Nurse I or Nurse II

South Dakota AG; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 29,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

South Dakota Department of Health — Office of Public Health Nursing Services seeks a Registered Nurse to apply nursing theory, clinical judgment, and evidence-based practice to protect and promote health across communities in South Dakota.

The role requires professional autonomy, ability to travel statewide, flexible schedules, and collaboration with managers, colleagues, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders to deliver immunizations, pregnancy care, and school health services.

Qualifications

• RN license in South Dakota required.
• BLS certification required.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel statewide.
• Flexibility to travel statewide and work across multiple locations.

Responsibilities

• Apply nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and public health principles to meet statewide service needs.
• Provide population-based services (immunizations, pregnancy care, school health) in clinics, schools, homes, and other sites.
• Develop and evaluate care plans; document per requirements; perform age-appropriate assessments per protocols.
• Demonstrate accountability, maintain professionalism, and uphold public trust.
• Collaborate with managers, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders to improve health outcomes.
• Engage in training, quality improvement, and program evaluation.

Skills

Nursing judgement

Adaptability

Critical thinking

Public health nursing

Education

RN license in SD

Job description

Job ID: 37710

Agency: Department of Health- Division of Family and Community Health

Location: Pierre or Rapid City, SD

Salary: $29.08-$34.09 Hourly, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: N1 or N2

Closing Date: 10/7/26

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Health-Division of Family and Community Health. For more information on the Department of Health, please visit https://doh.sd.gov/ .

The South Dakota Department of Health's programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live, work and play; provide education to help people make good health decisions; prepare for, respond to, and prevent public health threats; and support efforts to enhance quality and accessibility of healthcare. Our services touch the lives of every person in the state of South Dakota.

We recognize that employees are our most valuable resource and we are committed to promoting a culture of excellence in DOH. We trust our employees to be innovative, challenge existing processes, and make the best decisions. We are interested in employing a diverse and skilled workforce that exhibits the values of leadership, accountability, communication, integrity, and teamwork. Public health is a diverse and growing field that offers many career options for people from a variety of educational backgrounds. Imagine yourself as part of a winning team that is making the lives of South Dakotans healthier and safer.

This position is for a Registered Nurse in the South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Public Health Nursing Services (OPHNS). OPHNS Registered Nurses practice as professional public health nurses applying nursing theory, clinical judgment, and evidence-based practice to protect and promote the health of individuals, families, populations, and communities across South Dakota.

The role requires professional autonomy, adaptability, resilience, and a strong sense of duty to public service. Registered Nurses are expected to function independently within established policies, exercise critical thinking, and respond to changing public health priorities. Work assignments, schedules, and travel are determined by organizational and public health needs.

OPHNS Registered Nurses are hired for their professional nursing expertise and are accountable for upholding the ethical standards of nursing and public service.

Nursing level will be determined based on education and experience.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• The Registered Nurse applies nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and public health principles to meet statewide service needs.
• Professional Nursing Practice: Apply nursing theory and evidence-based standards; conduct comprehensive assessments; develop and evaluate care plans; exercise independent clinical judgment; document per legal and organizational requirements; perform age-appropriate and pregnancy-related assessments per OPHNS protocols.
• Public Health Service Delivery: Provide population-based services (immunizations, pregnancy care, school health); deliver care in clinics, schools, homes, community sites, and emergency settings; identify health risks and implement prevention strategies; respond to outbreaks and emerging public health needs.
• Professional Accountability: Demonstrate accountability to organization and profession; follow managerial direction; maintain professionalism and ethical conduct; uphold public trust.
• Flexibility & Operational Readiness: Accept statewide assignments; travel as required, including overnight; adapt to varied schedules and environments; maintain readiness for public health emergency response.
• Collaboration & Systems-Based Practice: Work with managers, colleagues, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders; coordinate referrals; participate in interdisciplinary initiatives to improve health outcomes.
• Quality Improvement & Professional Development: Engage in training, quality improvement, and program evaluation; support organizational change; maintain competence and foster continuous improvement.
• Other duties may be assigned within the scope of professional nursing practice.

Working Conditions

• Work week may include days and hours outside of standard Monday through Friday business hours.
• Statewide travel, including overnight stays, is required to meet service delivery, training, and public health response needs.
• Work assignments and locations are determined by organizational priorities.
• Physical requirements may include lifting related to clinical and public health service delivery.

Licenses And Certifications

• Licensed as a Registered Nurse to practice in South Dakota.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel statewide.

The Ideal Candidate Will

• demonstrate professional nursing judgment, accountability, and ethical practice;
• be adaptable and resilient in changing environments and priorities;
• be comfortable performing nursing assessments and applying clinical judgment to support pregnancy and population-based care;
• be willing to travel and adjust work location and schedule based on organizational needs;
• accept direction and collaborate effectively within a public service structure;
• demonstrate commitment to public health, community service, and population-based care;
• apply critical thinking and nursing theory in daily practice.

Knowledge Of

• professional nursing standards and scope of practice;
• public health principles and population-based nursing care;
• principles of maternal health assessment, normal and high-risk pregnancy indicators, and physiological changes across the perinatal period;
• federal and state regulations, policies, and procedures relevant to public health nursing.

Ability To

• function independently and accountably as a professional nurse;
• adapt to changing priorities, assignments, and service locations;
• apply sound judgment and discretion within established policies and standards;
• communicate effectively with diverse populations and interdisciplinary teams;
• perform and interpret non-invasive physical and physiological nursing assessments and elevate findings according to protocol;
• place professional responsibility to the public above personal convenience.

This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

“An Equal Opportunity Employer”