CNS Practice

  • All Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) must hold an active South Dakota nursing license to practice nursing.

  • CNSs who are practicing in South Dakota, in-person or by telehealth, must follow South Dakota's practice laws as outlined in SDCL 36-9-87

  • Nurses and employers are encouraged to use the Board's approved APRN Scope of Practice Decisioning Algorith as a guide to making decisions on whether a specific task, intervention, or activity is in a CNS's scope.

FDA Alert: Compounded Injectable Products

Telehealth

All health care providers, including nurses, are expected to adhere to the requirements in SDCL 34-52  when providing services to patients located in South Dakota through telehealth. SDCL 34-52 includes the definition of telehealth and the requirements for treatment of patients, provider-patient relationship and exceptions, consultation recommendations, examination, prescribing, informed consent, and medical records.

Prescribing

South Dakota law does not authorize a CNS to prescribe or order medications.

Safe Driving

Nurses are encouraged to discuss with their patients the effects their medical condition and medication use has on the ability to safely operate a vehicle, in any mode of transportation. Learn more and find additional resources on the dangers of Drugged Driving by visiting the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Institute on Drug Abuse  

Page Updated: 4/2/2026 6:29:10 PM