(a) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing shall have sole authority to deny, suspend, revoke, or limit any license or privilege to practice nursing or certificate of prescriptive authority issued by the board or applied for in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or to otherwise discipline a licensee upon proof that the person:
(1) Is guilty of fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice nursing or is engaged in the practice of nursing without a valid license;
(2) Is guilty of a crime or gross immorality;
(3) Is unfit or incompetent by reason of negligence, habits, or other causes;
(4) Is habitually intemperate or is addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs;
(5) Is mentally incompetent;
(6) Is guilty of unprofessional conduct;
(7) Has had a license, privilege to practice, certificate, or registration revoked or suspended or has been placed on probation or under disciplinary order in any jurisdiction;
(8) Has voluntarily surrendered a license, privilege to practice, certification, or registration and has not been reinstated in any jurisdiction; or
(9) Has willfully or repeatedly violated any of the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The board shall refuse to issue or shall revoke the license of any person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to any offense listed in § 17-87-312(e), unless the person requests and the board grants a waiver pursuant to § 17-87-312(g).
(c) Proceedings under this section shall be as provided in the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq.