Governor Dewine has declared a state of emergency related to COVID-19 in Ohio. For real-time information regarding COVID-19, please go to: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/ Anyone with questions on coronavirus is urged to call the ODH Coronavirus Hotline at 1-833-4ASKODH (427-5634).
Ohio Department of HealthOHIO BOARD OF NURSING OPERATIONS
The Board is closed to visitors but is continuing all operations remotely. To contact the Board, go to the “Contact Us” section at the bottom of this page.
CORONAVIRUS OMNIBUS LEGISLATION (HB197)
• General Guidance for Initial Licensing Authorized by the Coronavirus Omnibus Legislation (HB197)
• Extension of Licenses Due to Expire – COVID-19 Declared Emergency
• FAQs for Initial Licensing Authorization
• Extension of Approvals: Education Programs, Training Programs, OBN Approvers of CE
EXPEDITED LICENSING
• Ohio law authorizes nursing practice in emergencies without an Ohio nursing license and the Board is expediting the issuance of temporary permits and all license types.
• Click here for the full Board statement regarding the mobility of nurses
NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS
• Click here for numerous Guidance and Communication documents and see “COVID-19 Communications to Program Administrators” on that page.
• Extension of Approvals: Education Programs, Training Programs, OBN Approvers of CE
• NCLEX Examinations: Update
• See https://home.pearsonvue.com/for reopening of limited numbers of NCLEX testing centers
• Practice-Academic Partnerships During COVID-19 Emergency Policy Brief by U.S. Nursing Leaders
• Board Statement on Practice-Academic Partnership Policy Brief
• Scholarship Opportunities for Nurse Practitioner Students Specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health. Click here: https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loans-scholarships/nurse-corps/scholarship
APRNs AND PRESCRIBING (Also see “Practice” section below)
• APRNs, monitor https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/ and https://www.med.ohio.gov/ for updates affecting your practice
• DEA Guidance on Oral CII Prescriptions (NEW)
• Guidance for APRNs Who Provide Patient Care as an RN-COVID-19
• See the DEA COVID-19 Information Page on the Diversion Control Divisions web for guidance; direct questions concerning COVID-19 to the Policy email box at Natural.Disaster@usdoj.gov
• Chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate products for COVID treatment
• Pharmacy Board Statement on CNPs, CNSs, CNMs, PAs in the Management of Pharmacist Consult Agreements
• National APRN Certification Organizations – Extension Policies COVID-19 Update
PRACTICE
• RN and LPN practice in the COVID-19 Health Care Environment
• PPE Information-click here for numerous documents and see “COVID-19 Information for PPE”
• Practice-Academic Partnerships During COVID-19 Emergency Policy Brief by U.S. Nursing Leaders
• Board Statement on Practice-Academic Partnership Policy Brief
• Chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate products for COVID treatment
• Pharmacy Board Statement on Authorization for Nurses to Stock Automated Drug Storage Systems
Public protection is critical, as nursing impacts every citizen of Ohio. Through licensing services, education programs, and compliance processes, we are dedicated to ensuring public protection.
The Board completes its five-year review of applicable rules in a timely manner each year. Also, each year, individual rules not slated for five-year review are amended to comply with recent legislative changes or for technical or non-substantive reasons.
In 2020, as part of the five-year review, the Board is reviewing rules in Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 8, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Certification and Practice, Chapter 9: Prescriptive Authority, and Chapter 23: Dialysis Technicians. The Board will also consider revisions to individual rules that are not slated for five-year review, but are either required to be revised, or recommended to be updated, due to recent legislative action, or for technical reasons.
The following is a summary of the proposals for 2020 as reviewed by the Board at its May 20-21, 2020 Board meeting: May 1, 2020 Rules Memorandum w/attachments.
If you have any comments on the rules you would like the Board to consider at its July 2020 meeting, please email rules@nursing.ohio.gov.
Whether you are applying for or renewing a license, filing a complaint, or need to learn more about continuing education, the Board can assist you. Together we can protect the health and welfare of the public through effective regulations and nursing excellence.
The renewal period for LPN licenses is July 1 through October 31, 2020. The Board will be sending frequent renewal reminders and updates through eNews and social media. Over 55,000 licenses are expected to be renewed this year. Please renew early to avoid issues with your license close to the renewal deadline. Click here for detailed […]
Learn MoreOn March 27, Governor DeWine signed the Coronavirus Omnibus Legislation (HB197) which suspends, for the period of the COVID-19 emergency, the law requiring an applicant for licensure by examination to have passed the NCLEX examination. Click on the links below for information. Please review the information carefully. The Board is striving to respond to calls/emails […]
Learn MoreFor updated and additional information regarding COVID-19, see the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) website at www.coronavirus.ohio.gov. You can link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website through ODH or visit CDC directly at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/risk-assessment.html. ODH has opened a Call Center seven days a week from 9:00 am-8:00 pm, to answer questions […]
Learn MoreThe Board continues to hear from nurses and employers who are receiving calls from someone posing as a Board of Nursing investigator. The caller may state that nurse(s) are under investigation by the DEA, FBI, or Board of Nursing; the caller may ask for DEA numbers or bank account numbers, and may threaten loss of […]
Learn MoreEffective on April 1, 2020, the passing standard for the NCLEX-PN Examination will increase. NCSBN announced the new passing standard is -0.18 logits, 0.03 logits higher than the current standard of -0.21 logits. The 2020 NCLEX-PN Test Plan is available on the NCSBN website at www.ncsbn.org.
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