Augustana College of South Dakota Nursing Program Review
Augustana College (Augie, AC) of South Dakota traces its history back to Hillsboro Academy, which was founded in 1835. After changing names and locations several times, the college eventually settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 650 miles away from its original site, in 1918. The college, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, focuses on the liberal arts.
All students, regardless of major, must complete a rigorous core curriculum. Besides majors in the humanities, Augustana College offers programs for prospective educators, engineers scientists, business leaders, and healthcare professionals. Aspiring nurses can complete Augustana College’s Bachelor of Arts in Nursing program, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Bachelor of Arts in Nursing Program (B.A. with a Major in Nursing)
Like all students at Augustana College, students in the nursing program must complete a lengthy liberal arts course sequence in addition to the classes in their chosen field of study. Nursing students are required to complete sixty credits in the liberal arts, in addition to twenty-two credits of nursing prerequisites and forty-eight credits of nursing classes. In total, the degree requires 130 credits, and takes four years to complete on a full-time basis. Students in the lower division of the program (the first two years) have the option of studying part-time, but the upper division courses must be completed on a full-time basis. Upon graduation, the student will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in nursing. This is unusual, as most colleges award a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Having earned this, he may sit for the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). If he passes this exam, he may pursue work opportunities as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Bachelor of Arts in Nursing Program – RN Transition (ADN to BSN/RN to BSN)
Augustana College welcomes graduates of associate degree nursing (ADN) programs or diploma programs to apply to the baccalaureate program. These applications are considered on an individual basis. If accepted, an RN will meet with an advisor to plan out an appropriate course of study, working around an employment schedule, if necessary. Typically, an RN must complete a four-credit bridge course before transitioning into upper-division nursing coursework. An RN must complete all the general education requirements in addition to the upper-level nursing coursework.
Continuing Education – The Parish Nurse Preparation Course
In keeping with its mission as a Christian college, Augustana College offers a special training course for RNs who wish to provide nursing care within the context of their faith. The Department of Nursing hosts the Augustana Parish Nursing Center, through which RNs can complete a Parish Nurse (Faith Community Nurse) Preparation Course. This training course gives RNs the tools and knowledge they need to set up and run a nursing ministry in their own parish. The curriculum for the course is based on the curriculum developed by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center. The course is offered in a hybrid format, partly online and partly on campus. RNs have eight weeks to complete the initial, online component. After this, they attend an intense two-day session on the campus of Augustana College.
Contact:
Augustana College
2001 S. Summit Avenue,
Sioux Falls, SD 57197
Dakota Wesleyan University Nursing School Review
Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU), a small university founded in 1885 which is affiliated with the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church, enrolls less than 1000 students each year. The majority of these students are undergraduates, although the university does offer a few graduate programs in education as well.
Among the undergraduate students, the most popular major is nursing, offered through the Arlene Gates Department of Nursing, which is a part of the Donna Starr Christen College of Healthcare, Fitness, and Science. DWU’s nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing; DWU itself is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
Associate of Arts in Nursing
Either on the main campus in Mitchell, South Dakota, or on the satellite campus in Huron, prospective Registered Nurses (RN) can complete a course sequence leading to an Associate of Arts (AA) degree with a major in nursing. This program starts in the fall, and takes two full years (including two summer semesters) to complete. After completing all six semesters and earning seventy-one credit hours, a graduate is prepared to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The curriculum of the AA in Nursing program includes both general education courses and nursing courses, and has a strong emphasis on clinical practice; students begin clinical rotations in the very first semester of the program. Before beginning the program, students must complete a nurse assistant training course. This can be done at DWU, or through another college or healthcare facility.
Associate of Arts in Nursing – LPN to RN
Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls hosts the DWU AA in Nursing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to RN program; the LPN to RN program is not available on the main campus in Mitchell or in Huron. In order to accommodate LPNs who are working, classes are offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and some classes are offered online. Before beginning the LPN to RN curriculum, an LPN must complete prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, psychology, English composition, and sociology. After these prerequisites are complete, the LPN to RN curriculum takes one year (two semesters) to complete. It begins in the fall. Graduates may take the NCLEX-RN.
Bachelor of Arts in Nursing – RN to BAN Completion Program
The RN to Bachelor of Arts in Nursing (BAN) program is offered online, in order to accommodate working RNs. An incoming RN must complete twenty credits of nursing courses via the distance learning format. In addition to these nursing courses, she may need to complete additional general education classes, depending on her transcript. DWU does not offer the non-nursing courses in an online format; students must either travel to campus to complete these or take them online through another university and transfer the credits. The RN to BAN program includes a clinical component, which can be completed in a location convenient for the student. In total, a student in the RN to BAN program must earn 127 credits to graduate. The length of the program will vary depending on how many general education courses an RN needs to complete.
