Section · Administrative Rules of South Dakota · View on sdlegislature.gov ↗
The standards of practice for a registered nurse and a licensed practical nurse are to: (1) Practice within the legal boundaries for nursing practice authorized in SDCL chapter 36-9 and this article; (2) Accept personal responsibility and be accountable for actions, competence, decisions, and behavior in the course of nursing practice. A nurse does not avoid this responsibility by accepting the orders or directions of another person; (3) Perform only those activities, tasks, or responsibilities that another reasonable and prudent nurse with similar educational preparation and demonstrated clinical competence would perform and that one has determined can be accomplished safely; (4) Perform activities, tasks, or responsibilities only after considering the complexity and frequency of nursing care needed by the client population served; (5) Perform activities, tasks, or responsibilities only after considering if a practice setting allows a nurse to perform the activities, tasks, or responsibilities in the practice setting, provides a sufficient number of qualified personnel within the practice setting, and provides adequate channels of communication that lend support to the types of nursing services offered in the practice setting; (6) Maintain competence through ongoing learning and application of knowledge in current nursing practice; (7) Obtain instruction and supervision when needed in implementing new or unfamiliar nursing techniques or practices; (8) Document nursing care provided, changes in a client’s condition, or relevant information, in an accurate and timely manner; (9) Maintain professional boundaries and therapeutic relationships with clients; (10) Collaborate and consult with, or refer clients to, other health care providers to resolve situations beyond one’s expertise; (11) Practice without discrimination on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, patient diagnosis, or disability; (12) Advocate for the respect, dignity, rights, and property of clients; (13) Take preventive measures to promote an environment that is conducive to health and safety; and (14) Report illegal, substandard, unethical, unsafe, or incompetent nursing practice.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 3 SDR 35, effective November 11, 1976; 12 SDR 109, effective January 9, 1986; 12 SDR 151, 12 SDR 155, effective July 1, 1986; 22 SDR 23, effective August 29, 1995; 26 SDR 174, effective July 4, 2000; 33 SDR 43, effective September 12, 2006; 41 SDR 12, effective July 31, 2014; 50 SDR 69, effective December 10, 2023.