South Dakota RN Jurisprudence Exam —
Code: SD-RN-JP | 100-Question
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 |
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1.
An RN in South Dakota is caring for a patient whose condition is rapidly changing
and requires repeated clinical judgments. Which nursing responsibility is most
clearly within the RN's independent scope?
A. Asking a nursing assistant to determine whether the patient's condition is
worsening
B. Conducting ongoing assessments and recognizing changes in client status
C. Delegating the formulation of the nursing plan to a nursing assistant
D. Allowing an unlicensed employee to independently modify nursing
interventions
,Answer: B. Conducting ongoing assessments and recognizing changes in client
status
Rationale: South Dakota rules specifically authorize the RN to conduct ongoing
assessments, anticipate and recognize changes in client status, and use
information collected by other members of the health care team.
2.
An RN receives an order for two medications that have the same therapeutic
indication. The prescriber has not specified which medication should be
administered. What may the RN do under South Dakota's RN scope?
A. Administer both medications automatically
B. Ask an unlicensed employee to choose the medication
C. Determine which medication to administer using appropriate nursing judgment
D. Refuse to administer either medication because the prescriber must always
choose
Answer: C. Determine which medication to administer using appropriate
nursing judgment
Rationale: South Dakota's RN scope expressly permits an RN to determine which
medication to administer when a legally authorized prescriber orders more than
one medication for the same therapeutic indication.
3.
A prescriber orders an as-needed medication with a dose range. Which action is
within the South Dakota RN scope?
A. Choosing the dose without considering patient assessment
B. Determining the appropriate dose within the ordered range based on nursing
judgment
C. Asking a nursing assistant to select the dose
D. Automatically administering the highest dose
,Answer: B. Determining the appropriate dose within the ordered range based
on nursing judgment
Rationale: An RN may determine the dose of an as-needed medication when the
authorized prescriber has ordered a permissible dose range.
4.
Which action best demonstrates the RN's responsibility for evaluation of care?
A. Recording only the intervention performed
B. Asking the nursing assistant whether the intervention worked
C. Evaluating the client's response and modifying the nursing plan as appropriate
D. Waiting until discharge before evaluating outcomes
Answer: C. Evaluating the client's response and modifying the nursing plan as
appropriate
Rationale: Evaluation is an RN responsibility. South Dakota rules authorize the
RN to evaluate responses to nursing interventions and modify the nursing plan
of care consistent with intended outcomes.
5.
An RN plans to delegate a task to a nursing assistant. Which principle is most
important before delegation?
A. Whether the task is convenient for the RN
B. Whether the task can be safely performed by the nursing assistant
C. Whether the nursing assistant has worked at the facility for at least one year
D. Whether the patient has requested delegation
Answer: B. Whether the task can be safely performed by the nursing assistant
Rationale: South Dakota delegation rules require the licensed nurse to assess
the situation and determine whether delegation is appropriate, including
whether the task can be safely performed without jeopardizing the client's
welfare.
, 6.
Which statement correctly describes delegation in South Dakota?
A. A nursing assistant may substitute for the RN when the RN is busy
B. A nursing assistant may redelegate a task to another nursing assistant
C. A nursing assistant may perform a properly delegated task but may not
substitute for the licensed nurse
D. Once a task is delegated, the RN has no further responsibility
Answer: C. A nursing assistant may perform a properly delegated task but may
not substitute for the licensed nurse
Rationale: South Dakota rules state that a nursing assistant may not substitute
for the licensed nurse and may not redelegate a delegated task. The licensed
nurse remains responsible for the nature and quality of nursing care under the
nurse's direction.
7.
Which task may generally NOT be delegated to a nursing assistant?
A. A task appropriate to the assistant's training
B. Routine data collection that does not require nursing judgment
C. An assessment requiring professional nursing judgment
D. A task that the RN has safely delegated under applicable criteria
Answer: C. An assessment requiring professional nursing judgment
Rationale: South Dakota specifically prohibits delegation of assessments
requiring professional nursing judgment, intervention, referral, or follow-up.
8.
An RN asks a nursing assistant to evaluate whether a patient's nursing
interventions have been effective. Which response is most appropriate?
