Nursing Assistants
Nursing assistants are defined in ARSD 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".
Nurse Aide:
South Dakota requires that licensed nurses educate, train, and delegate nursing tasks to nurse aides and supervise the outcomes of the tasks they perform.
Registration by the board is required for nurse aides who practice in licensed skilled nursing facilities and in some assisted living centers, registered nurse aides use the "Certified Nurse Aide", abbreviated "CNA". Only individuals listed on the registry may use the title of "CNA". Registration requirements include completing a 75-hour board-approved training proogram, passing a competency evaluation assessment, consisting of a 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. Registration by the board is not required for diabetes aides.
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.