Health Professionals Assistance Program

The Board of Nursing's Health Professionals Assistance Program (HPAP) is designed for licensed nurses and nursing students who need case management and monitoring when they are unable to practice with reasonable skill or safety, or whose practice poses a risk to the public, when the nurse's mental health or substance use related issue or disorder is not appropriately managed. 

The Board contracts with Midwest Health Management Services (MWHMS) to conduct HPAP. MWHMS is staffed by licensed mental health professionals who will evaluate, consult, coordinate care, and support a nurse's ongoing recovery management to promote successful outcomes.  

Eligibility to Participate

Any nurse who holds a SD nursing license, has applied for licensure, or is a student enrolled in a SD nursing program, may apply to participate in the program. 

Enrollment Options

• Voluntary Enrollment allows individuals, who meet eligibility criteria, to enroll and participate in HPAP on a confidential basis.  A participant's information will not be shared with the board or public. To be eligible, a nurse has not:

  • Been terminated from another similar program due to noncompliance; 
  • Had a history of practice involving significant harm or death to a patient; 
  • Engaged in the diversion of drugs or substances for the purpose of sale or distribution to others; 
  • Engaged in behavior that has a high potential to cause patient harm; 
  • Fraudulently written a prescription;
  • Been convicted of criminal behavior that includes crimes involving sexual misconduct, violence, or threatening behavior; 
  • Had a license that has been on probation, suspended, or revoked. 

• Nurses who do not meet the elibility criteria for Voluntary Enrollment, or nurses who are mandated under a formal board order to participate, may apply to enroll.  MWHMS will share the participant's progress in the program with the board. 

• All enrolled participants must maintain compliance in the program; failure to do so may result in MWHMS reporting the nurse to the board.