Effective: October 17, 2019
Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 – 133rd General Assembly
(A) The board of nursing shall:
(1) Administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter, including the taking of disciplinary action for violations of section 4723.28 of the Revised Code, any other provisions of this chapter, or rules adopted under this chapter;
(2) Develop criteria that an applicant must meet to be eligible to sit for the examination for licensure to practice as a registered nurse or as a licensed practical nurse;
(3) Issue and renew nursing licenses, dialysis technician certificates, and community health worker certificates, as provided in this chapter;
(4) Define the minimum educational standards for the schools and programs of registered nursing and practical nursing in this state;
(5) Survey, inspect, and grant full approval to prelicensure nursing education programs in this state that meet the standards established by rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code. Prelicensure nursing education programs include, but are not limited to, diploma, associate degree, baccalaureate degree, master’s degree, and doctor of nursing programs leading to initial licensure to practice nursing as a registered nurse and practical nurse programs leading to initial licensure to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse.
(6) Grant conditional approval, by a vote of a quorum of the board, to a new prelicensure nursing education program or a program that is being reestablished after having ceased to operate, if the program meets and maintains the minimum standards of the board established by rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code. If the board does not grant conditional approval, it shall hold an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to consider conditional approval of the program. If the board grants conditional approval, at the first meeting following completion of the survey process required by division (A)(5) of this section, the board shall determine whether to grant full approval to the program. If the board does not grant full approval or if it appears that the program has failed to meet and maintain standards established by rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code, the board shall hold an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to consider the program. Based on results of the adjudication, the board may continue or withdraw conditional approval, or grant full approval.
(7) Place on provisional approval, for a period of time specified by the board, a prelicensure nursing education program that has ceased to meet and maintain the minimum standards of the board established by rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code. Prior to or at the end of the period, the board shall reconsider whether the program meets the standards and shall grant full approval if it does. If it does not, the board may withdraw approval, pursuant to an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(8) Approve continuing education programs and courses under standards established in rules adopted under sections 4723.07, 4723.69, 4723.79, and 4723.88 of the Revised Code;
(9) Establish a substance use disorder monitoring program in accordance with section 4723.35 of the Revised Code;
(10) Establish the practice intervention and improvement program in accordance with section 4723.282 of the Revised Code;
(11) Grant approval to the course of study in advanced pharmacology and related topics described in section 4723.482 of the Revised Code;
(12) Make an annual edition of the exclusionary formulary established in rules adopted under section 4723.50 of the Revised Code available to the public by electronic means and, as soon as possible after any revision of the formulary becomes effective, make the revision available to the public by electronic means;
(13) Approve under section 4723.46 of the Revised Code national certifying organizations for examination and licensure of advanced practice registered nurses, which may include separate organizations for each nursing specialty;
(14) Provide guidance and make recommendations to the general assembly, the governor, state agencies, and the federal government with respect to the regulation of the practice of nursing and the enforcement of this chapter;
(15) Make an annual report to the governor, which shall be open for public inspection;
(16) Maintain and have open for public inspection the following records:
(a) A record of all its meetings and proceedings;
(b) A record of all applicants for, and holders of, licenses and certificates issued by the board under this chapter or in accordance with rules adopted under this chapter. The record shall be maintained in a format determined by the board.
(c) A list of education and training programs approved by the board.
(17) Deny conditional approval to a new prelicensure nursing education program or a program that is being reestablished after having ceased to operate if the program or a person acting on behalf of the program submits or causes to be submitted to the board false, misleading, or deceptive statements, information, or documentation in the process of applying for approval of the program. If the board proposes to deny approval of the program, it shall do so pursuant to an adjudication conducted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(B) The board may fulfill the requirement of division (A)(8) of this section by authorizing persons who meet the standards established in rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code to approve continuing education programs and courses. Persons so authorized shall approve continuing education programs and courses in accordance with standards established in rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code.
Persons seeking authorization to approve continuing education programs and courses shall apply to the board and pay the appropriate fee established under section 4723.08 of the Revised Code. Authorizations to approve continuing education programs and courses shall expire and may be renewed according to the schedule established in rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code.
In addition to approving continuing education programs under division (A)(8) of this section, the board may sponsor continuing education activities that are directly related to the statutes and rules the board enforces.
(C)(1) The board may deny conditional approval to a new prelicensure nursing education program or program that is being reestablished after having ceased to operate if the program is controlled by a person who controls or has controlled a program that had its approval withdrawn, revoked, suspended, or restricted by the board or a board of another jurisdiction that is a member of the national council of state boards of nursing. If the board proposes to deny approval, it shall do so pursuant to an adjudication conducted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(2) As used in this division, “control” means any of the following:
(a) Holding fifty per cent or more of the outstanding voting securities or membership interest of a prelicensure nursing education program;
(b) In the case of an unincorporated prelicensure nursing education program, having the right to fifty per cent or more of the program’s profits or in the event of a dissolution, fifty per cent or more of the program’s assets;
(c) In the case of a prelicensure nursing education program that is a for-profit or not-for-profit corporation, having the contractual authority presently to designate fifty per cent or more of its directors;
(d) In the case of a prelicensure nursing education program that is a trust, having the contractual authority presently to designate fifty per cent or more of its trustees;
(e) Having the authority to direct the management, policies, or investments of a prelicensure nursing education program.
(D)(1) When an action taken by the board under division (A)(6), (7), or (17) or (C)(1) of this section is required to be taken pursuant to an adjudication conducted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the board may, in lieu of an adjudication hearing, enter into a consent agreement to resolve the matter. A consent agreement, when ratified by a vote of a quorum of the board, constitutes the findings and order of the board with respect to the matter addressed in the agreement. If the board refuses to ratify a consent agreement, the admissions and findings contained in the agreement are of no effect.
(2) In any instance in which the board is required under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to give notice to a person seeking approval of a prelicensure nursing education program of an opportunity for a hearing and the person does not make a timely request for a hearing in accordance with section 119.07 of the Revised Code, the board is not required to hold a hearing, but may adopt, by a vote of a quorum, a final order that contains the board’s findings.
(3) When the board denies or withdraws approval of a prelicensure nursing education program, the board may specify that its action is permanent. A program subject to a permanent action taken by the board is forever ineligible for approval and the board shall not accept an application for the program’s reinstatement or approval.