Jenny Barnhouse, Executive Director
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 52926
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152
Re: Ashley Michelle Dunlap, Case No. 3.024.27
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 to take against the single-state registered nursing license of Ashley Michelle Dunlap (“Respondent”). Respondent’s Registered Nurse license (“RN”) No.209361 is currently temporarily suspended.
In November 2025, Respondent entered into a Stipulation, Settlement and Order (“Stipulated Order”) with the Board. Terms of the Stipulated Order included: Respondent’s license to remain in effect; complete education courses Nursing Jurisprudence, Care, Custody and Control of CDS, and Medication Administration, including CDS; submit to body fluid testing at least twice/month for twelve months; submit an Evaluation; payment of an administrative penalty and a severe reprimand. On April 13, 2026, the Respondent’s Evaluation was received in the Board office and met the Board's Evaluation Criteria.
On June 19, 2026, Respondent's single-state registered nurse license was temporarily suspended for failure to comply with the Board’s Guidelines, in violation of the Stipulated Order. On June 30, 2026, an Order to Appear and Show Cause with Notice of Hearing was issued by the Board for the following violations:
(a) On multiple dates from January 16 through May 5, 2026, Respondent failed to submit and/or failed to cause to be submitted documentation of prescribed medications within seventy-two (72) hours and/or within ten (10) days of being prescribed the medications by a licensed healthcare provider as required by the Board’s Guidelines, 2026 Guidelines and pursuant to Respondent’s Stipulated Order.
(b) Respondent failed to cause to be submitted an Evaluation, which complies with the Board’s Evaluation Criteria, on or before April 7, 2026, pursuant to the Respondent’s Stipulated Order and as described in the Board’s Evaluation Criteria. The Evaluation was untimely and received in the Board office on April 13, 2026.
(c) On June 16, 2026, Respondent was selected for a random, Board-ordered body fluid test (“BFT”). Respondent failed to submit a BFT on the selected date. Pursuant to Respondent’s Stipulated Order and as described in the Board’s Guidelines and 2026 Guidelines, Respondent’s BFT is positive, as more particularly set forth in the Stipulated Order, Guidelines, and 2026 Guidelines.
On June 30, 2026, Respondent was mailed a Notice of Hearing before the Board for the review of the Respondent's Board-ordered Evaluation. Respondent’s agreed Stipulated Order states “the Evaluation will be reviewed by the Board, for the purpose of further Orders regarding Respondent’s license(s) as may be deemed necessary and proper to include but not limited to: referral to the Board’s Peer Assistance Program, probation/supervised practice up to 2880 worked hours, extension of body fluid testing, counseling, and/or education course(s) and/or any further Orders.”
After a hearing on July 29, 2026, the Board determined that Respondent has failed to show cause why her single-state license to practice registered nursing should not be revoked or other action taken. The Board proposes that Respondent’s license remain temporarily suspended pending review of Respondent’s subsequent Evaluation. The Board further proposes that the Respondent should continue to submit to body fluid testing, as ordered in the Stipulated Order, at least twice a month for the period of twelve (12) months and until the Evaluation is reviewed by the Board. Respondent shall remain free of alcohol, prescription medications not prescribed for the Respondent, and illegal substances.
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.
Thomas R. Schneider
Deputy General Counsel
