South Carolina Nurse - September 2020

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PAGE 14 September, October, November 2020 – The South Carolina Nurse WWW.SCNURSES.ORG South Carolina Board of Nursing SEPTEMBER 2020 / OCTOBER 2020 / NOVEMBER 2020 110 Centerview Dr. • Columbia, SC • 29210 • P.O. Box 12367 • Columbia, SC 29211-2367 Phone: 803-896-4550 • NURSEBOARD@LLR.SC.GOV • Fax: 803-896-4515 • http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/nursing/ South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation MISSION OF THE BOARD OF NURSING The mission of the State Board of Nursing for South Carolina is the protection of public health, safety, and welfare by assuring safe and competent practice of nursing. This mission is accomplished by assuring safe initial practice as well as continuing competency in the practice of nursing and by promoting nursing excellence in the areas of education and practice. The Board licenses qualified individuals as licensed practical nurses, registered nurses or advanced practice registered nurses. Complaints against nurses are investigated and disciplinary action taken when necessary. Schools of nursing are surveyed and approved to ensure quality education for future nurses. COVID 19 PANDEMIC (SC Board of Nursing Response) Effective March 14, 2020, Governor McMaster declared a public health emergency in SC in response to the spread of COVID-19 in South Carolina. Based on his Executive Order, the Board of Nursing posted its Limited Emergency License (LEL) application so employers can bring nurses who do not possess a multi-state license to South Carolina to assist with the emergency response to COVID-19. To date, two hundred fifty-eight (258) LEL’s have been issued. LEL’s are valid for fifteen (15) days and automatically renew during the pendency of the public health emergency. Employers seeking to bring in large numbers of licensees to assist during the pandemic may also contact SC DHEC, who has waived certain licensing requirements during the pendency of the public health emergency. Due to delays in graduates being able to complete NCLEX testing brought about by COVID-19, SC DHEC and LLR issued a joint order granting new graduates temporary authorization to work in South Carolina. As of 9-4-2020, Board staff members have issued one hundred twenty-one (121) temporary work authorizations (and ninety-nine (99) are ‘active’ as graduates successfully pass the NCLEX and become licensed). Two separate orders were passed specific to APRN’s. The first order suspended enforcement of certain requirements regarding nurse practitioner’s engaged in practice with physicians in the border states of North Carolina and Georgia (and these APRN’s had a pre-existing provider-patient relationship with patient’s living in South Carolina prior to the pandemic). Subsequently, the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing published a joint order suspending enforcement of certain requirements of practice by PA’s and APRN’s in certain settings. In addition to increased activity related to the pandemic, Board staff have issued over 3,200 licenses since mid-March. To date, South Carolina has 12,158 LPN’s, 65,552 RN’s and 8,345 APRN’s actively licensed in this state for a total of 86,055 licensees. 2020-2022 LICENSURE RENEWALS As of September 1, 2020, more than 73,600 LPN’s, RN’s and APRN’s have successfully renewed their license (to expire April 30, 2022). Research and statistical data collected each renewal period is helpful for state government, employers, academic partners, etc. to plan future workforce needs within the state. South Carolina Code section 40-33-38 requires that all licensees renew their license biennially. The deadline for renewing your South Carolina license is September 30, 2020. You have until October 31, 2020, to renew and reinstate your nursing license from lapsed back to active status (it is illegal to practice under a lapsed license). You may contact the Board with renewal questions at NurseRenewal@llr.sc.gov. Please do not send your competency information to the Board unless requested to do so! Online renewal will be available twenty-four (24) hours a day until October 31, 2020. To access, please log in to https://eservice.llr.sc.gov/OnlineRenewals/ and then enter your user ID and password. If you do not know your password, go to “Recover/Reset My Password” and your password will be emailed to you. If you do not have a current email address on file with the Board, please email the Board at NurseRenewal@llr.sc.gov with your name, license number, birth year and current email address. A current email address must be kept on file with the Board at all times. You may pay for your renewal using a credit card, a debit card, or via an electronic check. The renewal fees are as follows: LPNs and RNs - $75 APRNs - $105 APRNs with Prescriptive Authority - $145 Once your renewal is completed, a confirmation email will be sent to you directly. The Board has a paperless process so you will no longer receive a wallet card after you renew your license for the 2020– 2022 renewal cycle. You can verify your license on Licensee Lookup on the Board’s website at https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/ LookupMain.aspx within 3 business days of completing your renewal. Should you encounter any problems with renewing your license online, please contact the Board by email at the following address: NurseRenewal@llr.sc.gov. Due to a high volume of inquiries, these will be answered within 72 hours of receipt in the order received. Thanks in advance