Become a Registered Nurse in South Dakota - SD

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February, 19 2010

How to Become an RN in South Dakota

Becoming a nurse in South Dakota starts with a commitment to serve patients in a healthcare setting. Some people may choose to volunteer in places where nurses work, for example in hospitals. Others may want to shadow nurses in the field. Volunteering and shadowing are good ways to learn about what nurses do on a day-to-day experience. After making the decision to become a nurse, the next step is to apply to nursing programs in South Dakota. There are varieties of programs that offer nursing education. Individuals interested in attending a nursing program can search the Internet for contact information. 

After researching and finding South Dakota RN programs, the next step is to apply to the program that best suites your needs; this may be an accredited online program. Nursing schools are usually at 2-year or 4-year colleges.  Every school will require high school transcripts or GED scores, letters of recommendation, an application for admission, background check, etc.  Applicants should contact the admissions coordinators at the school of their choice for requirements and application deadlines.

After applying to a nursing program and getting accepted the next step is to successfully complete the program. Successful completion involves passing nursing classes, learning nursing skills and practices and completing an nursing clinical experience in the field. After completing the nursing curriculum graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Once the exam has been passed, nurses can apply for licensure from the South Dakota Board of Nursing. After licensure is obtained, nurses are eligible to legally practice in South Dakota. After becoming a licensed RN, individuals are required to maintain their licensure by renewing their license with the board annually and completing continuing education coursework.

Registered Nurse Licensure in South Dakota

The South Dakota Board of Nursing is the governmental body that regulates nursing practice and education in South Dakota.  All registered nurses practicing in South Dakota will need to submit an application (and fee) for licensure in South Dakota. There are additional requirements such as graduating from an approved school and completing a background check. There are two ways that nurses can obtain licensure, one is by endorsement, and the other is by exam.

Licensure by endorsement applies to nurses who hold Registered Nursing licensure from other states. They can apply by filling out an application for licensure by endorsement, verifying 140 hours of nursing employment in the past year, submitting school transcripts to the Board.  Licensure by examination process includes an application, background check and verification of nursing school completion. Additionally, nurses must take and pass the NCLEX-RN examination to obtain licensure by examination.  Individuals interested in more information should contact the Board at:

The South Dakota Center for Nursing Workforce collaborates with the Board of Nursing to research, collect data and reform the nursing profession in South Dakota.  Students of nursing and professionals seeking to advance their career should check out the Center’s website for scholarships, continuing education and educational programs. The Workforce also keeps detailed statistics about the nursing profession in South Dakota.

South Dakota Board of Nursing
4305 South Louise Ave.
Suite 201
Sioux Falls, SD 57106-3115
Phone: 605-362-2760
Fax: 605-362-2768
http://doh.sd.gov/boards/nursing

RN Professional Associations in South Dakota

The South Dakota Nurses Association is the state affiliate of the American Nurses Association.  Joining the South Dakota Nurses Association has benefits such as discounts on conferences, continuing education and opportunities to connect with other nurses. The Association lobbies the South Dakota legislature to promote the nursing profession and the healthcare needs of the public. Individuals interested in nursing public policy will find the South Dakota Nurses Association a worthwhile resource.

South Dakota also has practice specific nursing associations, such as the School Nurses Association. The South Dakota Nurses Association advocates for the needs of nurses in school, as well as the healthcare needs of students in schools.  For more information, visit the South Dakota School Nurses Association on the web at http://sd.schoolnurses.org.  The American Psychiatric Nurses Association has a South Dakota Chapter, which advocates for the psychiatric nursing practice in South Dakota. Information can be found on the web at http://www.apna.org.

Contact information:
 
South Dakota Nurses Association
P.O. Box 1015
Pierre, SD 57501-1015
http://www.sdnursesassociation.org/