means a facility in Illinois where a scholarship recipient fulfills the recipient's nursing employment obligation and includes, but is not limited to, a health care professional's office, hospital or local health department.

"Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board" shall have the meaning ascribed in the Nurse Practice Act.  (Section 75-15 of the Nurse Practice Act) 

"Illinois resident" means a person who has been a resident of Illinois for at least one year prior to applying for a scholarship and is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States. (Section 5(1) of the Law)

"Law" means the Nursing Education Scholarship Law [110 ILCS 975].  (Section 3(13) of the Law)

"Lawful permanent resident " has the same meaning as "eligible noncitizen" as defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2700.20.

"Licensed practical nurse" means a person who is currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice Act.  (Section 3(18) of the Law)

"Living expenses" means room and board, miscellaneous fees, books, transportation and commuting costs.  This amount is adjusted annually based upon the uniform living allowance reported in the weighted Monetary Award Program (MAP) from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. (Section 7 of the Law)

"Mean-Weighted Average Tuition and Fees" means the tuition and mandatory fees used for the Illinois public universities and community colleges by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for purposes of Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants.

"Nurse educator" means a person who is currently licensed as a registered nurse by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice Act, who has a graduate degree in nursing, and who is employed by an approved academic institution to educate registered nursing students, licensed practical nursing students, and registered nurses pursuing graduate degrees. (Section 3(23) of the Law)

"Nurse educator employment" means employment by an approved academic institution in Illinois to educate nursing students.

"Nurse educator employment obligation" means employment in this State as a nurse educator for at least two years for each year of scholarship assistance received under Section 6.5 of the Law.  (Section 3(24) of the Law)

"Nursing employment obligation" means employment in this State as a registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, or advanced practice nurse in direct patient care for at least one year for each year of scholarship assistance received through the Nursing Education Scholarship Program.  (Section 3(14) of the Law) 

"Part-time nursing employment" means providing direct patient care for between 17.5 hours and 34 hours per week.

"Part-time student" means a person who is enrolled for at least one-third of the number of hours required per term by a school for its full-time students.  (Section 3(15) of the Law)

"Practical Nursing Program" means a program offered by an approved institution and leading to a certificate in practical nursing.  (Section 3(16) of the Law)

"Prerequisite course" means a course requirement (determined by the approved institution) that a student must meet to demonstrate readiness for enrollment in nursing education.

"Registered professional nurse" means a person who is currently licensed as a registered professional nurse by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice Act. (Section 3(17) of the Law)

"Student in good standing" means a student enrolled in a nursing program is maintaining a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at least an academic grade of "C". (Section 3(20) of the Law)

"Summer term" means a term within an academic year that marks the beginning and end of classes.  The term is approximately four to nine weeks in duration and is typically offered during June, July and August of an academic year.

"Total and permanent disability" means a physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss of a permanent nature that prevents nursing employment with or without reasonable accommodation.  Proof of disability shall be a declaration from the social security administration, Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, Department of Defense, or an insurer authorized to transact business in Illinois who is providing disability insurance coverage to a contractor. (Section 3(21) of the Law) 

(Source:  Section 2749.15 renumbered from 2749.10 and amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 12574, effective August 1, 2024)