for your patience! NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT Indiana implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact July 1, 2020; New Jersey is allowing nurses who hold active, unencumbered, multi-state licenses issued by Nurse Licensure Compact member states to practice in New Jersey under their multi-state licenses. In addition, there is pending legislation in at least seven states at the present time. For additional information on the Nurse Licensure Compact go to www.ncsbn.org/compacts.htm “PRACTICE PEARLS” These “pearls” are offered as points of clarification from the South Carolina Board of Nursing Practice Consultant, Mindy Carithers, MSN, RN, RN-BC. APRNs • National certifications submitted to the Board must match the licensee name on file, as this is the only identifier. You are obligated to notify the national certifying body and the Board of any name change. Expired national certifications mean statutory licensure requirements are not met. Expired certification dates automatically update the license status to inactive • Please remember to access Licensee Lookup to verify updates submitted to the Board of Nursing specific to licensure status (national certification/recertification, name of primary collaborating physician, prescriptive authority, etc.). • Please review and reference our website at www.llr. sc.gov/nurse for alerts applicable to COVID-19 for revisions to practice agreements (and other pertinent information). HOW CAN I CHECK A LICENSE? To check a nursing license, you may utilize one or all of the following options: (A) South Carolina Licensee Lookup – Go to LICENSEE LOOKUP on the Board of Nursing’s webpage www. llr.sc.gov/nurse. It is recommended that only a portion of the nurse’s name be entered. This site will provide the nurse’s name, city/state, license number/type, date issued/expiration, license status, and whether the license is multi-state or single-state. (B) Nursys QuickConfirm – Go to www.nursys.com and click on Quick Confirm, following the instructions as outlined. This site will provide the nurse’s name, state of licensure, license type/number, license status, expiration date and discipline status if noted. The following states participate in QuickConfirm: AK, AL, AS, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, ID, IN, IA, KY, LA-PN, LA-RN, ME, MD, MN, MS, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, US Virgin Islands, VA, WV-PN,WV-RN, WI and WY. Go to www.ncsbn.org for updates as additional states may be added. (C) Other states – Most states have licensee lookup/ licensure verification on their websites. Links to other boards of nursing can be found at www.ncsbn.org. (D) You can check for discipline against a South Carolina nursing license on the Board’s website www.llr.sc.gov/ nurse under BOARD ORDERS. NURSYS.COM (E-NOTIFY) Nursys e-Notify® delivers real-time notifications about nurse licensure status including multi-state and single-state changes within the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact. Additionally, expirations, renewals and disciplinary actions are delivered to your inbox automatically. Nursys is the only national database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline, and practice privileges for RNs and LPNs provided directly by participating boards of nursing (BONs) and designated by them to be primary source equivalent. Once you have registered your organization and provided nurse data, you’ll automatically be notified of nurse licensure expirations, upcoming renewals and disciplinary action from your state and others. It’s free of charge, provided as a patient safety initiative by U.S. BONs and the NCSBN. Learn more, watch a video demo, or enroll for this free service at www.nursys.com. HAVE YOU MOVED? Section 40-33-38(C) of the South Carolina Code of Laws (Nurse Practice Act) requires that all licensees notify the Board in writing within 15 days of any address change. So you do not miss important time-sensitive information, such as an audit notice, legislative updates or other licensure information, be sure to notify the Board immediately whenever you change addresses. You may change your address on the Board of Nursing’s website (www.llr.sc.gov/nurse). Choose “Change of Address via Online Portal” under QUICK LINKS. NOTE: Changing your address with the South Carolina Nurses Association (SCNA) does not change your address on your licensing records with the South Carolina Board of Nursing. HOW TO CHANGE YOUR PRIMARY STATE OF RESIDENCE In accordance with §40-33-1350 of the S.C. Code of Laws, Compact rules and regulations will require each nurse to declare in writing his/her primary state of residence upon initial application and renewal of the nursing license. If at the time of licensure, the primary state of residence was listed as a non-compact state (example: WA, OR, NV, CA, OH, NY, etc.), an active single-state license in South Carolina was issued. If the primary state of residence later changes to South Carolina, a multistate license may be obtained by submitting a Declaration of Primary State of Residence (PSOR) form available on the Board of Nursing’s website (www.llr.sc.gov/nurse) under LICENSURE, “Applications and Forms, under Miscellaneous Forms.” The completed PSOR form should be sent to NurseBoard@llr.sc.gov with one of the following items as evidence of South Carolina residency: 1) South Carolina Driver's License with a home address; 2) South Carolina Voter Registration card displaying a home address; 3) Federal income tax return declaring the primary state of residence as South Carolina; 4) Military Form # 2058 - state of legal residence certificate; or 5) W2 from US Government or any bureau, division or agency thereof indicating the declared state of residence. The Compact primary residence rule does not apply to military nurses or nurses in the federal government, unless they are working outside of their military or government position. HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS? It is important to ensure that you receive information sent out via e-mail and for renewal of licensure. To change your email address, please email NurseBoard@llr.sc.gov with the full name on your license, your license number, your current email and your new email address. You may also change your email address on the Board of Nursing’s website (www.llr.sc.gov/nurse). Choose “Change of Address via Online Portal” under QUICK LINKS. CHANGING YOUR NAME ON YOUR NURSING LICENSE 1. If you have had a legal name change, submit your written request, along with a copy of the legal document(s) (example: copy of marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, etc.), to LLR-Board of Nursing, PO Box 12367, Columbia, SC 29211 or you can send the request and documents by email to NurseBoard@llr.sc.gov. Please indicate in your request whether you will use your middle name or maiden name for your middle initial or if you wish to hyphenate your name. Your request will be processed within 14 business days of receipt of your documents in the Board’s office and will be reflected on Licensee Lookup within three to five days after the name change is made. 2. You may verify that your name change request has been processed on LICENSEE LOOKUP on the Board’s website (www.llr.sc.gov/nurse). Refer to Section 40-33-36(B) of the Nurse Practice Act regarding statutory requirements for your name on your license. You may view the Nurse Practice Act
WWW.SCNURSES.ORG The South Carolina Nurse – September, October, November 2020 PAGE 15 South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation – Chapter 33 under LAWS/RULES/POLICIES on the Board’s website. CE BROKER: CONTINUING EDUCATION TRACKING / REPOSITORY South Carolina Board of Nursing Partners with CE Broker CE BROKER is the official Continuing Education tracking system of the South Carolina Board of Nursing! CE Broker is your main resource for everything that relates to Continuing Education and competency. With CE Broker, you can search for courses and track your completed credits, to ensure that you are up to date. The South Carolina Board of Nursing has provided licensees with a free CE BROKER account. With this Basic account, you will have access to your course history. This lists all of the courses you have completed, and you can easily find and report any CE that might be missing. You will never have to pay to access all the necessary tools to prove your competency when renewing your SC license. To activate your free account: It is important to notify the Board of changes to your e-mail address as well. The Board communicates information to its licensees through e-mail and the postal service. A current e-mail also facilitates access to the Board of Nursing website services. SCAM ALERT Scammers are targeting nurses, including here in South Carolina, by sending them official looking letters from Nursing Regulatory Bodies (NRBs) or other State/ Federal agencies. The scammers know the business of the agencies and NRBs and are connecting with the nurses using messaging such as “Your license is suspended or will be revoked unless you connect back with us and transfer funds to fulfill the financial obligation related to this inquiry…” 1. If you receive a phone call, do not give out your personal information during the call. Hang up, and do not call the number back unless you have determined, through research, that it is legitimate. 2. Do not reply to a text message asking for you to call the number provided in the text to discuss your imminent “suspension or revocation of your license.” 3. Do not reply to an email asking for personal information. 4. Never call a number provided to you in a suspect letter or email. 5. Use your own verified numbers for contacting the agency or NRB. Be vigilant! If you receive a suspected scam call, email, letter, etc., contact the agency or NRB directly to report it. Samuel H. McNutt, MHSA, CRNA, Congressional District 5 – Board Vice-Chairman Neil B. Lipsitz, Public Member, Secretary Rebecca Morrison, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, Congressional District 2 W. Kay Swisher, MSN, RN, Congressional District 3 Jonella Davis, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Congressional District 7 Robert Wolff, Ph.D., Public Member Vacant, (1) Registered Nurse, Congressional District 1 Vacant, (1) Registered Nurse, Congressional District 6 Vacant, (2) Licensed Practical Nurse At-Large BOARD VACANCIES There currently are four vacancies on the South Carolina Board of Nursing. Members serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed. Board members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Pursuant to Section 40-33-10(A) of the Nurse Practice Act, when appointing members to the Board of Nursing, the Governor will give consideration to include a diverse representation of principal areas of nursing not limited to hospital, acute care, advanced practice, community health and nursing education. Registered nurse and licensed practical nurse members must be licensed in South Carolina, must be employed in nursing, must have at least three years of practice in their respective professions