Important Updates

Hello NPASD Members!

This email is to provide an update on the Rules Hearing as well update you on other issues where we need your support. 

The Joint Boards held a Public Rules Hearing on September 8, 2016. The Joint Boards voted to support the proposed rule changes for Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives in our state. The proposed rule will now be presented to the Legislative Research Council Rules Review Committee on September 26. If this committee supports the change and receives all the needed signatures, they will present the rule changes to the Secretary of State. The SD Board of Nursing will place notice on their website and list in the Dakota Nurse Connection once the rules are provisionally effective (20 days after presenting rules to the Secretary of State). The rules are fully effective July 1, 2017 provided all the steps occur.

Thank you to everyone who wrote letters of support for this change as well as testified before the committee. We know there is much work to be done but this is a first stepping stone for our state!

Remember our conference is coming up on September 30 and October 1. You still have time to register to receive CEUs, opportunity for networking, and to gain valuable information to better your practice. It is not too late to nominate a nurse practitioner or a nurse practitioner advocate for NPASD recognition. We all know great nurse practitioners who provide the highest quality care for patients and those who are working hard to remove scope of practice barriers to improve access to healthcare in our state. Please take some time to recognize these individuals for what they do on a daily basis to better the health of the population of South Dakota!

Lastly, if you have not already, please email your members of Congress to request finalization and implement full practice authority for APRNs in the VA. This is the next step needed to enhance access to care for our Veterans. 

Thank you!

Robin Arends

Executive Director, NPASD