(A) The party states find that:
(1) the health and safety of the public are affected by the degree of compliance with and the effectiveness of enforcement activities related to state nurse licensure laws;
(2) violations of nurse licensure and other laws regulating the practice of nursing may result in injury or harm to the public;
(3) the expanded mobility of nurses and the use of advanced communication technologies as part of our nation's health care delivery system require greater coordination and cooperation among states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation;
(4) new practice modalities and technology make compliance with individual state nurse licensure laws difficult and complex;
(5) the current system of duplicative licensure for nurses practicing in multiple states is cumbersome and redundant for both nurses and states; and
(6) uniformity of nurse licensure requirements throughout the states promotes public safety and public health benefits.
(B) The general purposes of this compact are to:
(1) facilitate the states' responsibility to protect the public's health and safety;
(2) ensure and encourage the cooperation of party states in the areas of nurse licensure and regulation;
(3) facilitate the exchange of information between party states in the areas of nurse regulation, investigation, and adverse actions;
(4) promote compliance with the laws governing the practice of nursing in each jurisdiction;
(5) invest all party states with the authority to hold a nurse accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the patient is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of party state licenses;
(6) decrease redundancies in the consideration and issuance of nurse licenses; and
(7) provide opportunities for interstate practice by nurses who meet uniform licensure requirements.
HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 87, Section 2; 2017 Act No. 41 (H.3349), Section 1, eff May 10, 2017.
Editor's Note
2005 Act No. 87, Section 7, provides as follows:
"This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to nursing licenses applied for after September 30, 2006."
Effect of Amendment
2017 Act No. 41, Section 1, rewrote the section to reflect changes mandated for membership in the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 40 - Professions and Occupations
Section 40-33-5. Application of Chapter 1, Article 1; conflicts.
Section 40-33-20. Definitions.
Section 40-33-25. Criminal records checks; dishonored check as evidence of act of moral turpitude.
Section 40-33-32. Initial licensure examination; foreign educated nurses.
Section 40-33-33. Inactive status of certain licenses.
Section 40-33-35. Licensing of applicant authorized to practice in other states.
Section 40-33-36. Issuance of licenses; temporary or limited licenses.
Section 40-33-37. Volunteer licenses.
Section 40-33-38. Renewal of licenses.
Section 40-33-39. Identification badges.
Section 40-33-40. Demonstration of competency for initial and renewal of licenses.
Section 40-33-41. Request for inactive status.
Section 40-33-42. Delegation of tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel.
Section 40-33-44. Exceptions to supervision requirements for licensed practical nurses.
Section 40-33-50. Administrative support of board activities; establishment of fees.
Section 40-33-70. Code of ethics.
Section 40-33-80. Investigation of complaints and violations.
Section 40-33-90. Administration of oaths.
Section 40-33-100. Issuance of restraining orders and cease and desist orders.
Section 40-33-110. Grounds for discipline of licensees.
Section 40-33-111. Reporting misconduct; review of findings of board.
Section 40-33-115. Jurisdiction of the board.
Section 40-33-120. Fines and other discipline; effective date; stay or supersedeas.
Section 40-33-130. Denial of licensure.
Section 40-33-140. Effect of criminal record.
Section 40-33-150. Surrender of license.
Section 40-33-160. Appeal; board decision not stayed pending appeal.
Section 40-33-180. Payment of costs and fines.
Section 40-33-190. Matters relating to complaint and proceeding privileged.
Section 40-33-200. Unauthorized practice; penalty.
Section 40-33-210. Civil action for injunctive relief.
Section 40-33-220. Severability.
Section 40-33-230. Licensure requirements for foreign-educated nurses.
Section 40-33-1300. Nurse Licensure Compact enacted.
Section 40-33-1305. Findings; purposes.
Section 40-33-1310. Definitions.
Section 40-33-1315. General provisions and jurisdiction.
Section 40-33-1320. Applications for licensure in a party state.
Section 40-33-1325. Additional authorities invested in party state licensing boards.
Section 40-33-1340. Coordinated licensure information system and exchange of information.
Section 40-33-1350. Rulemaking.
Section 40-33-1355. Oversight, dispute resolution and enforcement.
Section 40-33-1360. Effective date, withdrawal and amendment.