As used in sections 335.245 to 335.259*, the following terms mean:

(1) “Department”, the Missouri department of health and senior services;

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 335.245

  • Accredited: the official authorization or status granted by an agency for a program through a voluntary process. See Missouri Laws 335.016
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Licensure: the issuing of a license to practice professional or practical nursing to candidates who have met the specified requirements and the recording of the names of those persons as holders of a license to practice professional or practical nursing. See Missouri Laws 335.016
  • practical nurse: a person licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to engage in the practice of practical nursing. See Missouri Laws 335.016
  • State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • state board: the state board of nursing. See Missouri Laws 335.016

(2) “Eligible applicant”, a Missouri licensed nurse who has attained either an associate degree, a diploma, a bachelor of science, or graduate degree in nursing from an accredited institution approved by the board of nursing or a student nurse in the final year of a full-time baccalaureate school of nursing leading to a baccalaureate degree or graduate nursing program leading to a master’s degree in nursing and has agreed to serve in an area of defined need as established by the department;

(3) “Participating school”, an institution within this state which grants an associate degree in nursing, grants a bachelor or master of science degree in nursing or provides a diploma nursing program which is accredited by the state board of nursing, or a regionally accredited institution in this state which provides a bachelor of science completion program for registered professional nurses;

(4) “Qualified employment”, employment on a full-time basis in Missouri in a position requiring licensure as a licensed practical nurse or registered professional nurse in any hospital as defined in section 197.020 or public or nonprofit agency, institution, or organization located in an area of need as determined by the department of health and senior services. Any forgiveness of such principal and interest for any qualified applicant engaged in qualified employment on a less than full-time basis may be prorated to reflect the amounts provided in this section.