Nursing Assistants
Nursing assistants are defined in South Dakota's Administrative Rule: 20:48:01:01(6) as "a person trained to assist a licensed nurse and function in a supportive role, regardless of title, and to whom a nursing task may be delegated".
Nursing assistants are valuable members of nursing teams and assist licensed nurses by providing essential nursing cares that a licensed nurse delegates to the assistant. Licensed nurses are required to appropriately delegate and supervise tasks and activities to nursing assistants. The Board has specific rules and requirements for the following nursing assistants.
Medication Aide:
South Dakota requires that a licensed nurse must educate and train medication aides, delegate only specific medication administration tasks, and supervise the medication aides. Registration by the board is only required for medication aides in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and hospitals. A registered medication aide may use the title "Registered Medication Aide", abbreviated "RMA".
Certified Nurse Aide:
South Dakota requires that a licensed nurse must educate and train nurse aides, delegate nursing tasks, and supervise nurse aides. Registration by the board is required for nurse aides who practice in licensed skilled nursing facilities and as required for some assisted living centers. Only individuals listed on the registry may use the title "Certified Nurse Aide", abbreviated "CNA". Regulation of CNAs is under the Board of Nursing following the recent adoption of new rules in ARSD 20:48. Registration as a CNA requires training and completion of a competency evaluation assessment, consisting of a passing a CNA skills evaluation and knowledge exam.
Diabetes Aide:
When a licensed nurse is not available to administer SQ insulin, an RN may delegate the insulin administration, and other diabetes care tasks, to an educated and trained diabetes aide.
Dialysis Technician:
South Dakota requires that a licensed nurse educate and train dialysis technicians, delegate specific dialysis tasks, and supervise dialysis technicians. Registration by the board is not required for dialysis technicians.