SOUTH DAKOTA NURSING JURISPRUDENCE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) 2025
1. Which of the following actions would be a violation of the South Dakota
Nurse Practice Act?
A. Collaborating with physicians in patient care
B. Delegating a sterile dressing change to an unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP)
C. Performing a physical assessment on a patient
D. Teaching a diabetic patient how to administer insulin
Rationale: Under the South Dakota Nurse Practice Act, sterile procedures such as
dressing changes are outside the scope of practice for UAPs. Only licensed
personnel (RN or LPN depending on complexity) should perform these tasks.
2. According to the South Dakota Board of Nursing, how often must a registered
nurse renew their license?
A. Every 5 years
B. Every 3 years
,C. Every 2 years
D. Annually
Rationale: In South Dakota, RN licenses are renewed every two years. Nurses must
meet continuing education requirements and submit a renewal application to
remain in good standing.
3. Which of the following is within the scope of practice for a South Dakota
licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
A. Developing a nursing diagnosis
B. Administering oral medications as prescribed
C. Initiating blood transfusions independently
D. Conducting comprehensive nursing assessments
Rationale: LPNs can administer oral medications under supervision but cannot
perform tasks such as comprehensive assessments or make nursing diagnoses,
which are reserved for RNs.
4. What is the primary purpose of the South Dakota Nurse Practice Act?
A. To protect hospitals from lawsuits
B. To regulate physician practice
C. To protect the public by defining nursing practice and standards
D. To promote union representation for nurses
,Rationale: The South Dakota Nurse Practice Act is designed to protect the health
and safety of the public by establishing legal standards and scope of practice for
nurses.
5. A nurse suspects a colleague is diverting narcotics. What is the nurse’s legal
and ethical responsibility under South Dakota law?
A. Ignore the behavior to avoid conflict
B. Report the issue to a supervisor only if a patient is harmed
C. Report the suspicion to the South Dakota Board of Nursing
D. Discuss the situation with the colleague and let them self-report
Rationale: Nurses in South Dakota are mandated to report suspected violations of
the Nurse Practice Act, including diversion of medications, directly to the Board of
Nursing to ensure patient safety.
6. Which of the following continuing education (CE) requirements must South
Dakota RNs meet for license renewal?
A. 5 hours every 5 years
B. Completion of an approved continuing competency requirement every 2
years
C. No continuing education is required
D. 20 hours annually
, Rationale: South Dakota requires RNs to meet a continuing competency
requirement every two years, which may include continuing education or other
approved activities.
7. A South Dakota RN is practicing in another compact state under the Nurse
Licensure Compact (NLC). What is a requirement for this multistate license?
A. The nurse must have a permanent residence in South Dakota
B. The nurse must obtain a separate license in the other state
C. The nurse must pay taxes in both states
D. The nurse cannot work in other states under any circumstance
Rationale: To practice in another NLC state, the nurse must hold a multistate
license issued by their primary state of residence, which must be a compact state
like South Dakota.
8. Which of the following is an example of unprofessional conduct according to
the South Dakota Board of Nursing?
A. Advocating for a patient’s pain management
B. Falsifying documentation in a patient’s chart
C. Refusing to work overtime
D. Delegating a task to a competent LPN
Rationale: Falsifying documentation is a clear violation of professional standards
and is considered unprofessional conduct by the South Dakota Board of Nursing.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) 2025
1. Which of the following actions would be a violation of the South Dakota
Nurse Practice Act?
A. Collaborating with physicians in patient care
B. Delegating a sterile dressing change to an unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP)
C. Performing a physical assessment on a patient
D. Teaching a diabetic patient how to administer insulin
Rationale: Under the South Dakota Nurse Practice Act, sterile procedures such as
dressing changes are outside the scope of practice for UAPs. Only licensed
personnel (RN or LPN depending on complexity) should perform these tasks.
2. According to the South Dakota Board of Nursing, how often must a registered
nurse renew their license?
A. Every 5 years
B. Every 3 years
,C. Every 2 years
D. Annually
Rationale: In South Dakota, RN licenses are renewed every two years. Nurses must
meet continuing education requirements and submit a renewal application to
remain in good standing.
3. Which of the following is within the scope of practice for a South Dakota
licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
A. Developing a nursing diagnosis
B. Administering oral medications as prescribed
C. Initiating blood transfusions independently
D. Conducting comprehensive nursing assessments
Rationale: LPNs can administer oral medications under supervision but cannot
perform tasks such as comprehensive assessments or make nursing diagnoses,
which are reserved for RNs.
4. What is the primary purpose of the South Dakota Nurse Practice Act?
A. To protect hospitals from lawsuits
B. To regulate physician practice
C. To protect the public by defining nursing practice and standards
D. To promote union representation for nurses
,Rationale: The South Dakota Nurse Practice Act is designed to protect the health
and safety of the public by establishing legal standards and scope of practice for
nurses.
5. A nurse suspects a colleague is diverting narcotics. What is the nurse’s legal
and ethical responsibility under South Dakota law?
A. Ignore the behavior to avoid conflict
B. Report the issue to a supervisor only if a patient is harmed
C. Report the suspicion to the South Dakota Board of Nursing
D. Discuss the situation with the colleague and let them self-report
Rationale: Nurses in South Dakota are mandated to report suspected violations of
the Nurse Practice Act, including diversion of medications, directly to the Board of
Nursing to ensure patient safety.
6. Which of the following continuing education (CE) requirements must South
Dakota RNs meet for license renewal?
A. 5 hours every 5 years
B. Completion of an approved continuing competency requirement every 2
years
C. No continuing education is required
D. 20 hours annually
, Rationale: South Dakota requires RNs to meet a continuing competency
requirement every two years, which may include continuing education or other
approved activities.
7. A South Dakota RN is practicing in another compact state under the Nurse
Licensure Compact (NLC). What is a requirement for this multistate license?
A. The nurse must have a permanent residence in South Dakota
B. The nurse must obtain a separate license in the other state
C. The nurse must pay taxes in both states
D. The nurse cannot work in other states under any circumstance
Rationale: To practice in another NLC state, the nurse must hold a multistate
license issued by their primary state of residence, which must be a compact state
like South Dakota.
8. Which of the following is an example of unprofessional conduct according to
the South Dakota Board of Nursing?
A. Advocating for a patient’s pain management
B. Falsifying documentation in a patient’s chart
C. Refusing to work overtime
D. Delegating a task to a competent LPN
Rationale: Falsifying documentation is a clear violation of professional standards
and is considered unprofessional conduct by the South Dakota Board of Nursing.
