Jenny Barnhouse, Executive Director
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 52926
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152
Oyi, Case No. 3.2020100246.26
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. Respondent holds a single-state licensed practical nursing (“LPN”) license, number L0056580, that is currently on probation pursuant to Respondent’s November 2021 Consent Order (“Consent Order”).
On August 12, 2021, a Complaint was filed against Respondent’s LPN license for physically abusing a patient while employed by a home health care company. On November 18, 2021, Respondent entered into a Consent Order with the Board for the above violations with the following terms: Respondent’s LPN license suspended for 6 months; prior to reinstatement, must complete educational courses of Patient Abuse and Therapeutic Communication; pay an Administrative Penalty of $500.00. Upon reinstatement, LPN license on Probation for 720 cumulative worked hours in a hospital and/or healthcare agency, excluding home health care, private duty, and/or hospice. Upon successful completion of the Consent Order, Respondent agrees not to work in home health care, private duty, and/or hospice for a period of 2 years.
On July 26, 2022, Respondent’s Application for Reinstatement or Return to Active Status of Licensure (LPN) to practice as a single-state licensed practical nurse was approved by Board staff, in accordance with the terms of the Consent Order, and Respondent’s LPN license was placed on probation status.
On or about February 9, 2023, Respondent submitted to the Board a written request that the terms of the Consent Order be amended to provide additional time to complete the 720 cumulative worked hours of supervised practice. On March 28, 2023, Respondent, with counsel, was issued a Supplemental Order of the Board wherein Respondent's Consent Order was amended to provide Respondent additional time until July 31, 2024, to complete the 720 cumulative worked hours of supervised practice under the current Guidelines for Supervised Practice.
On June 18, 2024, Respondent’s legal counsel submitted a written request that the terms of Respondent’s Consent Order and Supplemental Order be amended to provide additional time to complete the 720 cumulative worked hours of supervised practice. On August 16, 2024, Respondent and Respondent’s Counsel were mailed a Notice of Hearing before the Board for the review of Respondent's Request to Amend. On August 23, 2024, Respondent’s counsel filed Respondent’s Request for Continuance. Respondent’s request for a continuance of the noticed September 26, 2024, hearing was granted, and Respondent’s Request to Amend would be set on the next Board Hearing docket of November 13-14, 2024. On October 2, 2024, the Respondent was mailed a Notice of Hearing before the Board for the review of Respondent's Request to Amend.
On November 14, 2024, the Respondent, with counsel, following a Board Hearing, was issued a Second Supplemental Order of the Board wherein the terms of Respondent's Consent Order and Supplemental Order were amended to provide that the Respondent, upon receipt of this Second Supplemental Order, shall have until November 30, 2025 to complete the 720 cumulative worked hours of supervised practice, as described in the Consent Order and Supplemental Order, in compliance with the current Guidelines for Supervised Practice.
On or about October 29, 2025, on behalf of Respondent, new counsel submitted to the Board Respondent’s Request to Amend Consent Order, wherein Respondent requests additional time to complete the 720 supervised practice pursuant to Respondent’s Consent Order, Supplemental Order, and Second Supplemental Order. Further, Respondent requests that the Board consider amending the supervised practice requirements. On December 30, 2025, Respondent and counsel were mailed a Notice of Hearing for January 29, 2026.
Completion of 720 probation hours is a term of the Respondent’s Consent Order, Supplemental Order, and Second Supplemental Order. After a hearing on Respondent’s Request to Amend Consent Order on January 29, 2026, the Board proposed to deny Respondent’s request to amend the Consent Order, Supplemental Order, and Second Supplemental Order.
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
