ALERT

Effective immediately, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI&I) will generally only accept electronic fingerprints for FBI and BCI background checks. Fingerprint cards will only be accepted by BCI&I (with an exemption form) for one of the following reasons:

1) Applicant's home address is 75 miles or more from the nearest Webcheck location;
2) Amputations or missing digits (Webcheck 4.0 only);
3) Out-of-state applicant;
4) Poor quality prints (Not able to capture at WebCheck location, provide name of location where the background check was attempted on the waiver form);
5) BCI/FBI rejects from original electronic submission. Note: The original reject letter must accompany the fingerprint card (s); and
6) Public Housing Organization background checks.

Please refer to the background check instructions that are attached to the on-line licensure by examination and endorsement applications. Individual instructions for Community Health Workers, Dialysis Technicians, and Medication Aides are located above the link for each specific application.

New LPN Licensure Renewal Process

Renewal notices will be mailed the week of April 14, 2008 to all LPN’s with current licenses expiring 8/31/2008. We are encouraging licensees to take advantage of the convenience of renewing their license online. The renewal notice will include your User ID and Password with instructions on how to renew your license online. Once your online renewal is complete, you will receive an immediate online receipt and email verification of your renewal.    

The Board will mail the renewal notice to your address currently on file.  If you have changed your address since your last renewal, and have not notified the Board of the change, please do so immediately. When notifying the Board of your address change, please include your full name, and nursing license number.

Address changes can be submitted to the Board in one of the following ways:

Mail: Attention: Renewal Unit
        17 S. High St. Suite 400
        Columbus, Ohio 43215-7410

Fax: (614) 466-0388   Attention: Renewal Unit

E-Mail: renewal@nursing.ohio.gov

CLICK HERE TO RENEW ONLINE

Ohio Center for Nursing Site Launched

The Ohio Center for Nursing was established to promote nursing as a career in Ohio. It is generally understood that the nursing shortage is expected to continue as the current workforce approaches retirement age. Presently the center is solely web based and coordinated by the Ohio Board of Nursing. The site's content is reviewed and managed by representatives consisting of Board members and staff, nursing associations' representatives and other interested parties.

Individuals interested in becoming a nurse can obtain information on nursing as a career, nursing education programs, and tuition assistance. Interested parties will find nursing workforce data and additional sources for data. By linking with nursing centers in Ohio and throughout the country, you can identify innovative strategies for recruitment and retention of nurses.

This new nursing information resource can be found at www.ohiocenterfornursing.org .

Nursing Survey Still Available

The Board is conducting a Nursing Workforce Survey. The goal of the survey is to provide a “snapshot” of the nursing workforce in Ohio.  It consists of questions to gather information about work setting, employment status, education, practice area, ethnicity, age, and plans to continue to practice nursing.

The survey will be electronically processed through the use of SurveyMonkey™, a company that specializes in conducting surveys and compiling the data.  The use of SurveyMonkey™ will be the most efficient and cost effective method of conducting a survey of approximately 219,000 nurses in Ohio!

If you do not have access to a computer at home, check with your employer to see if they have a computer that can be used to complete this important web based survey. Your local library may also have computers available for public use.

Please tell your nurse friends and co-workers about the survey. Please complete the survey to provide researchers, educators, employers, and legislators information about the nursing workforce in Ohio!  The survey should take less than ten minutes to complete and is available from now through March.

Click Here to take the Nursing Workforce Survey

Recent Additions

Emergency Planning:  Influenza Pandemic

Experts believe a worldwide outbreak, or Pandemic, of influenza will happen someday. The exact timing is not known, but it is certain to drastically change everyday lives. These changes may include temporary closing of schools or cancellation of events, disruption of normal services such as utilities and some shortages, and in particular, changes will impact the delivery of healthcare.

Since August 2006, Ohio Board of Nursing staff has been involved in a cooperative effort with multiple State agencies to address and plan for the possibility of influenza Pandemic. (Click Here)