4723-9-01 Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply:

(A) “Certificate to prescribe” means the certificate issued by the board that authorizes the holder of the certificate to prescribe drugs and therapeutic devices in collaboration with one or more physicians or podiatrists.

(B) “Collaboration or collaborating” means in the case of a certified nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist or a certified nurse-midwife, that a physician has entered into a standard care arrangement with the nurse and is continuously available to communicate with the nurse either in person, or by radio, telephone, or other form of telecommunication.

(C) “Consultation” means the discussion or communication between a nurse holding a current valid certificate to prescribe with a physician prior to initiating the prescription for a drug. The consultation relative to drug therapy shall be documented in the patient’s record and shall include the consulting physician’s name and the date the consultation took place.

(D) “Contact hour” means a minimum of fifty minutes of education. For credit hours earned on an academic quarter system, one credit hour is equivalent to ten contact hours. For credit hours earned on an academic trimester system, one credit hour is equivalent to twelve contact hours. For credit hours earned on an academic semester system, one credit hour is equivalent to fifteen contact hours.

(E) “Course of study” means an advanced level instructional program in pharmacology which consists of planned classroom and clinical study offered by either:

(1) An accredited educational institution acceptable to the board; or

(2) A continuing education course approved or accepted by an Ohio board of nursing (OBN) approver in accordance with Chapter 4723-14 of the Administrative Code.

(F) “Externship” means the practice relationship, consistent with the standard care arrangement, between a nurse who holds a current, valid externship certificate to prescribe and one or more licensed physicians during which time the nurse’s prescribing activities are reviewed and evaluated by a supervising professional for the purpose of ongoing improvement of the nurse’s competence, knowledge, and skill in pharmacokinetic principles and the application of these principles to the nurse’s area of practice. The standard care arrangement entered into between the collaborating physician and the nurse shall specify the frequency of the review needed for appropriate oversight.

(G) “Externship certificate to prescribe” means the certificate issued by the board that authorizes the holder of the certificate to prescribe drugs and therapeutic devices only when one or more supervising professionals are providing supervision in accordance with rule 4723-9-04 of the Administrative Code.

(H) “Physician” means an individual who holds a current valid license to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery issued by the Ohio state medical board.

(I) “Successful completion of an externship” means the demonstration of the required hours of an externship experience and an attestation by a supervising physician to the competence of the nurse to hold a certificate to prescribe. The information required by this paragraph shall be provided on forms developed by the board of nursing.

(J) “Supervising professional” means a physician or a nurse who is authorized by the board of nursing to prescribe and who has a standard care arrangement with the supervising physician. A holder of an externship certificate to prescribe shall not be a supervising professional.

(K) “Supervision” means the oversight of the prescribing practices of a nurse as a holder of an externship certificate to prescribe.

(1) “Direct supervision” means the supervising professional is available on site.

(2) “Indirect supervision” means the timely review by a physician of prescriptions written by and prescribing practices of a nurse holding an externship certificate to prescribe.

(L) “Types of drugs” means therapeutic drug class.

Effective: 02/01/2006

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 10/14/2005 and 10/01/2010

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4723.50

Rule Amplifies: 4723.48 to 4723.50

Prior Effective Dates: 10/1/2001, 2/1/02