Jenny Barnhouse, Executive Director
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 52926
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152
Re: Turner, Case No. 10.2025070111.26
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 or about July 3, 2025, Turner (“Applicant”) submitted to the Board a complete RN Endorsement Application for U.S. Educated Nurse requesting single-state license to practice registered nursing (“Application”).
The Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act (“Act”) authorizes the Board to impose discipline when a nurse “[i]s guilty of a felony, or any offense substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties of any licensee . . . 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,”[1] or “[i]s guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined in the rules of the Board.”[2] 59 O.S.2021, § 567.8(B)(2), (7).
On February 23, 2017, Applicant was charged with Driving While Intoxicated With Child Under 15 Years of Age, a State Jail Felony, to which Applicant entered a plea of guilty. On November 7, 2017, the Court ordered the arrest of Applicant due to violation of the terms and conditions of her community supervision. On June 7, 2019, the Court ordered Applicant to serve 10 days in county jail, submit to alcohol/substance abuse evaluation and continue community supervision until June 21, 2020. On June 14, 2022, the Court ordered Respondent discharged from community supervision.
On March 2, 2024, another State’s Board of Nursing filed Formal Charges against Applicant’s RN license in that State for the Applicant’s felony, described above. On June 11, 2024, in an Order by the other State’s Board of Nursing, they revoked Applicant’s RN license in that State.
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] “’[S]ubstantially 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.” 59 O.S.2021, § 567.8(B)(2).
[2] Unprofessional conduct means “conduct detrimental to the public interest[.]” OAC 485:10-11-1(b)(3)(H).
