DNP Programs in South Dakota

Choosing a DNP Program
Admission & State Licensing or Certification Requirements
South Dakota BSN to DNP Program Options
Helpful DNP Agencies and Organizations in South Dakota

RegisteredNursing.org Staff Writers | Updated/Verified: Apr 1, 2024

One of the most prestigious degrees in the nursing field is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, as it goes above a master's-level degree in nursing. Nurses who finish their DNP degrees have the choice to concentrate their studies on advanced practice nursing or organizational/educational leadership.

South Dakota's post-master's DNP program requires the completion of 28-36 unit hours. BSN to DNP students will need to complete between 78 and 81 unit hours.

At the completion of the program, the graduate will successfully demonstrate the following student learning outcomes:

Analyze significant practice issues with the theoretical and scientific underpinnings of knowledge-based practice
Employ advanced clinical judgment to assess, design, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based care of individuals in complex health and illness situations
Apply a broad system perspective to design, implement, and evaluate culturally congruent policies and practices to improve care for a diverse population
Lead health care inter-professional and intra-professional teams to transform care
Initiate ethically sound practice changes to address complex interwoven organization, population, fiscal, and policy trends
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of information technology to improve health care within systems
Implement evidence-based clinical prevention and health promotion activities to improve the health of populations

Choosing a DNP Program

Keeping the following key elements in mind will help prospective students ensure that the DNP program chosen is of a high caliber.

What to Consider When Choosing a DNP Program

Program Cost— Residents of South Dakota will pay $314 per unit hour. Conversely, non-South Dakota residents will pay $605 per unit hour.
Online Options— South Dakota State University offers a bachelor’s to DNP program that is delivered following the hybrid format—both online and on campus.
Accreditation— DNP programs in the state of South Dakota are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Clinical Residencies— Residencies and fellowships are a crucial part of gaining hands-on experience while enrolled in a DNP program. Many schools have hospital affiliations, however, the best course of action to take would be to seek out university nursing professors and inquire about any possible opportunities.

Admission & State Licensing or Certification Requirements

Admission

Requirements for admission into South Dakota State University include:

Completion of a baccalaureate or master's degree in nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited program
Current licensure as an RN in the United States prior to enrollment in first graduate nursing course
Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
Completion of anapproved statistics course (containing both descriptive and inferential statistics) within 5 years of enrollment
Minimum of 1500 hours of nursing practice (as verified by employer) as an RN prior to enrollment in the first nursing clinical course
Interview with graduate faculty and/or graduate admissions committee member(s)
Coverage by non-employer sponsored RN liability insurance (1 million / 5 million).
Background check, drug screen, required immunizations