2. 1 Ohio Law and Nursing Licensure: Frequently asked questions EDTC 560 Applications of Multimedia & Web Design Patrick Sanger October 16, 2006 Kathleen McCarthy

3. 2 Goal At conclusion of this presentation, a Registered Nurse practicing in the State of Ohio will understand requirements for license renewal as delineated by the Ohio Board of Nursing under the Ohio Nurse Practice Act ORC 4723.24. At conclusion of this presentation, a Registered Nurse practicing in the State of Ohio will understand requirements for license renewal as delineated by the Ohio Board of Nursing under the Ohio Nurse Practice Act ORC 4723.24.

4. 3 Objective Identify continuing education requirements for license renewal for Registered Nurses practicing in the State of Ohio as identified in ORC 4723.4.

5. 4 Overview Ohio Board of Nursing requires 24 hours with 1 hour of continuing education credit related to Ohio Law and Nursing Practice (Category A) as part of the licensure requirement. This program will present information for nurses and identify licensure requirements for the State of Ohio.

6. 5 What is licensure? By definition, licensure is where “an agency of state government grants permission to an individual to engage in a given profession upon finding that the applicant has attained the essential degree of competency necessary to perform a unique scope of practice” (NCSBN, 2006 ¶1).

7. 6 Initial Licensure Nursing students study endless hours to get through college courses and to eventually participate in the NCLEX exam for nursing licensure. Nursing students study endless hours to get through college courses and to eventually participate in the NCLEX exam for nursing licensure. They must also meet the requirements for initial licensure by paying fees, personal background checks, taking a computerized NCLEX exam, to finally arrive at their first day of orientation as a Registered Nurse. Once licensed, nurses must be aware of the laws that regulate their practice and license renewal. They must also meet the requirements for initial licensure by paying fees, personal background checks, taking a computerized NCLEX exam, to finally arrive at their first day of orientation as a Registered Nurse. Once licensed, nurses must be aware of the laws that regulate their practice and license renewal.

8. 7 Why knowledge of the law is important Public safety. Public safety. Nurses practicing in Ohio and other states are regulated by that state’s board of nursing. Nurses practicing in Ohio and other states are regulated by that state’s board of nursing. Nurses must be knowledgeable of the law and practice nursing within their “scope of practice” for that state. Nurses must be knowledgeable of the law and practice nursing within their “scope of practice” for that state. Nurses will be held accountable and must obey these laws while practicing nursing. Nurses will be held accountable and must obey these laws while practicing nursing.

9. 8 Why knowledge of the law is important Nurses may not perform tasks outside of their scope of practice as defined by the State of Ohio. Nurses may not perform tasks outside of their scope of practice as defined by the State of Ohio. Regulations are enforced by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) and OBN determines discipline. Regulations are enforced by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) and OBN determines discipline.

10. 9 Where can laws and rules be found? Laws and rules regulating nursing practice in the State of Ohio may be downloaded or read online at the Ohio Board of Nursing pages located at Nursing Laws and Rules. Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 4723 Nurses and 4723.24 License Renewal. Laws and rules regulating nursing practice in the State of Ohio may be downloaded or read online at the Ohio Board of Nursing pages located at Nursing Laws and Rules. Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 4723 Nurses and 4723.24 License Renewal. Nursing Laws and Rules Nursing Laws and Rules They may also be obtained from: They may also be obtained from: Ohio Board of Nursing Ohio Board of Nursing 17 South High Street, Suite 400 17 South High Street, Suite 400 Columbus, Ohio 43215-3413 Columbus, Ohio 43215-3413 Ph. 614-466-3947 Ph. 614-466-3947

11. 10 How many contact hours are required in a licensure period? “For renewal of a license that was issued for a two-year renewal period, twenty-four hours of continuing education” 1 (ORC4723v2, 2006, p.28 ¶a) is required. “For renewal of a license that was issued for a two-year renewal period, twenty-four hours of continuing education” 1 (ORC4723v2, 2006, p.28 ¶a) is required. “At least one hour of the education must be directly related to the statutes and rules pertaining to the practice of nursing” 1 (ORC4723v2, 2006, p.28 ¶c) in the State of Ohio. “At least one hour of the education must be directly related to the statutes and rules pertaining to the practice of nursing” 1 (ORC4723v2, 2006, p.28 ¶c) in the State of Ohio.

12. 11 Do college credit courses count for hours in re-licensure? Yes. The credit must be from an accredited college to obtain “academic credit” Yes. The credit must be from an accredited college to obtain “academic credit” “Academic credit” is identified in the table to the right (OBN, 2005, p.10-11). “Academic credit” is identified in the table to the right (OBN, 2005, p.10-11). Academic Credit Equal to 1 credit hour Quarter system 10 Contact hours 1 credit hour Semester system 15 Contact hours

13. 12 How do I know if I have met the law requirement for continuing education? Category A is the identifier when searching for continuing education in meeting the Laws and Rules requirement for re-licensure. Category A is the identifier when searching for continuing education in meeting the Laws and Rules requirement for re-licensure. This category is “directly related to the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and the rules of the Board of Nursing” (OBN, 2005, p.3). This category is “directly related to the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and the rules of the Board of Nursing” (OBN, 2005, p.3).

