Mount Marty College Nursing Program Review
Since 1936, Mount Marty College (MMC) has focused on providing students with a liberal arts education and professional training, within the context of the Roman Catholic faith. It enrolls about 1100 students each year; most students study on the residential campus in Yankton, South Dakota. In addition to its main campus, Mount Marty College offers undergraduate classes in Watertown on the campus of Lake Area Technical Institute, and graduate classes in Sioux Falls.
Through Mount Marty College, students can pursue a career in nursing. The college offers a certificate program, a baccalaureate program, and a graduate program for nurses. Mount Marty College has accreditation for its nursing programs from the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Practical Nursing Program
In just four semesters, a student can complete Mount Marty College’s Practical Nursing Program and begin a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Over the course of the four semesters, he must earn fifty-three credits. The curriculum includes nursing support classes and clinical rotations. The program is available on the main campus in Yankton. After completing the four semesters of full-time study, a student receives a certificate in practical nursing, and is prepared to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
On the main campus in Yankton, Mount Marty College prepares students for careers as Registered Nurses (RN) through its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The BSN curriculum consists of general education classes and nursing classes, and is worth 128 credits total. Studying full-time, a student needs four years to complete it. She spends the first year focusing on general education classes, taking her first nursing class in the fall of her second year. Clinical rotations also begin in the second year of the program. After graduating, a student may take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN/LPN to BSN
On the campus of Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, Mount Marty College provides a bridge program for RNs who are graduates of an associate-degree program or a diploma program and for LPNs. Mount Marty College tailors the bridge program to accommodate non-traditional students, including those who are working full-time. Classes generally meet once a week, either in the morning, early afternoon, or evening. Like the traditional BSN program, the RN/LPN to BSN bridge program requires 128 credits, and includes general education classes and nursing courses. Depending on the incoming nurse’s level of education, the program length can vary considerably. An incoming nurse must meet with an advisor who will evaluate his transcript and must complete competency testing. After this, an individualized course of study will be planned out.
Master of Science in Nursing – Advanced Practice Nurse
On its campus in Sioux Falls, Mount Marty College offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program to RNs who hold a baccalaureate degree. Through nursing theory classes, clinical rotations, and classes in a chosen area of specialization, RNs can prepare for advanced practice certification in one of three different areas:
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
An RN who wishes to provide primary care to children can complete classes and clinical rotations in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner area of specialization. This will prepare him to take the certification exam for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
To provide primary care to adults, an RN can complete the classes and clinical rotations in the Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner area of focus. This leads to certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner.
Advanced Public Health Nurse Leader
In order to focus on providing care to communities, particularly vulnerable communities and rural communities, a nurse may opt to specialize as an Advanced Public Health Nurse Leader. After completing this area of focus, she may take the Clinical Specialist in Public Community Health Nursing certification exam offered by the ANCC.
Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Anesthesia
The intense Nurse Anesthesia MSN program, which is offered in Sioux Falls, takes thirty months to complete. It begins in the fall and the first part of the program (lasting eleven months) is devoted to classroom instruction. The remaining nineteen months are focused on clinical practice. Students must study on a full-time basis. Mount Marty College’s nurse anesthesia program has accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
Contact:
Mount Marty College
1105 West 8th Street,
Yankton, SD 57078
