(a) In addition to the authority granted in Code Section 43-1-19, the board shall have the authority to refuse to grant a license to an applicant, to revoke the license of a licensee, or to discipline a licensee upon a finding by the board that the applicant or licensee has:

(1) Been convicted of a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or any crime violating a federal or state law relating to controlled substances or dangerous drugs or marijuana in the courts of this state, any other state, territory, or country, or in the courts of the United States, including, but not limited to, a plea of nolo contendere entered to the charge;

(2) Had a license to practice nursing revoked, suspended, or annulled by any lawful licensing authority, had other disciplinary action taken by any lawful licensing authority, or was denied a license by any lawful licensing authority;

(3) Engaged in any unprofessional, unethical, deceptive, or deleterious conduct or practice harmful to the public, which conduct or practice need not have resulted in actual injury to any person. As used in this paragraph, the term "unprofessional conduct" includes the improper charting of medication and any departure from, or the failure to conform to, the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing nursing practice;

(4) Violated or attempted to violate a law or any lawfully promulgated rule or regulation of this state, any other state, the board, the United States, or any other lawful authority, without regard to whether the violation is criminally punishable, which statute, law, or rule or regulation relates to or in part regulates the practice of nursing, when the licensee or applicant knows or should know that such action is violative of such law or rule;

(5) Violated a lawful order of the board previously entered by the board in a disciplinary hearing; or

(6) Displayed an inability to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse with reasonable skill and safety due to illness, use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other types of material, or as a result of any mental or physical condition:

(A) In enforcement of this paragraph, the board may, upon reasonable grounds, require a licensee or applicant to submit to a mental or physical examination by a board approved health care professional. The expense of such mental or physical examination shall be borne by the licensee or applicant. The results of such examination shall be admissible in any hearing before the board, notwithstanding any claim of privilege under contrary law or rule. Every person who is licensed to practice practical nursing as a licensed practical nurse in this state, or an applicant for examination, endorsement, or reinstatement, shall be deemed to have given such person's consent to submit to such mental or physical examination and to have waived all objections to the admissibility of the results in any hearing before the board upon the grounds that the same constitutes a privileged communication. If a licensee or applicant fails to submit to such an examination when properly directed to do so by the board, unless such failure was due to circumstances beyond that person's control, the board may enter a final order upon proper notice, hearing, and proof of such refusal. Any licensee or applicant who is prohibited from practicing under this paragraph shall at reasonable intervals be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the board that such person can resume or begin to practice practical nursing as a licensed practical nurse with reasonable skill and safety; and

(B) In enforcement of this paragraph, the board may, upon reasonable grounds, obtain any and all records relating to the mental or physical condition of a licensee or applicant, including psychiatric records; such records shall be admissible in any hearing before the board, notwithstanding any privilege under a contrary rule, law, or statute. Every person who is licensed in this state or who shall file an application for said license shall be deemed to have given such person's consent to the board's obtaining such records and to have waived all objections to the admissibility of such records in any hearing before the board upon the grounds that the same constitute a privileged communication.

(b) Neither denial of an initial license, the issuance of a private reprimand, the denial of a license by endorsement under Code Section 43-26-38, nor the denial of a request for reinstatement of a license on the grounds that the applicant or licensee has failed to meet the minimum requirements shall be considered a contested case within the meaning of Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act"; and notice and hearing within the meaning of Chapter 13 of Title 50 shall not be required, but the applicant or licensee shall be allowed to appear before the board if he or she so requests.