Jenny Barnhouse, Executive Director
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
2915 N. Classen Blvd., Ste. 524
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106
Re: Beeney, Case No. 10.2024060265.25
Dear Executive Director Barnhouse:
This office has received your request for a written Attorney General Opinion regarding action that the Oklahoma Board of Nursing intends to take in the above-referenced case.
The Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act authorizes the Board to impose discipline, including a denial of licensure, when a nurse “[i]s guilty of unprofessional conduct,”[1] or 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[.]” 59 O.S.2021, § 567.8(B)(7), (10). The Board may reasonably believe that the proposed action is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare and ensuring nurses meet minimum standards of professional conduct.
On or about June 12, 2024, Beeney submitted an RN Endorsement Application for the U.S. Educated Nurse requesting single-state license to practice registered nursing in Oklahoma. Beeney had previously been licensed as a registered nurse in California, license number 622570 issued on July 25, 2003. Beeney has an extensive disciplinary record in California starting around January 20, 2017, at which time Beeney’s license was initially revoked, but then placed on probation for five years with certain requirements after the Board found that Beeney had diverted drugs from her workplace and failed to successfully complete the Board’s diversion program. At that time Beeney admitted to the misconduct. The requirements of the five-year probation included submitting written reports, submitting to physical and mental health examinations, submitting to random drug testing, abstaining from the use of psychotropic drugs, completing an approved treatment or rehabilitation program for chemical dependency, and participating in an on-going counseling program. After extensive violations of the terms of probation from 2017 through 2020 (as detailed in the Complaint and Summary of Recommendation) the California Board of Nursing revoked Beeney’s probation, set aside the previously imposed stay of revocation, and revoked Beeney’s license effective June 12, 2020. After the Oklahoma Board considered Beeney’s extensive disciplinary history, and the revocation of Beeney’s California license, it proposes to deny Beeney’s Application pursuant to clear evidence that Beeney’s conduct violates the Oklahoma Nursing Practices Act, 59 O.S.2021, §§ 567.8 (B)(7) and (10) and Board Rules, OAC 485:10-11-1(3)(H).
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 meet minimum standards of professional conduct.
Cheryl Dixon
Deputy General Counsel
[1] Unprofessional conduct includes “conduct detrimental to the public interest[.]” OAC 485:10-11-1(b)(3)(H).
