Oklahoma Statutes
Title 59. Professions and Occupations
§59-567.8. Denial, revocation or suspension of license or certification - Administrative penalties.

A. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing shall have the power to take any or all of the following actions:

1. To deny, revoke or suspend any:
2. To assess administrative penalties; and
3. To otherwise discipline applicants, licensees or Advanced Unlicensed Assistants.
B. The Board shall impose a disciplinary action against the person pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of this section upon proof that the person:
1. Is guilty of deceit or material misrepresentation in procuring or attempting to procure:
2. Is guilty of a felony, or any offense substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties of any licensee or Advanced Unlicensed Assistant, or any offense an essential element of which is fraud, dishonesty, or an act of violence, whether or not sentence is imposed, or any conduct resulting in the revocation of a deferred or suspended sentence or probation imposed pursuant to such conviction. For the purposes of this paragraph, "substantially related" means the nature of criminal conduct for which the person was convicted has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability to perform one or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the occupation;
3. Fails to adequately care for patients or to conform to the minimum standards of acceptable nursing or Advanced Unlicensed Assistant practice that, in the opinion of the Board, unnecessarily exposes a patient or other person to risk of harm;
4. Is intemperate in the use of alcohol or drugs, which use the Board determines endangers or could endanger patients;
5. Exhibits through a pattern of practice or other behavior actual or potential inability to practice nursing with sufficient knowledge or reasonable skills and safety due to impairment caused by illness, use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals or any other substance, or as a result of any mental or physical condition, including deterioration through the aging process or loss of motor skills, mental illness, or disability that results in inability to practice with reasonable judgment, skill or safety; provided, however, the provisions of this paragraph shall not be utilized in a manner that conflicts with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act;
6. Has been adjudicated as mentally incompetent, mentally ill, chemically dependent or dangerous to the public or has been committed by a court of competent jurisdiction, within or without this state;
7. Is guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined in the rules of the Board;
8. Is guilty of any act that jeopardizes a patient's life, health or safety as defined in the rules of the Board;
9. Violated a rule promulgated by the Board, an order of the Board, or a state or federal law relating to the practice of registered, practical or advanced practice registered nursing or advanced unlicensed assisting, or a state or federal narcotics or controlled dangerous substance law including, but not limited to prescribing, dispensing or administering opioid drugs in excess of the maximum limits authorized in Section 2-309I of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
10. Has had disciplinary actions taken against the individual's registered or practical nursing license, advanced unlicensed assistive certification, or any professional or occupational license, registration or certification in this or any state, territory or country;
11. Has defaulted or been terminated from the peer assistance program for any reason;
12. Fails to maintain professional boundaries with patients, as defined in the Board rules; or
13. Engages in sexual misconduct, as defined in Board rules, with a current or former patient or key party, inside or outside the health care setting.
C. Any person who supplies the Board information in good faith shall not be liable in any way for damages with respect to giving such information.
D. The Board may cause to be investigated all reported violations of the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act. Information obtained during an investigation into possible violations of the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act shall be kept confidential, but may be introduced by the state in administrative proceedings before the Board, whereupon the information admitted becomes a public record. Public records maintained by the agency are administrative records, not public civil or criminal records.
Confidential investigative records shall not be subject to discovery or subpoena in any civil or criminal proceeding, except that the Board may give such information to law enforcement and other state agencies as necessary and appropriate in the discharge of the duties of that agency and only under circumstances that ensure against unauthorized access to the information.
E. The Board may authorize the Executive Director to issue a confidential letter of concern to a licensee when evidence does not warrant formal proceedings, but the Executive Director has noted indications of possible errant conduct that could lead to serious consequences and formal action.
F. All individual proceedings before the Board shall be conducted in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.
G. At a hearing the accused shall have the right to appear either personally or by counsel, or both, to produce witnesses and evidence on behalf of the accused, to cross-examine witnesses and to have subpoenas issued by the designated Board staff. If the accused is found guilty of the charges the Board may refuse to issue a renewal of license to the applicant, revoke or suspend a license, or otherwise discipline a licensee.
H. A person whose license is revoked may not apply for reinstatement during the time period set by the Board. The Board on its own motion may at any time reconsider its action.