Nurse Aide Training Course
DWU offers a Nurse Aide Training Course every August. This course is required for students who are planning to start the AA in Nursing degree in the fall. However, the short program can also provide a direct entry into the nursing profession. Graduates of the training course are eligible to take the state certification exam and, if successful, pursue careers as Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA).
Contact:
Dakota Wesleyan University
1200 W. University Avenue,
Mitchell, SD 57301
Lake Area Technical Institute Nursing Program Review
When it was established in 1965, Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI) was the first technical school in the state of South Dakota. Since its foundation, the school has grown rapidly, expanding its enrollment capacity and adding new programs. It offers a variety of professional programs in agriculture, business, computer information systems, healthcare, and many other fields.
Approximately 1500 students take classes at LATI, both on the campus in Watertown and via distance learning technology. Among those students are prospective nurses. LATI’s program in nursing is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing.
Practical Nursing Program
LATI accepts fifty students each year into its on-campus Practical Nursing Program. The program is intense, requiring eleven months of full-time study and forty-eight-and-a-half credits total. Students in the on-campus program do not have the option of studying part-time. In the fall semester, practical nursing students take general education/nursing support classes, including medical terminology, pharmacology, anatomy, introduction to computers, algebra, and English composition. In addition to these, they take the first two nursing classes in the fall semester. As this is a very heavy course load (twenty-four credits in one semester), LATI highly recommends that students who are interested in the Practical Nursing Program take at least a few of the general education classes before beginning. The spring and summer semesters are devoted mainly to nursing courses. At the end of the summer semester, a graduate receives a diploma in practical nursing, and may take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). After passing this exam, she has the title of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Practical Nursing E-Degree Program
Each fall, LATI accepts twenty students into its online Practical Nursing E-Degree Program. The program is open to residents of South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska, and can be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. A student who wishes to study full-time must complete the following prerequisites before beginning: CPR, anatomy, introduction to computers, English composition, applied general math, intermediate algebra, college algebra, medical terminology, and general psychology. While a part-time student is not required to complete these before starting, LATI highly recommends that he take at least some of them. Once enrolled in the program, it takes eleven months to complete on a full-time basis, and twenty-three months on a part-time basis. All the coursework, except for English composition, math, anatomy, and psychology, is available online; students may complete the coursework that is not available online either on the LATI campus or at another college. Students must travel to Watertown for clinical rotations. The clinical sessions are compressed into a short time period, to allow greater flexibility for students. Graduates of the Practical Nursing E-Degree program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN.
Associate Degree in Nursing
While LATI itself does not offer an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), it does cooperate with the University of South Dakota to allow its practical nursing graduates to transition smoothly into an ADN program. The University of South Dakota makes the second-year ADN classes available on the LATI campus. After finishing the three semesters of the LATI practical nursing program and taking additional general education classes in chemistry, college algebra, English, physiology, oral communications, and microbiology (twenty-one credits in total), a student can complete upper-level nursing classes leading to an associate of applied science degree from the University of South Dakota. This degree will prepare him to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Certified Nursing Assistant Online Program
Through its Corporate Education division, LATI offers an online Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. The program includes forty hours of classroom instruction (completed online) and thirty-five hours of clinical practice at a long-term care facility. Students have the option of finding a facility in a location convenient to them, or traveling to Watertown. The CNA online program is offered four times a year: in January, April, July, and October. Graduates are eligible to take the certification exam for nurse assistants.
Contact:
Lake Area Technical Institute
230 11th St. NE.,
Watertown, SD 57201
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
Presentation College in South Dakota Nursing Program Review
Presentation College (PC), founded in 1951, specializes in providing education in the healthcare field, within the context of the Catholic-Christian tradition. On its main campus in Aberdeen, South Dakota, as well as on its campuses in Eagle Butte, South Dakota and Fairmont, Minnesota, Presentation College prepares students for careers in many of the allied health professions, nursing, business, education, and social work. Nursing is one of the college’s main areas of focus; it offers an associate degree in nursing and a baccalaureate degree in nursing, with special tracks to accommodate incoming students with different levels of education.
The nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing and the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
Associate Degree in Nursing
The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program is offered on the Aberdeen campus and the Eagle Butte campus. It starts each fall, and requires five semesters of full-time study to complete (including one summer semester). Students must earn at least sixty-nine credits, and complete general education classes, nursing classes, and clinical rotations. After completing the ADN program, a graduate will receive an Associate of Science in Nursing degree. This makes her eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCELX-RN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree prepares a student for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN), and also gives him the background he needs for further, graduate-level nursing education. Presentation College’s BSN program takes four years to complete, on a full-time basis. Students can complete the BSN program in Aberdeen or in Fairmont, Minnesota. They must start in the fall, and earn at least 127 credits in order to graduate. Completing the BSN program prepares a student for the NCLEX-RN.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN Completion
As part of the Presentation College Virtual Online division, a graduate of an associate degree in nursing program can complete the BSN curriculum. To do so, she needs to earn a total of 121 credits. Presentation College will accept up to sixty-nine credits from her associate degree, allowing her to complete the remaining credits and earn her BSN in as little as four consecutive semesters (sixteen months). The classes are offered completely online, and a student in the RN to BSN completion program can schedule clinical rotations in a facility that is in her area (South Dakota, North Dakota, or Minnesota).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – LPN to BSN Completion
Also through the Virtual Online division, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can complete the BSN curriculum. He can complete all the coursework online, but must travel to one of the Presentation College virtual sites for clinical practice; he can go to Aberdeen, South Dakota; Fairmont, Minnesota; or Fargo, North Dakota. Depending on the LPN’s previous education, the length of the program can vary. An LPN who is a graduate of a one-year certificate program will typically need at least six semesters to complete the BSN program. An LPN who has completed a two-year associate degree program may be able to complete it in four semesters. In total, he must earn 127 credits in order to graduate.
Contact:
Presentation College
1500 North Main Street,
Aberdeen, SD 57401
South Dakota State University Nursing School Review
While South Dakota State University (SDSU) has been in existence since 1881, it started educating nurses in 1935. It has expanded from offering just a four-year baccalaureate nursing program to offering graduate-level nursing programs in a variety of specializations, upward mobility programs for nurses who want to earn a full baccalaureate degree, and continuing education refresher courses for nurses who wish to brush up on their nursing skills.
For prospective nurses and nurses who want to continue their education, South Dakota State University has one of the most comprehensive lists of programs in the state. Depending on the program, classes are offered on the main campus in Brookings, as well as in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Aberdeen. Currently, the School of Nursing at SDSU enrolls about 800 undergraduate students and about 200 graduate students. The nursing programs at SDSU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Standard Option
The Standard Option of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS in Nursing) program takes four years to complete, on a full-time basis. Students in this program spend the first three semesters as pre-nursing students, completing general education requirements and nursing prerequisites. After these are complete, they transition into five semesters of nursing coursework. In total, BS in Nursing students must earn 128 credits in order to graduate. The five-semester nursing course sequence starts each fall and each spring on the main campus in Brookings and on the satellite site in Rapid City. In Sioux Falls, SDSU offers the nursing course sequence starting in the spring only. After graduating from the BS in Nursing program, students may take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Accelerated Option
The Accelerated Option of the BS in Nursing program is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. The program is intense; like the Standard Option of the BSN program, the Accelerated Option requires five semesters of nursing courses. In the Accelerated Option, however, the semesters are compressed to ten weeks. A student on the accelerated track can complete all five terms in just twelve months of intense, full-time study. SDSU offers this BS in Nursing program option in two different locations: Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. The course sequence starts in August in Sioux Falls and January in Aberdeen.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BS
As part of its RN Upward Mobility initiative, which is designed to accommodate working RNs who want to advance in the field of nursing, SDSU offers an online RN to BS in Nursing program. Through this program, a graduate of an associate-degree program or a diploma program can earn a full baccalaureate degree, in preparation for graduate-level nursing education and advanced certification. Before beginning the nursing course sequence, an RN must complete most of her missing general education requirements and nursing support classes. When she starts the nursing course sequence, she can have no more than seven credits of non-nursing courses to complete. SDSU will accept up to twenty credits of nursing coursework from the RN’s associate degree or diploma program. In total, she must earn 120 credits in order to graduate. The length of the program will vary, depending on how many classes she needs to complete and how many classes she takes per semester. Clinical rotations are included as part of the RN to BS program; an RN may schedule these at a location in her area.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Master of Science in Nursing – RN to MS
An RN who knows that he wishes to proceed directly from undergraduate study to graduate-level nursing classes can enroll in the RN to Master of Science in Nursing (MS in Nursing) program. Like the students in the RN to BS in Nursing program, he will complete all the requirements for the BS in Nursing degree online. The only difference is that he can substitute two graduate-level nursing classes for two of the undergraduate-level nursing classes. He must also complete a statistics course. In the last semester of his undergraduate program, he will formally apply to the graduate program in his chosen area of specialization. He then transitions into the MS in Nursing program in the next semester.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice – RN to DNP
Like the RN to MS program, the RN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program allows an RN to transition smoothly from undergraduate study to DNP classes. She can substitute two graduate nursing courses for two undergraduate nursing courses, and must complete a statistics course as part of her BS in Nursing degree. In the last semester of her BS in Nursing classes, she can apply for admission to the DNP program, on the Bachelor’s to DNP track.
