What are potential consequences of professional misconduct for nurses in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, professional misconduct for nurses can lead to serious disciplinary actions, including the suspension or revocation of their nursing license. The South Carolina Board of Nursing is responsible for regulating nursing practice and ensuring that nurses adhere to the standards of care and ethical obligations. When a nurse is found to engage in professional misconduct, such as negligence, substance abuse, or violating patient confidentiality, the board can impose various sanctions to protect public safety and maintain the integrity of the nursing profession.

Disciplinary actions may include a formal reprimand, probation, and in severe cases, suspension or complete revocation of the nursing license. This ensures accountability for nurses whose behavior could jeopardize patient safety or compromise the standards expected in healthcare. Therefore, license suspension is a significant consequence that underscores the serious nature of professional misconduct in the nursing field.

The other options either downplay the seriousness of misconduct (such as suggesting reprimands only or no repercussions) or inaccurately imply a positive outcome (like increased salary), which does not align with the reality of professional accountability in nursing.