A hospital shall maintain sufficient personnel at all times to provide supervision of and nursing care for all patients. A registered nurse must be designated as charge nurse for each nursing care unit at all times. A critical access hospital is required to staff with a registered nurse only when it admits an acute care patient. A critical access hospital is required to staff with a licensed nurse when it has only swing bed patients. A facility shall develop staffing patterns for each patient care unit, including surgical and obstetrical suites, emergency services, special care units, and other services.

Source: 42 SDR 51, effective October 13, 2015 ; 50 SDR 62, effective November 27, 2023 .

General Authority: SDCL 34-12-13 (7).

Law Implemented: SDCL 34-12-13 .

Prior versions effective: 2015-10-13.