Jenny Barnhouse, Executive Director
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 52926
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152
Re: Fodje, Case No. 3.2025060051.26
Dear Executive Director Barnhouse:
This office has received your request for a written Attorney General Opinion regarding action that the Oklahoma Board of Nursing (“Board”) intends to take in the above-referenced case. On March 31, 2025, Joel Dobdinga Fodje (“Applicant”) submitted to the Board a Reinstatement or Return to Active Status of Licensure (RN) Application to practice single-state registered nursing (Reinstatement Application).
The Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act (“Act”) authorizes the Board to impose discipline when a nurse “[i]s guilty of unprofessional conduct”[1] or “[v]iolated a rule [or] . . . an order of the Board.” 59 O.S.2021, § 567.8(B)(1)(a), (7) and (9).
Applicant had previously submitted, on July 19, 2021, to the Board an RN Endorsement Application for U.S. Educated Nurse (“Endorsement Application”) requesting a multistate license to practice registered nursing. In the Endorsement Application Applicant declared that he had graduated with an Associate degree in Nursing. However, it was later discovered around June 7, 2022, that Applicant had not obtained such a degree. On February 15, 2023, the Board rescinded Applicant’s multistate RN license since he had not completed the basic professional curricula requirements for licensure.
Applicant has again submitted an application to the Board to practice registered nursing in Oklahoma. Applicant submitted information indicating that he obtained the requisite degree as of February 7, 2025. The Board proposes to deny the Reinstatement Application. The Board proposes to order Applicant to apply for licensure by examination instead.
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 “falsifying documents submitted to the Board of Nursing.” OAC 485:10-11-1(b)(3)(E).
