Can registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and assisting personnel practice respiratory care?
A. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are licensed in the state of Ohio. Under their license, they may provide nursing care, which may include aspects of respiratory care. Under Ohio law, Section 4761.11 O.R.C., licensed professionals are exempted from having to hold a respiratory care license if the licensed professional is practicing within the scope of their practice and not representing that they are engaged in the practice of respiratory care. In a hospital or nursing facility, unlicensed assisting personnel may provide limited aspects of respiratory care under the delegation of a nurse or the direction of a physician. Two examples of limited aspects of respiratory care are provided in law and only the respiratory care board can determine if a task or service meets the standard established by the examples provided. In settings whose primary purpose is other than the provision of health care, assisting personnel may practice respiratory care under the delegation of a r
