Jenny Barnhouse, Executive Director
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 52926
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152
Re: Hamilton, Case No. 3.2024030256.26
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 intends to take in the above-referenced case. The Respondent is licensed with a single-state registered nursing (RN) license that is currently active with conditions pursuant to Respondent’s May 2025 agreed Stipulations, Settlement and Order and a September 2025 Supplemental Order. Respondent’s licensed practical nurse (LPN) license is currently lapsed.
On May 20, 2025, Respondent entered into an agreed Stipulated Order for the following violation: On March 14-15, 2024, Respondent, while working as a staff nurse on the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at a hospital displayed impaired behavior to include having erratic behavior, paranoid speech and questionable medication waste. Respondent requested Morphine, a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) medication, from another licensed nurse (RN #1) and RN #1 observed the Respondent draw the medication up and waste the remaining Morphine. While the Respondent was on a break, Patient #1, for whom Respondent requested the Morphine from RN #1, requested Morphine and reported that she had not recently received Morphine. Respondent had documented in Patient #1’s electronic medical record that she had administered the Morphine to Patient #1. When Respondent returned from break, RN #1 questioned Respondent about the administration of the Morphine to Patient #1. After several unsuccessful attempts by Respondent to explain what happened with the Morphine, she was requested to submit to a reasonable suspicion drug test; however, Respondent refused and was terminated on or about March 15, 2024. Terms of the Stipulated Order included: Respondent’s single-state RN license to remain in effect; completion of education courses Nursing Jurisprudence, Critical Thinking to include moral reasoning and Care, Custody and Control of Controlled Dangerous Substances; submit to body fluid testing at least twice a month for 12 months; an Evaluation to be reviewed by the Board for consideration of further Orders; a severe reprimand and payment of an administrative penalty of $500.00.
On September 30, 2025, Respondent was issued a Supplemental Order that amended the Respondent’s Stipulated Order to accept the untimely received administrative penalty and three untimely education courses without suspension of Respondent’s RN license with all terms and conditions of the Stipulated Order to remain in full force and effect. On August 5, 2025, Board staff received the Respondent’s Evaluation that met the Board’s Evaluation Criteria. On October 16, 2025, Board staff noticed Respondent for the Review of the Evaluation Hearing on November 20, 2025.
At the November 20, 2025 hearing, the Board proposed the following discipline: Referral to the Board’s Peer Assistance Program (PAP) with Respondent’s RN license temporarily suspended pending entry into the PAP. If Respondent fails to enter PAP and/or defaults/terminates from PAP, Respondent’s RN license will be revoked for 2 years. If revoked, Respondent must meet Guidelines for Individuals Requesting Reinstatement After Suspension, Surrender or Revocation for Misappropriation or Misuse of Drugs/Alcohol. If revoked, Respondent must pay an administrative penalty of $500.00 and other requirements outlined in the Board’s 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
