A registered nurse may delegate tracheostomy care and suctioning tasks to a nursing assistant, for a specific client, pursuant to §§ 20:48:04.01:21 and 20:48:04.01:22, in a stable nursing situation, if:
- (1) The client resides in a shared living home, as defined in § 46:04:01:01;
- (2) A registered nurse has determined that the performance of tracheostomy care and suctioning by a nursing assistant will allow the client to remain in the shared living home;
- (3) A licensee is not available to perform the tracheostomy care and suctioning for the client;
- (4) The client's plan of care includes performing tracheostomy care or suctioning on a routine, scheduled basis;
- (5) The client's tracheostomy care or suctioning has been routinely performed without complications;
- (6) The registered nurse assessed the client's tracheostomy stoma and determined that the stoma is stable with no known or anticipated complications;
- (7) The delegation complies with the general criteria for delegation and supervision set forth in §§ 20:48:04.01:01 and 20:48:04.01:02, respectively; and
(8) The nursing assistant has met the training requirements set forth in § 20:48:04.01:22.
The registered nurse must assess the client's condition monthly and must perform an annual comprehensive nursing assessment.
Source: 52 SDR 24, effective September 8, 2025 .
General Authority: SDCL 36-9-21 .
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-9-3 (3)(5)(6)(7)(8)(11), 36-9-21 (4)(5) .