Master of Science in Nursing
After completing a baccalaureate degree and working for at least 1500 hours as an RN, a nurse can return to school to complete an MS in Nursing degree. SDSU enrolls an MS in Nursing class each fall. Students in the program can complete most of the coursework online, traveling to campus occasionally for intense, short sessions. In addition to classes, all students in the MS in Nursing program must complete clinical hours. The required number of clinical hours, as well as the number of credits, varies according to the RN’s chosen specialty. SDSU offers several different areas of specialization within the MS in Nursing program. The following are the available specializations:
Clinical Nursing Leadership Specialization with Nurse Administrator Emphasis
If an RN chooses the Clinical Nursing Leadership Specialization with Nurse Administrator Emphasis, he must earn thirty-seven credits total, and complete 180 clinical hours. At the conclusion of the program, he can take the Nurse Executive – Board Certified or Nurse Executive – Advanced Board Certified exam, offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader exam or the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice exam offered by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE).
Clinical Nursing Leadership Specialization Clinical Nurse Leader Emphasis
The Clinical Nurse Leader Emphasis requires forty-three credits total, and includes 480 clinical hours. Graduates of this track in the MS in Nursing program can take the Clinical Nurse Leader certification exam offered by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC).
Nurse Educator Specialization
A student on the Nurse Educator Specialization track must earn forty-four credits total, and complete 300 hours of hands-on teaching practice. After completing the program and teaching for at least two years, a graduate can take the Certified Nurse Educator exam offered by the National League for Nursing (NLN).
Post-master’s Nurse Educator Certificate
The Post-master’s Nurse Educator Certificate program is open to nurses who already have an MS in Nursing degree. Students on this track do not have to complete the core nursing graduate classes, although they do have to complete all the classes in the nurse educator area of focus, as well as complete a teaching practicum. After completing the program and teaching for at least two years, graduates of the certificate program can take the NLN Certified Nurse Educator exam.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Bachelor’s to DNP
An RN with a bachelor’s degree and at least 1500 hours of work experience as a nurse may apply to the Bachelor’s to DNP program. This program requires a substantial time commitment of four-and-a-half to six years of study, depending on the area of specialization. Through this track of the DNP program, an RN can earn advanced practice certification in one of several areas of specialization, and obtain the skills and knowledge he needs to assume the highest level of clinical responsibility. SDSU offers the program each fall in Brookings/Sioux Falls, and in Rapid City starting in even years. Students must travel to campus for at least some of the classes; the program is not available entirely online although some classes are offered via distance technology. SDSU offers the following specializations within the Bachelor’s to DNP program:
Family Nurse Practitioner
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track requires eighty credits total, and includes 1560 clinical hours. Students may complete the course sequence in as little as four-and-a-half years, or they may take five-and-a-half years.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
On the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) track, an RN must earn sixty-eight credits total and complete 1260 clinical hours. As SDSU cooperates with the University of Missouri-Kansas City to offer this track, students must also commit to two short sessions in Kansas City.
Family Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
In cooperation with the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia, SDSU offers a Family Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. Students on this track must complete eighty-three credit hours, and 1020 clinical hours. They will travel to Columbia for short sessions several times throughout the program.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
By earning eighty-and-a-half credits and completing 1020 clinical hours, students can complete the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track of the Bachelor’s to DNP program. As this track is offered in cooperation with the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia, students must plan on traveling several times to Columbia throughout the course of the program.
