Jenny Barnhouse, Executive Director
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 52926
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152
Re: Trenary, Case No. 3.046.27
Dear Executive Director Barnhouse:
This office has received your request for a written Attorney General Opinion regarding the action that the Oklahoma Board of Nursing (“Board”) intends in the above-referenced case. Alicia Marie Trenary (“Respondent”) is licensed with a multistate registered nurse (RN) license number R0123580, which is currently lapsed.
The Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act (“Act”) authorizes the Board to impose discipline when a nurse “[f]ails to adequately care for patients or to conform to the minimum standards of acceptable nursing or . . . unnecessarily exposes a patient or other person to risk of harm,”1 “[i]s guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined in the rules of the Board,”2 “[i]s guilty of any act that jeopardizes a patient’s life, health or safety as defined in the rules of the Board,”3 or “[v]iolated a rule promulgated by the Board, an order of the Board, or a state or federal law relating to the practice of registered . . . nursing.” 59 O.S. §§567.8(B)(3), (B)(7). (B)8, and (B)(9).
On August 19, 2026, a Board Nurse Investigator filed a Complaint against Respondent’s RN license for the multiple violations. On multiple dates between August 13, 2022, and September 19, 2022, while employed as an RN for a Staffing Agency and working in the Float Pool at a Hospital, Respondent failed to maintain care, custody, and control of Controlled Dangerous Substance (“CDS”) medications for multiple patients; removed CDS medications for multiple patients and failed to document the administration and/or waste and/or return of the CDS medications. On July 23, 2026, and August 13, 2026, Respondent failed to cooperate with a lawful investigation by Board staff when Respondent failed to participate in a telephonic investigative conference with Board staff.
The correspondence for the telephonic investigative conference was mailed to the Respondent’s mailing address of record on July 7 and July 24, 2026. Correspondence dated July 7, 2026, was not returned to the Board office. Correspondence dated July 24, 2026, was returned to the Board office on August 3, 2026, with a note “Return to Sender”/“Not Deliverable as Addressed”/“Unable to Forward”. Then on August 19, 2026, the Complaint and Notice of Hearing were mailed to Respondent by Certified/Restricted delivery mail via the United States Postal Service. To date, the certified mail has not been returned to the Board office. Respondent has not submitted a change of address to the Board. In addition, on September 1, 2, and 3, 2026, a Board Nurse Investigator telephoned Respondent at Respondent’s telephone number of record and sent electronic mail correspondence to the Respondent’s electronic mail address of record, requesting that Respondent contact the Board. Respondent has not returned calls and has not replied to the electronic messages sent by the Board.
After a hearing on September 23, 2026, and based on the seriousness of the allegations made in the Complaint, the Board found that public health, safety, and welfare imperatively require emergency action to summarily suspend Respondent’s RN license pending a hearing on the merits of the Complaint and a determination of whether or not Respondent’s license should be disciplined.
It is, therefore, the official opinion of the Attorney General that the Oklahoma Board of Nursing has adequate support for the conclusion that this action advances the State’s policy to protect public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring nurses comport themselves with the standards of professional conduct at all times.
Cheryl Dixon
Deputy General Counsel
[1]“Sufficient knowledge or reasonable skill means adherence to minimal standards of acceptable practical nurse practice, registered nurse practice, advanced registered nurse practice, or advanced unlicensed assistant’s practice generally prevailing in the State of Oklahoma.” OAC 485:10-11-1(b)(2).
[2]Unprofessional conduct means “conduct detrimental to the public interest;” “failure to maintain proper custody and control of controlled dangerous substances of the patient or agency;” and “failure to cooperate with a lawful investigation by Board of Nursing staff.” OAC 485:10-11-1(b)(3)(H), (T), and (V).
[3]Conduct which jeopardizes a patient’s life, health, or safety shall include “failure to utilize appropriate judgment in administering safe nursing practice or patient care assignment based upon the level of nursing for which the individual is licensed or recognized[.]” OAC 485:10-11-1(b)(4)(D).
