Ohio Law and Nursing Licensure: Frequently asked questions

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Ohio Law and Nursing LicensureFrequently asked
questions

• EDTC 560
• Applications of Multimedia Web Design
• Patrick Sanger
• October 16, 2006
• Kathleen McCarthy

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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.

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Objective

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

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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.

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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).

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Initial 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.

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Why knowledge of the law is important

• Public safety.
• Nurses practicing in Ohio and other states are
  regulated by that states board of nursing.
• 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.

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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.
• Regulations are enforced by the Ohio Board of
  Nursing (OBN) and OBN determines discipline.

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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.
• They may also be obtained from
• Ohio Board of Nursing
• 17 South High Street, Suite 400
• Columbus, Ohio 43215-3413
• Ph. 614-466-3947

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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 education1 (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 nursing1
  (ORC4723v2, 2006, p.28 c) in the State of Ohio.

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Do college credit courses count for hours in
re-licensure?

• 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 Equal to
1 credit hour Quarter system 10 Contact hours
1 credit hour Semester system 15 Contact hours
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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.
• This category is directly related to the Ohio
  Nurse Practice Act and the rules of the Board of
  Nursing (OBN, 2005, p.3).

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How long is my license active?

• 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.
• Those who are licensed in a non-licensure year
  will be licensed for that time until the next
  renewal period.

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I am a new graduate do I need continuing
education credits?

• 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).

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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 gather your certificates of continuing
  education, make copies of all, and follow the
  requested steps from the Ohio Board of Nursing.

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What if I did not receive my renewal notice and
my peers have?

• Has any of your information changed name
  (marital status), address, etc?
• Any disciplinary action pending rom the board?
• Contact the Ohio board of Nursing

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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).

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What if I do not have enough credits?

• 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.

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What if I fail to renew my license and still
practicing?

• Disciplinary action will be taken by the Ohio
  Board of Nursing

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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.
• Save all of your continuing education
  certificates in a safe place.
• 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.

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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?
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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/Co
  ntact.htmdirections

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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/NewLawRule
  s/ORC4723v2.pdf

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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
• Ohio Board of Nursing (April, 2005). Continuing
  education requirements for RNs, LPNs, and
  Dialysis Technicians in Ohio. Retrieved October
  4, 2006 from http//www.nursing.ohio.gov/pdfs/ce.p
  dfsearch22ohio20nurse20practice20act20and2
  0license20renewal22
• State of Ohio (2006). Ohio Revised Code (ORC)
  Chapter 4723-Nurses. Retrieved September 28, 2006
  from http//www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/NewLawRules/
  ORC4723v2.pdf

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  select the E-Assessment from the Education page.
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