14. 13 How long is my license active? Nurses are licensed when successfully completing the NCLEX exam and meeting other requirements under Ohio law. Nurses are licensed when successfully completing the NCLEX exam and meeting other requirements under Ohio law. Registered Nurses licenses in the State of Ohio are due to be renewed every two- years. Registered Nurses licenses in the State of Ohio are due to be renewed every two- years. Those who are licensed in a non-licensure year will be licensed for that time until the next renewal period. Those who are licensed in a non-licensure year will be licensed for that time until the next renewal period.

15. 14 I am a new graduate do I need continuing education credits? First licensure periods do not require continuing education for new graduates. First licensure periods do not require continuing education for new graduates. The back of your licensure renewal request requires you identify this is your “first renewal period” by placing a check in that box (Ohio Board of Nursing, 2005, p.6). The back of your licensure renewal request requires you identify this is your “first renewal period” by placing a check in that box (Ohio Board of Nursing, 2005, p.6).

16. 15 What if I receive an audit notice? Do not panic, the Ohio Board of Nursing randomly audits Registered Nurses to assure nurses are following licensure requirements. Do not panic, the Ohio Board of Nursing randomly audits Registered Nurses to assure nurses are following licensure requirements. Do gather your certificates of continuing education, make copies of all, and follow the requested steps from the Ohio Board of Nursing. Do gather your certificates of continuing education, make copies of all, and follow the requested steps from the Ohio Board of Nursing.

17. 16 What if I did not receive my renewal notice and my peers have? Has any of your information changed: name (marital status), address, etc? Has any of your information changed: name (marital status), address, etc? Any disciplinary action pending rom the board? Any disciplinary action pending rom the board? Contact the Ohio board of Nursing Contact the Ohio board of Nursing

18. 17 Name Change ORC 4723.24 “Written notice” must be given to the Ohio Board of Nursing for “any name or address within thirty days of the change” (ORC4723v2, 2006, p.28 ¶B). “Written notice” must be given to the Ohio Board of Nursing for “any name or address within thirty days of the change” (ORC4723v2, 2006, p.28 ¶B).

19. 18 What if I do not have enough credits? A once in a lifetime waiver may be taken. A once in a lifetime waiver may be taken. Contact the Ohio Board of Nursing for further details of how you may meet your licensure renewal or reinstatement. Contact the Ohio Board of Nursing for further details of how you may meet your licensure renewal or reinstatement.

20. 19 What if I fail to renew my license and still practicing? Disciplinary action will be taken by the Ohio Board of Nursing Disciplinary action will be taken by the Ohio Board of Nursing

21. 20 How can I avoid having problems with re-licensure? Keep your name and address current by contacting the Ohio board of Nursing with any changes. Keep your name and address current by contacting the Ohio board of Nursing with any changes. Save all of your continuing education certificates in a safe place. Save all of your continuing education certificates in a safe place. Be sure to obtain 1 hour of Category A for continuing education. Be sure to obtain 1 hour of Category A for continuing education. Practice nursing within Ohio Board of Nursing “scope of practice” and know the law. Practice nursing within Ohio Board of Nursing “scope of practice” and know the law.

22. 21 Final Checklist for License Renewal License is current Name and Address Current Fee enclosed or CC for online Completed form verifying no convictions or restrictions on current license? Completed 24 continuing education credits with 1 hour of Ohio Laws and Rules?

23. 22 How can I Contact the Ohio Board of Nursing For further information and answers to questions not covered in this presentation visit the Ohio Board of Nursing at http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/Contact.htm# directions For further information and answers to questions not covered in this presentation visit the Ohio Board of Nursing at http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/Contact.htm# directions http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/Contact.htm# directions http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/Contact.htm# directions

24. 23 Laws and Rules For information on the Ohio Law and Rules as they pertain to Nursing Practice in the State of Ohio visit: http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/NewLa wRules/ORC4723v2.pdf For information on the Ohio Law and Rules as they pertain to Nursing Practice in the State of Ohio visit: http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/NewLa wRules/ORC4723v2.pdf

25. 24 References National Council of State Boards of Nursing (1996-2006). Nursing licensure and certification. Retrieved October 4, 2006 from http://www.ncsbn.org/regulation/nlc.asp http://www.ncsbn.org/regulation/nlc.asp Ohio Board of Nursing (April, 2005). Continuing education requirements for RN’s, LPN’s, and Dialysis Technicians in Ohio. Retrieved October 4, 2006 from Ohio Board of Nursing (April, 2005). Continuing education requirements for RN’s, LPN’s, and Dialysis Technicians in Ohio. Retrieved October 4, 2006 from http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/pdfs/ce.pdf#search=%22o hio%20nurse%20practice%20act%20and%20license% 20renewal%22 State of Ohio (2006). Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 4723-Nurses. Retrieved September 28, 2006 from http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/NewLawRules/OR C4723v2.pdf http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/NewLawRules/OR C4723v2.pdf http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/NewLawRules/OR C4723v2.pdf

26. 25 Proceed to E-Assessment You have finished the educational presentation. You have finished the educational presentation. You may review the material as often as you like. When you are ready to assess your knowledge select the E-Assessment from the Education page. You may review the material as often as you like. When you are ready to assess your knowledge select the E-Assessment from the Education page. http://criticaledu.tripod.com/Education.htm http://criticaledu.tripod.com/Education.htm http://criticaledu.tripod.com/Education.htm