New Regulation Now Requires Ohio Nurses To Self-Report Criminal Convictions Within 30 Days

For many years, nurses in Ohio were only required to disclose convictions to the Ohio Board of Nursing on their biennial license renewal application. However, a new regulation from the Ohio Board of Nursing now requires licensees to additionally report a guilty plea, conviction or treatment in lieu of conviction of certain crimes within 30 days of the plea or entry.  These crimes include:

• Any felony;
• Any misdemeanor with a direct or substance relationship to the practice of nursing;
• Any drug law; or
• Any DUI/OVI or physical control while under the influence.[1]

The law does not apply to guilty pleas, convictions or treatment in lieu of convictions that were already disclosed on previous license applications. This new regulation was the subject of a reminder email recently sent by the Ohio Board of Nursing in connection to the more than 300,000 licenses and certificates issued by the Board. Failure to disclose such convictions or guilty pleas is itself a violation of Ohio law.

Disclosure of a guilty plea or conviction under this new regulation will likely result in an investigation by the Nursing Board and may place the nurse’s license at risk of disciplinary action.  Should you have questions concerning this new regulation, and the time-sensitive reporting requirements, contact your Dinsmore health care attorney.