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The Oklahoma Board of Nursing welcomes new Board member, Jana Martin, MS, RN. Jana is the Division Chair of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. She obtained her Associate Degree in nursing from Connors State College and her Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Oklahoma. Martin has served in nursing education for thirteen (13) years and has been a Registered Nurse for twenty-one (21) years. She states that her nursing education, experiences and colleagues have helped her prepare for and make a difference in people’s lives as both a nurse and an educator. “I have had so many role models and mentors in my life, and I am thankful for their guidance and support,” stated Martin. Martin resides in Morris, Oklahoma, with her two daughters, Cheyanne and Codi; son-in-law Josh; and two granddaughters, Tenli and Timber.
Effective January 1, 2013, the Oklahoma Board of Nursing requires through law (59 O.S. § 567.18.B) Registered Nurse (RN)/Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) applicants for licensure by exam or endorsement and applicants for Advanced Unlicensed Assistant (AUA) certification to have fingerprint-based criminal background checks conducted prior to being licensed in Oklahoma. Effective November 1, 2013, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse applicants for licensure or endorsement will also be included in the requirement of fingerprint criminal background checks. This law supports the mission of the Board of Nursing in protecting the public through safe nursing practice.
Updated Fingerprint Criminal Background Checks Frequently Asked Questions can be accessed at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/fcbcfaq.pdf
Effective November 1, 2013, prescriptions for any medication containing hydrocodone with another active ingredient shall not be refilled [63 O.S. § 2-309B.3., Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act]. This law applies to prescriptions written prior to November 1, 2013, but not yet filled. Transfer prescriptions are considered to be a refill of a pre-existing prescription and are not allowed. However, partial refills would be permitted (i.e. prescription is written for 100 pills but the patient only chose to purchase 20 pills at a time.) Documentation for partial fills is required in accordance with OAC 475: 30-1-12 (Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Rules). Hydrocodone with another active ingredient is considered to be a Schedule III prescription and may continue to be prescribed by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with prescriptive authority recognition.
Title 63 O.S. § 2-309 can be in its entirety at: http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=98883
The American Society of Addiction Medicine, the Oklahoma Society of Addiction Medicine, the Oklahoma Health Professionals Program, the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, the State of Oklahoma Board of Osteopathic Examiners, the Affinity Health Services, the Oklahoma State Medical Association and PLICO are presenting: Safe Practical Pain Management for Office Based Practice and ER/LA Opioid REMS: Achieving Safe Use While Improving Patient Care. The activity is being held on Friday, September 20, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 222 N.W. 15th Street in Oklahoma City. Registration fee is $75. Lunch will be provided.
For more details and full agenda click here: Program Agenda
To register for this conference click here: Register
The following policies have been reviewed/approved and are available for review by hyperlink provided:
Approved Policies/Guidelines during the May 2013 Board Meeting:
CRNA Inclusionary Formulary, P-50A
This document is available at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/prac-crnafrm.pdf
Complete May 2013 Board Meeting Minutes are available at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/bdminmay13.pdf
Approved Policies/Guidelines during the July 2013 Board Meeting:
Meeting Requirements for Continuing Qualifications for Practice for License Renewal Guidelines, #P-23
This guideline can be accessed at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/cqlicenserenewal.pdf
Employment of Nursing Students or Non-Licensed Graduates Guidelines, #E-04
This guideline can be accessed at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/ed-guide.pdf
Preceptor Policy, #E-02
This policy can be accessed at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/ed-precpt.pdf
Refresher Course Policy, #P-17
This policy can be accessed at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/refresher.pdf
Nursing Competencies by Education Level: Guidelines for Nursing Practice and Education in Oklahoma, #P-21
This guideline can be accessed at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/ed-goals.pdf
Special Reports from Nursing Education Programs to the Board Policy, #E-06This policy can be accessed at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/spec-rpts.pdf
Effective January 1, 2013, all Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses licensed in the state of Oklahoma will be required to meet on of the following requirements within the two (2) years prior to the date of licensure expiration:
Option 1: Verify employment in a position that requires a registered/practical nurse license with verification of at least 520 hours; or
Option 2: Verify the completion of at least twenty-four (24) contact hours of continuing education applicable to nursing practice; or
Option 3: Verify current certification in a nursing specialty area; or
Option 4: Verify completion of a Board-approved refresher course; or
Option 5: Verify completion of at least six (6) academic semester credit hours of nursing coursework at the licensee’s current level of licensure or higher.
The following are frequently-asked questions that have been received in the Board office regarding the new continuing qualifications for practice requirements.
Q: I don’t work in a clinical position, but my job requires me to hold a nursing license. Will this meet the requirements?
A: If your job requires you to use your nursing knowledge and the job description states a RN/LPN license is required, then you may meet the requirements. If you are audited, your employer will need to complete an Employment Verification Form for your submission to the Board office along with a copy of your job description and completed audit application.
Q: I’m not currently working. What kind of contact hours can be used to meet the requirement, and where can I find them?
A: You may use any educational offering that is applicable to nursing practice and provides contact hours for continuing education credit. The contact hours must have been earned within the two year period immediately preceding the expiration date of your license, beginning in 2014. For example, if you are a Registered Nurse, and your current license effective date is February 1, 2012, with an expiration date of January 31, 2014, you would need to earn 24 contact hours between February 1, 2012 and January 31, 2014 to be eligible to use this option for renewal.
There are many educational offerings that are offered for continuing education credit. Examples include nursing seminars and workshops, nursing journal articles that allow you to complete a post-test and submit it for receipt of continuing education credit, and online nursing educational offerings. You can easily identify whether the seminar, workshop, journal article, or online education is being offered for continuing education credit by reviewing the program description, as the provider will include a statement that identifies the target audience, the number of continuing education contact hours to be awarded, and the name of the approver.
Q: I work part-time, but I will not have worked 520 hours within the two year period. Can I combine different options to meet the requirements?
A: No. You must complete either Option 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in its entirety.
Q: What should I send in with my renewal to show that I meet the continuing qualifications for practice requirements?
A: Beginning January 1, 2014, you will be asked to verify that you have met the continuing qualifications for practice requirements when you submit your renewal. You do not need to send anything to the Board office, unless you are audited. If you are audited, you will receive written notification approximately four months before the expiration date of your license. You will then need to submit documentation as indicated in the letter, no later than the expiration date of your license. Please note that it is important that you maintain the documentation related to continuing qualifications for practice for the two-year renewal period prior to the expiration date of your license.
Reminder for Change of Name
To change your name, you must complete the Name Change Request form. The form is available on the Board of Nursing website at: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/namechange.pdf
Reminder for Change of Address
Have you had a change of address? If so, you must notify the Board office in writing within 30 days of the change. You may submit a signed and dated statement with your license number of Social Security number, your full name, and your new address. Alternatively, you may complete your change of address on the Board’s website: https://www.ok.gov/nursing/renewal/login.php
Notice to Licensees Submitting Online Renewals
The Oklahoma Board of Nursing online renewal system provides a convenient way for you to submit your renewal. However, it is essential that you protect the security of your online information. Your PIN number, which is required for the renewal, should not be shared with anyone, not even with your spouse or support staff at your place of employment. Your responsibility to renew your license cannot be delegated to another person. You are the only person who can complete and submit the online renewal application!
To access the online renewal: https://www.ok.gov/nursing/renewal/index.php
“This publication is issued by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing as authorized by the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act [59 O.S. § 567.1 et seq.] and is located at the following website: http://www.ok.gov/nursing/pubs.html. This publication has been submitted in compliance with Section 3-114 of Title 65 of the Oklahoma Statutes.” |
