South Dakota Board of Nursing drops rule requiring disclosure of individual exam results and allows RNs to delegate gastrostomy tube care

Linda Young, executive director of the South Dakota Board of Nursing, summarized a suite of amendments: removing the board's requirement to notify nursing education programs of an applicant's individual licensure exam results (to comply with SDCL 27-1.5, subdivision 18), eliminating the printed renewal certificate and inactive status cards in favor of online verification, and adding a new rule allowing registered nurses to delegate gastrostomy tube (G-tube) care to a trained nursing assistant under RN education and supervision.

Young said the rule change brings the board into compliance with statute that prohibits sharing exam results and that the board will continue to provide overall program pass-rate information to education programs for accreditation purposes while not disclosing individual scores. She also said the delegation provision was requested by the Department of Human Services' developmental disabilities division and is intended to allow people with G-tubes to remain in shared living homes when an RN delegates care after providing education and oversight.

Senator Howard questioned whether providing pass/fail to an employer or education program might still be treated as 'results' under statute; Young responded that applicants receive pass/fail notification from the testing agency but the board does not disclose an individual's detailed exam information or score to third parties, though programs may receive aggregate pass-rate data.

Four people provided oral support at the public hearing and no written comments were received; the committee voted unanimously to deem the rulemaking process complete.