(A) At all times when a licensed nurse is
providing direct nursing care to a patient the licensed nurse shall display the
applicable title or initials set forth in division (E) of section 4723.03 of
the Revised Code to identify the nurse's relevant licensure as a
registered nurse or as a licensed practical nurse.
(B) At all times when a certified
nurse-midwife, certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse
anesthetist, or clinical nurse specialist is providing direct nursing care to a
patient, the nurse shall display the applicable title or initials set forth in
division (E) of section 4723.03 of the Revised Code to identify relevant
approval either as a certified nurse-midwife, certified nurse practitioner,
certified registered nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse
specialist.
(C) At all times when a licensed nurse is
engaged in nursing practice and interacting with the patient, or health care
providers on behalf of the patient, through any form of telecommunication, the
licensed nurse shall identify to each patient or health care provider the
nurse's title or initials set forth in division (E) of section 4723.03 of
the Revised Code to identify applicable licensure as a registered nurse,
licensed practical nurse, certified nurse-midwife, certified nurse
practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse
specialist.
(D) A licensed nurse shall delegate a
nursing task, including medication administration, only in accordance with
Chapter 4723-13, 4723-23, 4723-26, or 4723-27 of the Administrative
Code.
(E) A licensed nurse shall, in a
complete, accurate, and timely manner, report and document nursing assessments
or observations, the care provided by the nurse for the patient, and the
patient's response to that care.
(F) A licensed nurse shall, in an
accurate and timely manner, report to the appropriate practitioner errors in or
deviations from the current valid order.
(G) A licensed nurse shall not falsify,
or conceal by any method, any patient record or any other document prepared or
utilized in the course of, or in conjunction with, nursing practice. This
includes, but is not limited to, case management documents or reports or time
records, reports, and other documents related to billing for nursing
services.
(H) A licensed nurse shall implement
measures to promote a safe environment for each patient.
(I) A licensed nurse shall delineate,
establish, and maintain professional boundaries with each patient.
(J) At all times when a licensed nurse is
providing direct nursing care to a patient the licensed nurse
shall:
(1) Provide privacy
during examination or treatment and in the care of personal or bodily needs;
and
(2) Treat each patient
with courtesy, respect, and with full recognition of dignity and
individuality.
(K) A licensed nurse shall
not:
(1) Engage in behavior
that causes or may cause physical, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse to a
patient;
(2) Engage in behavior
toward a patient that may reasonably be interpreted as physical, verbal,
mental, or emotional abuse.
(L) A licensed nurse shall not
misappropriate a patient's property or:
(1) Engage in behavior to
seek or obtain personal gain at the patient's expense;
(2) Engage in behavior
that may reasonably be interpreted as behavior to seek or obtain personal gain
at the patient's expense;
(3) Engage in behavior
that constitutes inappropriate involvement in the patient's personal
relationships or financial matters; or
(4) Engage in behavior
that may reasonably be interpreted as inappropriate involvement in the
patient's personal relationships or financial matters.
For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient
is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to the
behaviors by the nurse set forth in this paragraph.
(M) A licensed nurse shall
not:
(1) Engage in sexual
conduct with a patient;
(2) Engage in conduct in
the course of practice that may reasonably be interpreted as
sexual;
(3) Engage in any verbal
behavior that is seductive or sexually demeaning to a patient; or
(4) Engage in verbal
behavior that may reasonably be interpreted as seductive, or sexually demeaning
to a patient.
For the purpose of this paragraph, the patient
is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to
sexual activity with the nurse.
(N) A licensed nurse, when functioning in
an administrative role, shall verify that each nurse, dialysis technician, or
medication aide under the nurse administrator has:
(1) A current valid
license to practice nursing in Ohio or a current valid certificate to practice
as a dialysis technician or medication aide in Ohio; and
(2) If applicable, other
documents of approval or certification as required by the board.
(O) When nursing practice, as set forth
in section 4723.01 of the Revised Code, is supervised or
evaluated:
(1) Only a registered
nurse shall supervise or evaluate the practice of nursing, as set forth in
Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code and the rules of the board, performed by
other registered nurses and licensed practical nurses; or
(2) In matters other than the practice of
nursing, a non-nursing supervisor may evaluate a nurse employee.
(3) Supervision or evaluation by a
registered nurse does not require that the registered nurse be present on-site
on a routine basis, but at minimum:
(a) Supervision requires that the registered nurse be
continuously available through some form of telecommunication with the
supervised nurse, and take all action necessary, including but not limited to
conducting periodic on-site visits, to insure that the supervised nurse is
practicing in accordance with acceptable and prevailing standards of safe
nursing care as set forth in Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code and the rules of
the board; and
(b) Evaluation requires that the registered nurse conduct
periodic on-site visits sufficient to enable the evaluating nurse to evaluate
the evaluated nurse's performance.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
authorize a licensed practical nurse to practice without direction, as required
by division (F) of section 4723.01 of the Revised Code.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
prohibit a licensed practical nurse from participating in activities that
contribute to the delivery of patient care services. Such participation may
include, but is not limited to, scheduling of coverage for nursing services and
observation and documentation by a licensed practical nurse regarding care
provided by assistive personnel.
(P) A licensed nurse shall not make any
false, misleading, or deceptive statements, or submit or cause to be submitted
any false, misleading or deceptive information, or documentation
to:
(1) The board or any
representative of the board;
(2) Current
employers;
(3) Prospective employers
when applying for positions requiring a nursing license;
(4) Facilities in which,
or organizations for whom, the nurse is working a temporary, agency, or locus
tenens assignment;
(5) Other members of the
patient's health care team; or
(6) Law enforcement
personnel.
(Q) For purposes of paragraphs (I), (J),
(K), (L), and (M) of this rule, a nurse shall not use social media, texting,
emailing, or other forms of communication with, or about a patient, for
non-health care purposes or for purposes other than fulfilling the nurse's
assigned job responsibilities.
