The mission of the Oregon State Board of Nursing is to regulate nursing practice and education for the purpose of protecting the public's health, safety and well being. The Board exists to protect the public from unsafe, incompetent or unauthorized practice of nursing. Statutes are laws enacted by the Legislature, or by a vote of the people on an initiated ballot measure. Rules are promulgated by the Board of Nursing through a rulemaking process which includes public input. Rules are defined to include directives, standards, or regulations that implement, interpret or prescribe law or policy, or describe the agency's procedure or practice requirement.
Administrative rules have the same effect as law.
These rules represent the Board's best efforts to establish appropriate standards for the nursing profession. The Board welcomes comments from nurses, certified nursing assistants, nurse practitioners and consumers regarding the effectiveness of these rules and any suggestions for how the rules may be improved. Upon application for licensure or certification, an individual becomes subject to the authority of the Oregon State Board of Nursing and remains subject to that authority while licensed or certified in this state. All licensees and certificate holders are encouraged to thoroughly familiarize themselves with these laws and regulations. As a professional, you are required to know and comply with the law and these rules.