Everything You Need to Know About the Oklahoma Board of Nursing                                       

Like the rest of the country, Oklahoma is facing a nursing shortage , ranking in the bottom five U.S. states for nurses per capita . While the state’s senate has worked to close the gap through various programs, the key players in reducing this shortage are prospective nurses currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited undergraduate nursing program.

Earning such a degree gets individuals one step closer to a nursing career, but it’s not the final step. Before a nurse can practice, they must first obtain licensure from the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. For prospective nurses planning to practice in Oklahoma, it is essential to first understand how the Oklahoma Board of Nursing operates, what it governs, and why certification is a crucial part of the nursing process.

The Oklahoma Board of Nursing at a Glance

The Oklahoma Board of Nursing is a state-run regulatory body responsible for ensuring that all professionals practicing as a nurse at any level or as an advanced unlicensed assistant (AUA) possess the necessary skills and knowledge to do so. Its governance aims to protect the state’s public health and the well-being of its residents.

The backbone of the Board’s regulations is the OK Nursing Practice Act . Initially drafted in 1908 and signed into law the following year, the Act aimed to regulate nursing practice in Oklahoma, which had achieved statehood in 1907. While there have been revisions to the Act over the years, its mission of regulation remains consistent.

The Oklahoma Board of Nursing achieves its goals through several primary elements. They include:

• Nursing licensure regulation
• Unlicensed assistance certification
• Nursing practice
• Nursing education

It anchors its mission through a specific set of core values. These include:

• Innovation
• Communication
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Growth mindset
• Collaboration

General Functions of the Board

The Oklahoma Board of Nursing fulfills its mission by performing about a dozen general functions, from setting educational standards to maintaining nursing records to conducting disciplinary hearings. 

The Board is responsible for:  

• Establishing standards for any educational program preparing individuals for certification or licensure as a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or AUA

• Overseeing the National Council Licensure Examination ( NCLEX ) for RNs and LPNs in agreement with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing ( NCSBN )

• Providing the AUA certification examination in accordance with the testing service contract; AUAs are defined as those who

  • Take on an assistive role under a licensed nurse in an acute care environment
  • Complete either a Board-approved 200-hour training program or receive equivalent training
  • Demonstrate performance of skills sanctioned by the Board via an approved clinical skills list

• Furnishing initial licensure and Oklahoma Board of Nursing license renewal of qualified applicants, including:

  • New graduates
  • Nurses licensed in other states
  • Nurses educated in foreign countries
  • Nurses with lapsed licenses

• Issuing initial and renewed licenses to nurse practitioners (APRN)

• Issuing initial and renewed prescriptive authority recognitions to APRNs

• Keeping records of every licensed nurse and AUA and allowing public inspection access to such records

• Investigating grievances concerning alleged violations of the OK Nurse Practice Act and Rules of the Board

• Holding hearings regarding charges potentially warranting disciplinary action

• Overseeing a peer assistance program for nurses struggling with substance abuse or dependency

• Circulating rules to implement the OK Nursing Practice Act

• Consulting, conducting research, and holding conferences, forums, and studies on nursing education/practice

What Does the Oklahoma Board of Nursing Offer?

The guidelines set forth by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing help ensure that each nurse delivering patient care can do so with a proper level of competence and expertise. At the same time, the organization is much more than just a governing board. It offers a host of services and opportunities that enable state-licensed nurses to thrive in their current practice and grow their careers.

eNLC Multistate Licensure

Nurses practicing in Oklahoma aren’t restricted to practicing exclusively in the state. Oklahoma is part of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) for RNs and LPNs, which allows nurses to practice in one of 43 jurisdictions. This number may expand in the future: Every state except California is either part of the compact, has partially implemented the compact, has pending NLC legislation, or is awaiting NLC implementation.

The Oklahoma Board of Nursing oversees the issuance of multistate licenses. To receive a multistate license, a nurse must:

• Meet regular licensure requirements
• Keep Oklahoma as their primary state of residence

There are no additional licenses for an RN or LPN to obtain in this process. If a nurse relocates to another state, they must apply for a new license and declare their new primary state of residence within 60 days of their move.

Military Assistance

Licensure for nurses with military backgrounds can sometimes be confusing due to special rules and regulations . The Oklahoma Board of Nursing provides guidance to active military personnel and their spouses to help them receive licensure in the most streamlined manner possible. The board conducts a careful and personalized evaluation of each application submitted, which ultimately helps it provide advice that leads to the most efficient pathway to licensure.

Open Records Act

While the Oklahoma Board of Nursing chiefly focuses on licensed nurses, it also provides the public with opportunities for advocacy. The Open Records Act allows patients to access public record information on licensed nurses, helping them better understand their background and qualifications. They can obtain the following data:

• License type, number, status, and name
• Compact status
• Name of county
• License initial issue and expiration dates
• Employment in nursing
• Employment field
• Employment position

Additionally, individuals can access information regarding an APRN’s nursing type, specialty, and prescriptive authority status . 

