Final answer:
The state board of nursing can implement disciplinary actions against the nurse's license, but criminal charges and malpractice lawsuits are pursued by different entities, and employment decisions are made by the employer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a registered nurse administers the wrong medication to a patient, fails to report the error, and falsifies documentation, the state board of nursing can take several actions. The most likely action is disciplinary action against the nurse's license to practice. This can range from a reprimand to suspension or revocation of the license. Criminal misdemeanor charges might be applicable if state laws were violated, but this would be pursued by law enforcement, not the board of nursing itself. A medical malpractice lawsuit could be filed by the patient or the patient's family; however, this is a civil action and not within the purview of the board's direct actions. Lastly, employment release, or termination, may occur as an action by the employer, not the state board of nursing.
In the given clinical focus scenario, the healthcare worker's action of stealing syringes and potentially causing harm to patients led to immediate termination and criminal charges due to the gravity of the offense and public health risk, demonstrating the serious consequences of such acts.