Ohio Nurse Practice Act: Facility Guide
Nursing roles and responsibilities are constantly evolving to adapt to changes in the healthcare industry. To ensure patient treatment is safe and appropriate, each state is required to create its own laws to regulate care quality and govern nursing practice. In Ohio, this legislation is known as the Ohio Nurse Practice Act.
LPNs and RNs are held accountable for the care they provide under the rules and standards set forth in the state’s Nurse Practice Act (NPA). These laws also outline Ohio state nursing licensure requirements, rulemaking authority, and disciplinary action for fraudulent practice.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview on the Ohio Nursing Practice Act, review key elements that affect the daily practice of nursing, and give tips for healthcare facility leaders looking to improve their team’s safety and regulatory compliance.
What Is the Ohio Nurse Practice Act?
While most state NPA laws contain similar content outlining board of nursing (BON) functioning and legal requirements for licensure, each state establishes its own nursing scope of practice and rules for delegation. Ohio’s specific NPA also covers:
- Ohio Board of Nursing rules and regulations.
- Requirements for Ohio nursing education programs.
- Minimum nursing care standards that must be met.
- The maintenance and renewal requirements for holding an Ohio nursing license.
- Penalties for NPA violations.
The Ohio Nurse Practice Act: Laws at a Glance
Understanding Ohio nursing practice laws can help facility leaders ensure safety, optimize health outcomes, and improve patient and staff engagement. To get you familiar with Ohio-specific nursing rules and regulations, we list some of the key components of the state’s NPA in the table below.
| Legal Authorities | Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 4723
Ohio Administrative Code: |
| Ohio State Nursing Licensure Requirements | Ohio RN licensure applicants must qualify by either passing the NCLEX examination or getting a license endorsed from another state.
Steps for NCLEX Exam Qualification:
Steps for Endorsement Qualification:
The Ohio Board of Nursing website also provides approximate timeframes for application processing and outlines the steps to renew a nursing license. |
| Ohio Nurse Practice Act Delegation of Duties | Nursing professionals are allowed to delegate when:
Nursing professionals are prohibited from delegating:
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| Penalties | Under Section 4723.28, violations of the law under the Nurse Practice Act include, but are not limited to:
Any person who violates these provisions may be subject to a legal hearing and penalties which can include:
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| Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State? | Ohio is involved in the NLC compact, meaning that its state Nurse Practice Act encompasses rules and guidelines established by the NLC. |
Promoting Safe Nursing Practice: 3 Strategies for Facilities
By adhering to the laws outlined in the Ohio Nurse Practice Act, Ohio healthcare leaders can ensure that clinicians feel supported and patients feel protected. How can you incorporate this legislation into policies and procedures in a way that’s meaningful and appropriate? Here are three tips to help your team get started.
1. Provide Staff Training on the Ohio Nursing Practice Act
Nurses have a general understanding of their scope of practice, but many might not be familiar with the rules specific to providing care in the state of Ohio. Provide a copy of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act upon hire and again annually to update employees on new laws, rules, and regulations.
2. Encourage Nursing Shared Governance Councils
Shared governance councils empower nursing professionals to manage their own professional practice through the development of facility-wide nursing policies. Allowing your clinical team to be involved in the care planning process improves nurse engagement, which can reduce staff burnout and improve employee retention.
3. Automate Reminders for License Renewals
Help your nurses stay compliant by sending automated reminder emails for impending certification, competency, and licensure expiration dates. Reminding your team members to renew their licenses and certifications before they expire can save them from having to pay late fees and take unpaid time away from work.
Discover More Ways to Ensure Regulatory Compliance
Understanding the basics of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act is the first step to supporting your clinicians in providing safe, high-quality care. Don’t miss out — find more tips and strategies for improving the patient experience in our free newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
Legal Disclaimer: This article contains general legal information, but it is not intended to constitute professional legal advice for any particular situation and should not be relied on as professional legal advice. Any references to the law may not be current, as laws regularly change through updates in legislation, regulation, and case law at the federal and state level. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.