Master’s in Nursing degree programs in South Dakota should be considered among the many treasures found in the state for the significant value they add. Well-qualified nurses are in high demand throughout the state and nation and specialized training programs help fill that need. South Dakota is known for other riches – both natural and historic in value. Wind Cave National Park, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail are just a few of the tourist sites that attract millions of visitors each year. Additionally, service industries such as retail, finance and health care are among the largest economic contributors in the state. The institutions of higher learning listed below offer highly sought-after programs for nursing education in South Dakota.
Mount Marty College, Yankton, SD
Department of Nursing
Located on 80 acres of countryside along the natural bluffs of the Missouri River, Mount Marty College is a private, liberal arts college. Founded by the Sisters of Saint Benedict in 1936, the school still follows the Catholic, Benedictine traditions that focus on providing a value-centered education through professional preparation. Over 1,100 students benefit from small classes that are taught by professors instead of graduate students for personalized and expert teaching. Mount Marty College is proudly affiliated with local health care institutions that assist students in practicums and internships. This exposure to real-world experiences has resulted in a high placement rate after graduation.
Masters in Nurse Anesthesia
The Masters in Nurse Anesthesia is a graduate-level program designed for students with a nursing and pre-medical sciences background. It is a 30-month program that is divided into academic and clinical phases that are weighted strongly toward field experiences as the program progresses. The curriculum provides training in the principles of anesthesia, advanced physiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology, research methodology, health assessment and anesthesia care technology and instrumentation. The primary objective of the program are to develop anesthesia practitioners who are skilled in safe anesthetic management. Upon successful completion of national board examination, graduates will be eligible for career opportunities in all aspects of anesthesia care including administrators, researchers, educators, armed forces and clinical practitioners.
Masters in Nursing: Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
The Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner track of the MSN degree program provides training through theory, practicum experiences and a final capstone with sub-specialty opportunities in prison and college health services. The main focus of this series is dedicated to providing primary care to adults and elderly patients. All clinical experiences are directed through nursing homes, assisted living, transitional care and long-term care facilities. Graduates are eligible for application and completion of certification examinations authorized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Masters in Nursing: Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The Family Psychiatric-Mental Health PCNP emphasis prepares students to assess and conduct psychotherapeutic interventions for children, adolescents, adults and their families. At-risk patients are the focus of the program and the relationship between age and psychosocial needs – children and adolescents with possible emotional and behavioral disorders; adults attempting to manage stress or emotional situations; or elderly clients suffering from cognitive or traumatic life changes. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the certification examination.
Masters in Nursing: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The Masters in Nursing with concentration in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner curriculum prepares students to provide wide-ranging health care to children and their families. School-based health clinics are the primary focus of this series with coursework to include nursing theory, assessment, childhood illness, health policy, and moral/ethical issues. All clinical experiences will be designed for to meet individual student geographical needs and in various settings such as home care, specialty clinics, schools, primary care, neonatal environments and community agencies. The Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination is available upon degree conferral.
Accreditation
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (AANA/CANAEP)
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
U.S. Department of Education (USDE)
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact Information
5001 West 41st Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57106-1424
(605) 362-0100
South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
College of Nursing
South Dakota State University offers 183 fields of study and is the state’s largest land-grant university. The Morrill Act of 1862 identified the need for educational instruction to citizens of the United States who needed to work to support their families. Land was allocated to establish institutions of higher learning and SDSU was formed as under this Act. It currently has an enrollment of 12,554 students and offers 74 majors across undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. and professional programs. The university offers instruction to traditional and non-traditional students in on-campus and distance learning formats.
Master of Science in Nursing
The MSN program is designed for advanced practice nursing specialization in administration, education or clinical practice. Concentration areas are available for the following disciplines:
Clinical Nurse Leader – Leadership personnel in health care agencies who provide skilled care coordination for acutely ill patients across a lifespan.
Family Nurse Practitioner – This program is being reinstated. Primary caregivers to individuals of all ages. It combines online and on-campus courses plus a minimum of 1000 clinical practice hours.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner – NNPs provide assessment, diagnosis and managed health care for neonates and their families. The program is offered as a collaboration between SDSU and Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing.
Nurse Administrator – Nursing leaders in health care agencies with skills in personnel management and budgeting.
Nurse Educator – Registered nurses with an skill in curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation techniques for nurse training at universities or health care setting.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – Adult advanced primary mental health care. The program is offered through a University of Missouri-Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing partnership.
Accreditation
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact Information
Wagner Hall (SWG) 255
Box: 2275
Brookings, SD 57007
(605) 688-4114
With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, students are finding significant opportunities in the field and Master’s in Nursing degree programs in South Dakota are helping students obtain the skills needed for success in the industry.
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