Board Mission
The mission of the Ohio Board of Nursing is to actively safeguard the health of the public through the effective regulation of nursing care.
Background
The Board functions as a governmental agency
created by Ohio law to regulate the practice of
nursing in the state of Ohio for the safety of the
public. The Nurse Practice Act is set forth in
Chapter 4723. of the Ohio Revised Code, and
Chapters 4723-1 through 4723-27 of the Ohio
Administrative Code contain rules adopted by
the Board. The Nurse Practice Act and the rules
establish requirements for various types of
licensure and certification, practice, discipline,
education, and various training programs. You can
access the statute and the rules through the Board
web site at www.nursing.ohio.gov.
Licensees and certificate holders regulated by the
Board include registered nurses, advanced practice
registered nurses (certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse
specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified
registered nurse anesthetists), licensed practical
nurses, dialysis technicians, certified medication
aides, and certified community health workers.
A thirteen-member Board is appointed by the
Governor and consists of eight registered nurses,
four licensed practical nurses and one consumer.
Of the eight registered nurses on the Board, one
must be authorized to practice as an advanced
practice registered nurse. The consumer member of the
Board, a non-nurse, represents the interests of
consumers. All Board members serve for a term
of four years and may be reappointed for a second
four-year term. The Board appoints an Executive
Director who oversees the daily operations of
the Board.
Public Participation
The Board seeks public participation through Advisory Groups, Open Forums during Board meetings, and Special Issue Meetings convened by the Board for advice and comments on particular issues. Also, interested parties may attend Board Committee meetings convened to consider specific issues or tasks. All meetings of the Board, Advisory Groups, Special Issue Meetings, and Board Committees are open to the public and governed by Ohio Open Meetings Act.
Board Communications
The Board web site is www.nursing.ohio.gov. Information is updated regularly and includes, among other things, verification, proposed rules, publications, Annual Reports, and links to other state agencies and to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Momentum, a quarterly publication of the Board, is sent to those with an active license or certificate to provide information on Board activities. Interested parties are encouraged to subscribe, through the web site, to OBN e-News for updates, a free service.