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
With the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia, SDSU offers a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist track. This requires seventy-seven credits and includes 1110 clinical hours. Students must travel to Columbia several times throughout the program.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Master’s (Advanced Practice Certification) to DNP
A nurse with advanced practice certification (as a nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife) can complete SDSU’s DNP program in just three years. The program requires thirty-one credits hours and includes 540 clinical hours. Some courses are offered in Sioux Falls and others are offered online. The program begins in the fall, in odd years only.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Master’s (without Advanced Practice Certification) to DNP
An RN who has a master’s degree but does not have advanced practice certification can complete the DNP program in three to five years, depending on how many classes he takes per semester and how many classes he needs to complete. Depending on his previous education, he needs to earn between fifty-six and sixty-eight credits hours. As part of the DNP program, he will complete the coursework specific to the FNP area of specialization, and take the FNP certification exam. While SDSU offers other tracks in the Bachelor’s to DNP program, students on the Master’s to DNP track can only complete the FNP courses.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD in Nursing) program prepares nurse educators and nurse researchers; it is only open to nurses who have already earned a master’s degree. The program requires sixty credit hours, which takes three years on a full-time basis. Students also have the option of taking four or five years to complete the PhD in Nursing course sequence. In order to accommodate work schedules, SDSU offers classes that meet one weekend a month, in Sioux Falls. Some coursework is also available online.
Continuing Education – LPN Refresher Course
A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who has been out of the work force may complete the SDSU LPN Refresher Course in order to brush up her nursing skills and bring herself up to date with advances in the nursing field. The course consists of eighty hours of classroom instruction, which is offered online, and eighty hours of clinical practice, which can be completed in a location that is convenient for the student. The LPN can start at any time, and must complete the entire course within a year.
Continuing Education – RN Refresher Course
After leaving the nursing profession for a time, an RN can bring his skills up to date through the RN Refresher Course. He will complete 120 hours of classroom instruction and eighty hours of clinical practice. The classroom portion of the course is offered online, and the clinical practice can be completed in a location that is convenient for the student. An RN may enroll at any time; he has one year to complete the course.
Contact:
South Dakota State University-College of Nursing,
Brookings, SD 57007
University of South Dakota Nursing School Review
Established in 1862, the University of South Dakota (USD) was the first university in the state. The school provides undergraduate and graduate education, in a wide range of fields. Areas of study include liberal arts, business, education, fine arts, health sciences, law, and medicine. Among undergraduate students, nursing is the most popular major.
USD offers nursing programs on its main campus in Vermillion (in the southeast corner of South Dakota), as well as at its satellite sites in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre, Watertown, and through distance learning technology. USD’s nursing programs have approval from the South Dakota Board of Nursing. The associate-degree nursing program has accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), and the bachelor’s-degree nursing program has applicant status with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Associate of Science in Nursing Degree
USD offers the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Degree program at its sites in Vermillion, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre. In order to earn an ASN degree, a student must earn sixty-five credits total. The sixty-five credits include thirty non-nursing credits, which a student may complete before entering the nursing course sequence, if he wishes. The course format is hybrid; students attend classes on campus and complete coursework online. A clinical component is included in the curriculum. After earning the ASN degree, a student is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Associate of Science in Nursing Degree – LPN to RN Upward Mobility
USD encourages Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to become Registered Nurses (RN) through the LPN to RN Upward Mobility program. This program is offered on the campuses in Vermillion, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre, and Watertown. The LPN will receive seventeen advanced placement credits toward the nursing course sequence; she must earn eighteen additional nursing credits in order to finish the ASN program. The LPN must also complete the thirty-credit general education requirement.
Associate of Science in Nursing Degree – Online
USD does offer an online ASN option, but it is not open to all students. In order to be eligible, a student must work for a healthcare employer who signs a contract with USD. Students in this program must continue to work for their employer. At the same time, they will complete nursing coursework online and hands-on clinical rotations at healthcare facilities in their area. They may study part-time, taking up to four years to complete the ASN program. While students in the ASN online program can take general education courses during any semester, they must start the nursing course sequence in the fall. LPNs may participate in the LPN to RN Upward Mobility program, which allows them to skip the first two nursing courses.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN
USD’s RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is offered online. Working RNs can complete the coursework at their convenience, and schedule clinical rotations in a facility that is close to them. RNs in the RN to BSN program must earn 120 credits in total. USD will award them thirty-five credits toward the 120 on the basis of their previous nursing coursework; they must complete the remainder of the nursing courses and all the university’s general education requirements in order to earn the BSN degree. The RN to BSN program begins each fall.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
USD’s newest program (started in 2012) is a four-year BSN program, which is available in Vermillion, Sioux Falls, and Rapid City. The curriculum requires 120 credits total. Students in the program spend the first two years as pre-nursing students, focusing on nursing support classes and general education classes, applying to the BSN program at the end of the second year. The remaining two years of the program include nursing classes and clinical rotations. Graduates of the BSN program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.
Contact:
University of South Dakota
414 E Clark Street,
Vermillion, SD 57069
