The board, if it has reason to believe grounds exist, may order the revocation or suspension of a license to practice nursing as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse or privately reprimand the registered nurse or licensed practical nurse or take other reasonable action short of revocation or suspension, such as requiring the licensee to undertake additional professional training subject to the direction and supervision of the board. The board may also impose restraint upon the nursing practice of the licensee as circumstances warrant until the licensee demonstrates to the board adequate professional competence. In addition to any other sanction imposed by the board upon the licensee, the board may require the licensee to pay a civil penalty of up to two thousand dollars to the board for each violation of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations promulgated by the board, but the total penalty or fine for the violations may not exceed ten thousand dollars. All fines must be remitted to the State Treasurer and deposited in a special fund from which the board must be reimbursed for administrative costs for each case upon the approval of the Budget and Control Board. At any time when the special fund exceeds twenty thousand dollars, all excess funds must be remitted to the General Fund.
Fines are payable immediately upon the effective date of discipline.
Interest accrues after fines are due at the maximum rate allowed by law. No licensee against whom a fine is levied is eligible for reinstatement until the fine has been paid in full. In deciding what discipline is appropriate the board shall consider, along with the nature and circumstances of the offense, the protection of the public, the standards of nursing, and the interests in rehabilitation of the respondent nurse. The board is not limited to considering only those factors. A decision by the board to revoke, suspend, or otherwise restrict a license or to limit or otherwise discipline a licensee becomes effective upon delivery of a copy of the decision to the licensee and a petition for review does not operate as a supersedeas.