I. Any person whose license is revoked or who applies for renewal of registration and who is rejected by the Board shall have the right to appeal from such action pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
J. 1. Any person who has been determined by the Board to have violated any provisions of the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act or any rule or order issued pursuant thereto shall be liable for an administrative penalty not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each count for which any holder of a certificate or license has been determined to be in violation of the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act or any rule promulgated or order issued pursuant thereto.
2. The amount of the penalty shall be assessed by the Board pursuant to the provisions of this section, after notice and an opportunity for hearing is given to the accused. In determining the amount of the penalty, the Board shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of the nature, circumstances, and gravity of the violation and, with respect to the person found to have committed the violation, the degree of culpability, the effect on ability of the person to continue to practice, and any show of good faith in attempting to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act.
K. The Board shall retain jurisdiction over any person issued a license, certificate or temporary license pursuant to the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act, regardless of whether the license, certificate or temporary license has expired, lapsed or been relinquished during or after the alleged occurrence or conduct prescribed by the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act.
L. In the event disciplinary action is imposed, any person so disciplined shall be responsible for any and all costs associated with satisfaction of the discipline imposed.
M. In the event disciplinary action is imposed in an administrative proceeding, the Board shall have the authority to recover the monies expended by the Board in pursuing any disciplinary action, including but not limited to costs of investigation, probation or monitoring fees, administrative costs, witness fees, attorney fees and court costs. This authority shall be in addition to the Board's authority to impose discipline as set out in subsection A of this section.
N. The Executive Director shall immediately suspend the license of any person upon proof that the person has been sentenced to a period of continuous incarceration serving a penal sentence for commission of a misdemeanor or felony. The suspension shall remain in effect until the Board acts upon the licensee's written application for reinstatement of the license.
O. When a majority of the officers of the Board, which constitutes the President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer, find that preservation of the public health, safety or welfare requires immediate action, summary suspension of licensure or certification may be ordered before the filing of a sworn complaint or at any other time before the outcome of an individual proceeding. The summary suspension of licensure or certification may be ordered without compliance with the requirements of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. Within seven (7) days after the summary suspension, the licensee shall be notified by letter that summary suspension has occurred. The summary suspension letter shall include notice of the date of the proposed hearing to be held in accordance with Oklahoma Administrative Code 485:10-11-2 and the Administrative Procedures Act, within ninety (90) days of the date of the summary suspension letter, and shall be signed by one of the Board officers.
P. In any proceeding in which the Board is required to serve an order on an individual, the Board may send such material to the individual's address of record with the Board. If the order is returned with a notation by the United States Postal Service indicating that it is undeliverable for any reason, and the records of the Board indicate that the Board has not received any change of address since the order was sent, as required by the rules of the Board, the order and any subsequent material relating to the same matter sent to the most recent address on file with the Board shall be deemed by the court as having been legally served for all purposes.
Added by Laws 1953, p. 268, § 8, emerg. eff. April 13, 1953. Amended by Laws 1981, c. 314, § 6, eff. July 1, 1981; Laws 1991, c. 104, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Laws 1994, c. 97, § 4, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1996, c. 186, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 1996; Laws 1996, c. 288, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1996; Laws 2000, c. 187, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2000; Laws 2001, c. 254, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2001; Laws 2003, c. 190, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2011, c. 101, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2011; Laws 2013, c. 228, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2013; Laws 2016, c. 190, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2016; Laws 2017, c. 281, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2017; Laws 2018, c. 72, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2019, c. 203, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2019, c. 363, § 28, eff. Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2020, c. 161, § 38, emerg. eff. May 21, 2020.
NOTE: Laws 1996, c. 136, § 2 repealed by Laws 1996, c. 288, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 1996. Laws 2019, c. 428, § 9 repealed by Laws 2020, c. 161, § 39, emerg. eff. May 21, 2020.

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