Code: SD-RN-JP | 100-Question
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 |
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1.
An RN in South Dakota is caring for a patient whose condition is rapidly changing
and requires repeated clinical judgments. Which nursing responsibility is most
clearly within the RN's independent scope?
A. Asking a nursing assistant to determine whether the patient's condition is
worsening
B. Conducting ongoing assessments and recognizing changes in client status
C. Delegating the formulation of the nursing plan to a nursing assistant
D. Allowing an unlicensed employee to independently modify nursing
interventions
,Answer: B. Conducting ongoing assessments and recognizing changes in client
status
Rationale: South Dakota rules specifically authorize the RN to conduct ongoing
assessments, anticipate and recognize changes in client status, and use
information collected by other members of the health care team.
2.
An RN receives an order for two medications that have the same therapeutic
indication. The prescriber has not specified which medication should be
administered. What may the RN do under South Dakota's RN scope?
A. Administer both medications automatically
B. Ask an unlicensed employee to choose the medication
C. Determine which medication to administer using appropriate nursing judgment
D. Refuse to administer either medication because the prescriber must always
choose
Answer: C. Determine which medication to administer using appropriate
nursing judgment
Rationale: South Dakota's RN scope expressly permits an RN to determine which
medication to administer when a legally authorized prescriber orders more than
one medication for the same therapeutic indication.
3.
A prescriber orders an as-needed medication with a dose range. Which action is
within the South Dakota RN scope?
A. Choosing the dose without considering patient assessment
B. Determining the appropriate dose within the ordered range based on nursing
judgment
C. Asking a nursing assistant to select the dose
D. Automatically administering the highest dose
,Answer: B. Determining the appropriate dose within the ordered range based
on nursing judgment
Rationale: An RN may determine the dose of an as-needed medication when the
authorized prescriber has ordered a permissible dose range.
4.
Which action best demonstrates the RN's responsibility for evaluation of care?
A. Recording only the intervention performed
B. Asking the nursing assistant whether the intervention worked
C. Evaluating the client's response and modifying the nursing plan as appropriate
D. Waiting until discharge before evaluating outcomes
Answer: C. Evaluating the client's response and modifying the nursing plan as
appropriate
Rationale: Evaluation is an RN responsibility. South Dakota rules authorize the
RN to evaluate responses to nursing interventions and modify the nursing plan
of care consistent with intended outcomes.
5.
An RN plans to delegate a task to a nursing assistant. Which principle is most
important before delegation?
A. Whether the task is convenient for the RN
B. Whether the task can be safely performed by the nursing assistant
C. Whether the nursing assistant has worked at the facility for at least one year
D. Whether the patient has requested delegation
Answer: B. Whether the task can be safely performed by the nursing assistant
Rationale: South Dakota delegation rules require the licensed nurse to assess
the situation and determine whether delegation is appropriate, including
whether the task can be safely performed without jeopardizing the client's
welfare.
, 6.
Which statement correctly describes delegation in South Dakota?
A. A nursing assistant may substitute for the RN when the RN is busy
B. A nursing assistant may redelegate a task to another nursing assistant
C. A nursing assistant may perform a properly delegated task but may not
substitute for the licensed nurse
D. Once a task is delegated, the RN has no further responsibility
Answer: C. A nursing assistant may perform a properly delegated task but may
not substitute for the licensed nurse
Rationale: South Dakota rules state that a nursing assistant may not substitute
for the licensed nurse and may not redelegate a delegated task. The licensed
nurse remains responsible for the nature and quality of nursing care under the
nurse's direction.
7.
Which task may generally NOT be delegated to a nursing assistant?
A. A task appropriate to the assistant's training
B. Routine data collection that does not require nursing judgment
C. An assessment requiring professional nursing judgment
D. A task that the RN has safely delegated under applicable criteria
Answer: C. An assessment requiring professional nursing judgment
Rationale: South Dakota specifically prohibits delegation of assessments
requiring professional nursing judgment, intervention, referral, or follow-up.
8.
An RN asks a nursing assistant to evaluate whether a patient's nursing
interventions have been effective. Which response is most appropriate?