immediately preceding their appointment and must reside in the district they represent. If you are not sure of your congressional district, you may check your district at scvotes.org. There is one vacancy on the Board of Nursing for a Registered Nurse representative from Congressional District 1, one vacancy for a Registered Nurse representative from Congressional District 6, and two vacancies for a Licensed Practical Nurse from the state at large. No board member may serve as an officer of a professional health-related state association. An individual, group, or association may nominate qualified persons and submit written requests to the Governor’s Office for consideration and appointment to the South Carolina State Board of Nursing. If you or someone you know is interested in one of these vacant positions, a letter of request, along with a resume or curriculum vitae, should be submitted to: Boards and Commissions, Office of the Governor, 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29210. Vacancies: [See Section 40-33-10(A) of the Nurse Practice Act for prerequisites and requirements] SC STATE BOARD OF NURSING CONTACT INFORMATION: Main Telephone Line (803) 896-4550 Fax Line (803) 896-4515 General Email NurseBoard@llr.sc.gov Website www.llr.sc.gov/nurse The Board of Nursing is located at Synergy Business Park, Kingstree Building, 110 Centerview Drive, Suite 202, Columbia, SC 29210. Directions to the office can be found on the Board’s website www.llr.sc.gov/nurse at the bottom of the page. The Board’s mailing address is LLR - Office of Board Services - SC State Board of Nursing, Post Office Box 12367, Columbia, SC 29211-1329. Regular Board business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Offices are closed for holidays designated by the state. BOARD OF NURSING ADMINISTRATION Carol A. Moody, MAS, RN, NEA-BC, Administrator OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT Main Telephone Line (803) 896-4470 VISIT THE BOARD OF NURSING WEBSITE: We recommend all nurses licensed by or working in South Carolina visit the website (www.llr.sc.gov/ nurse) often as information important to the practice of nursing is updated regularly. The State Board of Nursing Website contains the Nurse Practice Act (Chapter 33 – Laws Governing Nursing in South Carolina), Regulations (Chapter 91), Compact Information, Advisory Opinions, Position Statements, Licensure Applications, Competency Requirements/Criteria, Application Status, Licensee Lookup, Disciplinary Actions, and other helpful information. The Nurse Practice Act, Regulations, Advisory Opinions and Position Statements are located under the LAWS/ RULES/POLICIES tab (and you can also find the AO’s, Position Statements, Joint AO’s, etc. under the PRACTICE & STANDARDS tab). Competency Requirements/Criteria, which includes continuing education contact hours, are located under the EDUCATION tab. You will also find the Board meeting calendar, agendas, minutes, Board member names and the areas they represent under the BOARD tab. BOARD OF NURSING MEETING CALENDAR FOR 2020 Board and Committee meeting agendas are posted on the Board’s website at least 24 hours prior to meeting. Board of Nursing Meeting September 24-25, 2020 November 19-20, 2020 Advanced Practice Committee November 6, 2020 Advisory Committee on October 20, 2020 Nursing Education December 1, 2020 Nursing Practice & October 8, 2020 Standards Committee Designated 2020 State Holidays Labor Day September 7, 2020 Veterans Day November 11, 2020 Thanksgiving November 26-27, 2020 Christmas December 24-25, 28, 2020 COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED The following are vacant positions for advisory committees to the South Carolina Board of Nursing: 1. Advisory Committee on Nursing Education: Associate Degree (Nurse Educator) 2. Expert Reviewers: Nursing Administration, Ambulatory (Urgent Care), CRNA, Cardiology, Adult Critical Care, Geriatrics (Long Term Care), Home Health, and Hospice For the Advisory Committee on Nursing Education, complete the Committee Nomination Form. For the Expert Reviewer openings, complete the Hearing Panel/ Investigative Review Committee/Expert Case Review Nomination Form. Both forms are available on the Board’s website (www.llr.sc.gov/nurse) under the LICENSURE tab, “Applications/Forms, under Board of Nursing Committees.” Submitted nomination forms will be forwarded to the Board’s Nominations work group for review. Official action regarding appointment/reappointment will occur at the following full Board meeting, and qualified applicants will be requested to appear in person at the Board meeting. As a nurse at CarolinaEast Health System you can work in a variety of units utilizing the latest technology with a focus on patient care. Registered nurses are highly valued members of the care team, and are provided conveniences such as electronic charting and medication scanning right at the bedside. Raise a family in lovely New Bern, North Carolina, close to both the ocean and mountains. Come for your career, stay for the people you will serve and the relationships you will develop. We are looking for nurses specializing in: At least $5,000 sign on bonus for experienced full-time nurses Relocation up to $5,000 for qualified candidates To learn more about our opportunities or to apply, visit jobs.carolinaeasthealth.com/nursing. BOARD MEMBERS Sallie Beth Todd, MSN, RN, Congressional District 4, Board Chairman
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South Carolina Nurse - September 2020

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