The public cannot access personal contact information, including address, phone number, and email address, of licensees.

Oklahoma Peer Assistance Program

It’s been estimated that 10% of nurses experience issues with drug or alcohol use . Access to prescription medications such as opioids can be a potential job hazard, and nurses may turn to these substances to alleviate stress, deal with work overload, reduce aches and pains, or even enhance their work performance. This is a serious issue.

The Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s Oklahoma Peer Assistance Program is a voluntary program designed to help licensed nurses recover from drug and/or alcohol use. The program achieves this goal by analyzing the specific issue affecting each nurse and developing a structured, personalized, and confidential treatment strategy. 

Why Board Certification Licensing Matters

Nursing is a unique profession because it has a direct impact on human life. Nurses may also be the “face” of health care from a patient’s perspective, as they are often the individuals with whom patients interact most frequently.

Nursing is also a profession that’s constantly evolving. New technological innovations and medical breakthroughs can dramatically change the way health care is delivered at the highest levels. These changes make it essential for nurses to remain current in their knowledge and skill set.

These are prime examples of the importance of board certification from an entity such as the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. Certification can confirm that a nurse’s competence aligns properly with the current state of health care and that they can effectively apply their knowledge and skills within the context of the nurse/patient dynamic.

Board certification functions on two different fronts. For new nurses, it’s a fundamental part of the beginning of their nursing journey. For veteran nurses, an Oklahoma Board of Nursing license renewal allows them to refresh and update their knowledge, adapting to the theories currently driving the health care industry. Nurses can expect to renew their license on a two-year cycle.

Benefits of Licensing

Whether a nurse is just starting out or has years of experience, licensure yields a host of benefits that nurses can leverage throughout their careers. These benefits include the following:

• Assurance of quality care: Licensure keeps nurses informed about new ideas, theories, and practices in health care, enabling them to deliver optimized care to their patients. It can also protect the public from receiving care that’s outdated and rendered inferior due to technical innovation.
• Improved patient safety outcomes: Because a new license can help nurses deliver care in accordance with modern standards, patients can experience a boost in safety, both within the nurse/patient dynamic and the clinical environment.
• Promotion of lifelong learning: As a nurse, there is always a wealth of knowledge to acquire, and much of what can be learned has a direct impact on patient care. Licensure fosters an appreciation for lifelong learning , which can lead nurses to explore their own professional development and ultimately shape how they can impact health care.

Ultimately, board-certified licensure is essential for any facility seeking to deliver the highest-quality patient care. As such, the process overseen by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing is as vital for patients as it is for nurses.

Tips on Gaining Board Certification Licensure

Gaining licensure is required to practice as a nurse in Oklahoma. For a new nurse, earning this licensure may seem complicated. Fortunately, there are a few tips nurses can utilize to streamline the licensing process:

• Be proactive: It’s wise for nurses to start the licensure process several months before they are ready to practice or their current license expires. This will mitigate the need to complete the required steps within a truncated timeframe. It may also reduce the chances of missing an important part of the licensure process due to haste.
• Be thorough: Nurses renewing their license should never assume that any aspect of the process is off-limits to change. As such, it’s important to take the time to review the steps toward licensure. It’s also crucial to review all relevant changes within the industry since the last renewal.
• Utilize resources: A wealth of resource material is available to inform nurses exactly what they need to do to obtain their initial license or renew an existing one. These resources are designed to help the process be as straightforward as possible. Several resources can also help nurses potentially grow their knowledge about care delivery and the health care industry as a whole.

Licensure Resources

The following resources can help both new and experienced nurses, as well as other health care professionals, understand the importance of licensure, navigate the licensing process, and more.

• National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Nurse Licensure Guidance : This resource allows prospective and current nurses to select their state and get additional information on licensing, state participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact, and more.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Nursys : This database enables licensed nurses to verify their licensure and enroll in a notification service, ensuring they are not caught off guard at renewal time.
• Oklahoma Board of Nursing, Education : This page acts as a repository for hyperlinks to education policies and guidelines pertaining to nurse licensure.
• Oklahoma Board of Nursing, Guidelines and Position Statements : This resource page features hyperlinks to nursing procedures and guidelines as governed by the Board.
• Oklahoma Board of Nursing, Nursing : This main page includes resource links for almost all aspects of the licensure process and services.
• Oklahoma Board of Nursing, Renewal Application Types, Instructions, Information : This resource page provides various links to information regarding unique circumstances surrounding licensure attainment and renewal, such as address changes and citizenship status.
• Intelycare, Oklahoma Board of Nursing License Renewal : 3 Steps: This guide provides information on how different nurses can renew their license in the state of Oklahoma. 

Oklahoma Nursing Board: Safeguarding Public Health and Welfare

Nursing licensure is essential for delivering safe, consistent care that can potentially improve patient outcomes. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s role in the state’s health care system is to ensure that nurse licensure standards and best practices remain at a high level. Because of its work, Oklahoma patients and their families can rest assured that the nurses they encounter are held to a high standard of competence.