Section 73-15-33 - Violations and penaltiesIt is unlawful for any person, including a corporation or association, to:
(a) Sell, fraudulently obtain or furnish any nursing diploma, license, renewal of license, or record, or to aid or abet therein;(b) Practice nursing as defined by this article under cover of any diploma, license, renewal of license, or record illegally or fraudulently obtained or signed or issued unlawfully or under fraudulent representation;(c) Practice or offer to practice nursing as defined by this article unless duly licensed or privileged to practice under the provisions of this article;(d) Use any title, designation or abbreviation by which a person presents to the public that he or she is a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse or any other type of nurse, unless the person is duly licensed or privileged to practice under the provisions of this article; however, this paragraph does not prohibit a certified nurse assistant or certified nursing assistant from using the word "nurse" or "nursing" as part of his or her job title;(e) Practice as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse during the time his or her license or privilege to practice issued under the provisions of this article is under suspension or revocation;(f) Conduct a nursing education program for the preparation of registered nurses, unless the program has been accredited by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, or conduct a nursing education program for the preparation of licensed practical nurses unless the program has been accredited by the Department of Education through the Division of Vocational Education;(g) Willfully employ unlicensed persons or persons not holding the privilege to practice, to practice as registered nurses or licensed practical nurses; or(h) Willfully aid or abet any person who violates any provisions of this article.Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than twelve (12) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. It shall be necessary to prove, in any prosecution under this article, only a single act prohibited by law, or a single holding out or an attempt without proving a general course of conduct in order to constitute a violation. Each violation may constitute a separate offense. Except as otherwise authorized in Section 7-5-39, it shall be the duty of the Attorney General to advise with the board in preparing charges, to assist in conducting board disciplinary hearings, to provide assistance with appropriate affidavits and other charges for filing in the appropriate court, and to assist the county or district attorney in prosecution, if any.
Codes, 1942, § 8806-17; Laws, 1970, ch. 420, § 17; Laws, 1981, ch. 449, § 14; reenacted, Laws, 1983, ch. 485, § 16; reenacted, Laws, 1991, ch. 465, § 16; Laws, 2000, ch. 482, § 10; Laws, 2009, ch. 326, § 1; Laws, 2012, ch. 546, § 35, eff. 7/1/2012.