South Carolina Long Term Health Care Administrator Practice Test

A license is required when nursing care is provided to how many unrelated persons over a period exceeding 24 hours?

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

The correct answer is: Two

In South Carolina, a nursing care facility is required to have a license when nursing care is provided to two or more unrelated individuals for more than 24 hours. This requirement is in place to ensure that proper standards of care and oversight are maintained in settings where medical and nursing care is delivered. The rationale behind the two-person threshold is tied to regulatory considerations. A facility that cares for two or more individuals typically requires more structured regulatory oversight to ensure quality of care, patient safety, and compliance with health standards. Therefore, when nursing care is extended to multiple individuals in a formal setting, it necessitates licensure to safeguard both the patients and the integrity of health services. In a scenario where care is provided to only one individual, such services may not be classified under the same regulatory framework as those provided to multiple unrelated persons, which is why a license is not mandated in that case. Additionally, different licensing requirements apply depending on the number of individuals receiving care in order to respond effectively to varying levels of complexity and need in patient care environments.