South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) arrested a 40-year-old woman from Piedmont, South Carolina. She was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center on December 23, 2025.
A joint investigation by VAMPF and the South Carolina Department of Health’s Bureau of Drug Control revealed allegations that the defendant knowingly practiced nursing and used the title Director of Nursing, a position requiring licensure, despite lacking an active license as required by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing.
It is further alleged that she was aware her nursing license had been suspended by order of the South Carolina State Board of Nursing, yet she continued to represent herself as, and perform the duties of, the director of nursing while employed at a Greenville nursing home on June 20, 2025, and June 23, 2025.
Investigators also allege that, during her employment at the facility, she knowingly and intentionally stole a quantity of oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, from another person with the intent to permanently deprive that person of the medication.
She faces two counts of Unlicensed Practice as a Registered Nurse or Practical Nurse, a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than $50,000. She also faces one count of Theft of a Controlled Substance, first offense, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years and/or a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Healthcare facilities are responsible for ensuring that individuals working in clinical leadership and nursing roles are properly licensed, authorized, and qualified to perform their duties. Failure to consistently verify licensure status, monitor changes to credentials, and oversee access to medications can expose facilities to regulatory, legal, and patient safety risks. Clear processes for credential verification, role authorization, and controlled substance oversight are essential to maintaining regulatory compliance and protecting patient safety.
Discussion Points
- Review policies and procedures related to licensure verification, role authorization, and controlled substance management. Ensure policies clearly outline requirements for verifying active licensure at hire and throughout employment, restrictions on use of professional titles, and procedures for securing and accounting for controlled medications. Facilities may consider working with a compliance consultant to review existing policies and identify gaps or areas for improvement based on current regulatory expectations and best practices.
- Provide ongoing education to appropriate staff on licensure requirements, scope of practice, and responsibilities associated with clinical roles, including leadership positions. Training should reinforce staff accountability for maintaining active credentials, proper use of professional titles, and compliance with medication handling and security requirements. Med-Net Academy offers Employee Recordkeeping Requirements and Education and The Importance of Proper Licensure – A Case Study, which provide practical guidance on maintaining compliance with staffing, licensure, and documentation standards.
- Conduct routine audits to confirm that employee licenses remain active and unencumbered, job duties align with verified credentials, and controlled substances are properly stored, documented, and reconciled. Audits should include periodic review of personnel files, medication records, and access controls. Facilities may benefit from engaging external reviewers or mock survey resources to provide an objective assessment of compliance processes and to identify potential risks before they result in citations or enforcement actions.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, Inc. for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*