§ 40-33-34. (21) "Competence" means the ability of a licensed nurse to perform safely, skillfully, and proficiently the functions wi.
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/sc/title-40-professions-and-occupations/chapter-33/nurses/40-33-34·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
§ 40-33-34.
(21)"Competence" means the ability of a licensed nurse to perform safely, skillfully, and proficiently the functions within the role of the licensee. The role encompasses the possession and interrelation of essential knowledge, judgment, attitudes, values, skills, and abilities, which are varied and range in complexity. Competence is a dynamic concept, changing as the licensed nurse achieves a higher stage of development, responsibility, and accountability within the role.
(22)"Delivering" means the act of handing over to a patient medications as ordered by an authorized licensed provider and prepared by an authorized licensed provider.
(23)"Dentist" means a dentist licensed by the South Carolina Board of Dentistry.
(24)"Entity" means a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability corporation, association, joint venture, cooperative, company, corporation, or other public or private legal entity authorized by law.
(25)"Expanded role" of a registered nurse means a process of diffusion and implies multi-directional change. Expansion, as a process of role change, is undertaken to fill perceived needs in the health care system, and also to project new components or systems of health care. The authority base for practice from which the expanded role emanates is the body of knowledge that constitutes a nurse's preparation for practice. The expanded role of a registered nurse requires specialized knowledge, judgment, and skill, but does not require or permit medical diagnosis or medical prescription of therapeutic or corrective measures. The expanded role of a licensed practical nurse with special education and training includes performing delegated professional nursing activities, as authorized by the board under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse, but does not authorize violation of state law pertaining to medical or pharmacy practice.
(26)"Graduate Registered Nurse Anesthetist" or "GRNA" means a new graduate of an advanced organized formal education program for nurse anesthetists accredited by the national accrediting organization who must achieve certification within one year of graduation of program completion.
(27)"Graduate Registered Nurse-Midwife" or "GRNM" means a new graduate of an advanced organized formal education program for nurse-midwives accredited by the national accrediting organization. A GRNM is required to become certified within one year of graduation or program completion.
(28)"Health maintenance activities" include, but are not limited to, catheter irrigation, administration of medications, enemas and suppositories, and wound care, if these activities could be performed by an individual if the individual were physically and mentally capable.
(29)"Inactive license" means the official temporary retirement of a person's authorization to practice nursing upon the person's notice to the board that the person does not plan to practice nursing or the status of a license that does not currently authorize a licensee to practice nursing in this State.
(30)"Incompetence" means the failure of a nurse to demonstrate and apply the knowledge, skill, and care that is ordinarily possessed and exercised by other nurses of the same licensure status and required by the generally accepted standards of the profession. Charges of incompetence may be based upon a single act of incompetence or upon a course of conduct or series of acts or omissions that extend over a period of time and that, taken as a whole, demonstrate incompetence. It is not necessary to show that actual harm resulted from the act or omission or series of acts or omissions if the conduct is such that harm could have resulted to the patient or to the public from the act or omission or series of acts or omissions.
(31)"Individual in need of in-home care" means a functionally disabled individual in need of attendant care services because of impairment who requires assistance to complete functions of daily living, self-care, and mobility, including attendant care services.
(32)"Lapsed license" means the termination of a person's authorization to practice nursing due to the person's failure to renew his or her nursing license within the renewal period.
(33)"Letter of caution" means a written caution or warning about past or future conduct issued when it is determined that no misconduct has been committed or that only minor misconduct not warranting the imposition of a sanction has been committed. The issuance of a letter of caution is not a form of discipline and does not constitute a finding of misconduct unless the letter of caution specifically states that misconduct has been committed. The fact that a letter of caution has been issued must not be considered in a subsequent disciplinary proceeding against a person authorized to practice unless the caution or warning contained in the letter of caution is relevant to the misconduct alleged in the proceedings.
(34)"License" means a current document issued by the board authorizing a person to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse, a registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse.
(35)"Licensed Practical Nurse" or "LPN" means a person to whom the board has issued an authorization to practice as a licensed practical nurse.
(36)"Medical staff" means licensed physicians who are approved and credentialed to provide health care to patients in a hospital system or a facility that provides health care.
(37)"Misconduct" means:
(a)a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated by the board pursuant to this chapter; or
(b)a violation of any of the principles of nursing ethics as adopted by the board or incompetence or unprofessional conduct.
(38)"NCLEX" means the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses.
(39)"Nurse" means a person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse pursuant to this chapter.
(40)"Nurse Practitioner" or "NP" means a registered nurse who has completed an advanced formal education program at the master's level or doctoral level acceptable to the board, and who demonstrates advanced knowledge and skill in assessment and management of physical and psychosocial health, illness status of persons, families, and groups. Nurse practitioners who perform medical acts must do so pursuant to a practice agreement as defined in item (45).
(41)"Nursing diagnosis" means a clinical judgment about a person, family, or community that is derived through a nursing assessment and the standard nursing taxonomy.
(42)"Orientation" means any introductory instruction into a new practice environment or employment situation where being a nurse is a requirement of employment or where the individual uses any title or abbreviation indicating that the individual is a nurse. Orientation is considered the practice of nursing in this State.
(43)"Person" means a natural person, male or female.
(44)"Physician" means a physician licensed by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners who possesses an active, unrestricted, permanent license to practice medicine in this State and who actively is practicing within the geographic boundaries of this State.
(45)"Practice agreement" means a written agreement developed by an NP, CNM, or CNS and a physician or medical staff who agrees to work with and to support the NP, CNM, or CNS. The practice agreement must establish the medical aspects of care to be provided by the NP, CNM, or CNS, including the prescribing of medications. The practice agreement must contain mechanisms that allow the physician to ensure that quality of clinical care and patient safety is maintained in accordance with state and federal laws, as well as all applicable Board of Nursing and Board of Medical Examiners rules and regulations. The practice agreement must comply with