What is the South Carolina Board of Nursing's process for investigating complaints?

The South Carolina Board of Nursing has a systematic and structured approach to handling complaints against nursing professionals, which involves multiple steps to ensure fairness and thoroughness. The process begins with a review of the complaint to determine its validity and the necessity for further action. Following this initial review, if the complaint appears to have merit, the Board conducts a preliminary investigation. This step is crucial as it allows the Board to gather relevant information and evaluate the situation more comprehensively.

After the preliminary investigation, if the findings support the need for further action, a hearing may be held. This step provides an opportunity for the accused party to respond to the allegations and for all relevant evidence to be presented. This multi-step process ensures that complaints are handled judiciously and that due process is observed, preserving the rights of both the complainant and the nurse in question.

The other options do not accurately represent the Board's investigative process. The dismissal of most complaints without investigation, focusing solely on criminal activity, or jumping straight to a full investigation without prior reviews would undermine the thorough and balanced approach that the South Carolina Board of Nursing is mandated to follow.