President’s Message

Jenny Stoner MS, RN, CNOR President

Hello Fellow, Central Ohio AORN Members!

I hope your summer was filled with joy, relaxation with loved ones. As we step into a new year together, I’m honored to serve as your 2025–2026 Chapter 3603 President.

This year, AORN’s national theme is “Lighting the Pathway”—a powerful reminder of our shared mission to lead, inspire, and elevate perioperative nursing. Let’s kick off the year with renewed energy and strong attendance at our upcoming meetings and events! Our first meeting, September 16, is sponsored by Aerobiotix, Taking a Deep Dive into AORN’s Sterile Technique Guidelines, presented by Dr. Garrett. Please see the attached flyer for RSVP details.

Celebrate National Surgical Technologist Week September 21–27, 2025 Let’s take time to recognize the incredible contributions of our Surgical Technologists. Whether it’s a heartfelt thank-you, a thoughtful gesture, or simply acknowledging their dedication, your appreciation goes a long way.

Save the Dates

• September 16 – Kickoff Meeting @ Eye and Ear Institute (915 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Suite 3000)
• October 21 – Chapter Meeting @ Eye and Ear Institute (915 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Suite 3000)
• December 9 – Annual Holiday Dinner @ Cardinal Health
• April 11–14, 2026 – AORN Expo “Lighting the Pathway” in New Orleans, LA

Remember, attendees don’t need to be AORN members—so invite your colleagues to join us for networking, learning, and fun. Let’s make this year one to remember!

Sincerely, Jenny

 See Attachment for flier. Having difficulty uploading the flier here.

Legislative Corner

Kay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAORN, FAAN Kayball@aol.com

September 2025

Reminder: Renew your RN License!

Have you renewed your RN license yet? You need to be working on this because renewal in Ohio opened up on July 1st and will close on October 31st. The renewal process is very easy. Just get online at https://nursing.ohio.gov/licensing-and-certification/apply-renew-online to renew. Make sure you have the documentation of your CE for the past two years as you will need 24 contact hours to renew. One of those contact hours needs to be Category A, which relates to the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and Rules. You can go online and take a Category A course offered by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) or another qualified provider. Save your course certificates because you may have to present them to the OBN as evidence of your course attendance, if you are audited. You also need to confirm or update your contact information. You can then submit your renewal and fees online. After completed, your elicense will be sent to you via email. You can print your elicense which will be in effect until October 31, 2027.

If you don’t renew, then your license will be suspended until you renew. During that time, you will not be able to practice nursing until your license has been reinstated. A delay in renewal also causes higher licensing fees.

If you want a multistate license, that option is available. There are now 43 states (including Ohio that joined in 2023) that have enacted the Nurse License Compact (NLC).

The first RN Practice Act went into effect in 1915 with the Medical Board overseeing it. Nursing registration and standards for nursing programs were set during the following decades. The first mandatory licensure law was passed in 1935 but was not enforced until after WWII in 1947. Nursing registries were then replaced with state licensures.

The Ohio Board of Nursing was established by the Ohio legislature after passing a law that mandated the OBN structure and functions. Members of the OBN are appointed by the governor or the state legislature. The OBN is responsible for enforcing state laws related to nursing licensure, practices, education, and nursing schools in Ohio.

The duties and responsibilities of the OBN are found in Chapters 4723.02 and 4723.06 of the Ohio Revised Code. The mission of the OBN is “to actively safeguard the health of the public through effective regulation of nursing care” (Ohio BON, 2016).

Remember to renew your license!!! Time is getting short!!!