Nurses in Ohio are legally bound to "practice in accordance with acceptable and prevailing standards of safe nursing care." This course will acquaint nurses with the basics of the Ohio Revised Code, which is the legal parameter for evaluating and disciplining nurses within this State. The Board and Legislature use national practice standards, current, nationally recognized periodicals, and professional expertise to update or modify Ohio Code. The Board evaluates reported deviation from standards with relation to intent, pattern and circumstance. After the evaluation of the violation a nurse is adjudicated through due process action. The board may revoke or place restrictions on the nurse's license, reprimand, and levy a fine or take no action when standards have been breached with regard to competent practice, nursing process, patient safety, or delegation of duty. Thus, it becomes the prudent practice for each Ohio nurse to become familiar with the basic standards which govern the major areas of practice.

The purpose of this course is to provide basic knowledge of the current Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code for nurses in order to increase compliance and improve patient care. Ohio nurses are legally obligated to be aware of standards that govern professional accountability. Information contained in this course is not intended to be used in lieu of lawful guidelines, but as a learning tool that increases the understanding of some regulations as they apply to nurses who are licensed within the state of Ohio.