Nurse Practice Acts delineate the laws and rules that regulate nursing. They are enacted by the legislatures of every state and territory of the United States. The Ohio Nurse Practice Act was established in 1915 and is contained in Chapter 4723 of the Ohio Revised Code. It ensures the health and safety of the people of Ohio by establishing guidelines for nurses who practice in the state. The Ohio Administrative Code expands on and fills out Chapter 4723 with additional rules regarding nursing practice.
RNs are authorized to engage in all aspects of nursing practice. It is the RN who determines the data to be collected in order to assess the patient’s health status and the nursing care that should be provided to the patient. LPNs have a dependent role and may provide nursing care only at the direction of a registered nurse, licensed physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, or chiropractor.
RNs can delegate selected nursing tasks. The nurse who delegates a nursing task assumes responsibility for individuals who are receiving delegated nursing care. A nursing task may be delegated to an unlicensed person only by a licensed nurse and only in accordance with this Chapter 4723-13.
Ohio RNs and LPNs are accountable for knowing the laws and rules of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act that govern and define their own scopes of practice. Violation of the practice act can result in a disciplinary action by the Board. Complaints undergo an initial review and depending on the seriousness of the alleged violation, the Board can request additional documents, conduct a site visit, and interview witnesses. Disciplinary actions can result in fines, public reprimand, remediation, practice monitoring, or even suspension or loss of license.