Nurses working in a leadership and organizational capacity in the hospital

Nursing Practice

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree positions you to be a leader at the organizational and system level in the ever-changing field of health care. Elevate the quality of health care and broaden your range of skills so you can thrive in a high-level career in the health care industry.

Become a Leader in Nursing

The changing demands of healthcare requires the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to transform healthcare and assure quality patient outcomes. This requires nurses who can lead transformative practice, provide system leadership, and move nursing practice to the highest level as they navigate and lead through complex health systems to promote individual, community, and national health.

As a student pursuing an advanced degree in nursing practice, you will gain the educational foundation and skills you need to thrive as a leader in health care. The online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in organizational system and leadership prepares nurses for leadership roles within health care organizations. The program is offered through a partnership between the Department of Nursing and the Beacom School of Business – offering a rich, interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares you to incorporate principles of business, finance, budget and policy, as well as nursing science, patient care improvement, population health and ethics, into your practice.

You will graduate as a nursing leader capable of providing nursing leadership within complex health systems, business and other healthcare settings.


Degrees & Offerings

Doctor of Nursing Practice: Organizational & System Leadership (DNP)

Doctorate
  Online

The online DNP with a specialization in organizational and system leadership meets the growing demand for nursing leadership who practice at the organizational and systems level. This program prepares nurses to lead within complex health systems in roles of administration, executive leadership and academic faculty.

View Admissions Requirements

Program Details

Graduate

College

Department

Contact

Graduate Admissions
 

Start Your Application Today

This graduate program utilizes a specialized CAS online application to complete the admissions process. To learn more about this program's unique application process, requirements and program deadlines, visit Specialty Graduate Program Applications.

Additional requirements exist for international applicants. For more information, visit International Admission Requirements. 

 

 

Known for Excellence

With qualities like small class sizes, specialized programs and incredible student opportunities, USD is not your typical university. What makes us unique is what makes your education exceptional.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

As a student at USD, the opportunities available to you extend beyond the classroom. Explore your interests, find your community and experience your education to the fullest extent through the following opportunities.

An Affordable Education

Gain valuable real-world, professional experience while enjoying paid employment and discounted tuition rates as a graduate student at USD. The affordability you gain through graduate assistantships and fellowships will equip you with valuable, professional-level skills that will set you apart after graduation. 

Teaching and research assistantships are awarded by individual departments. If you do not receive an assistantship within your department, you are eligible for an assistantship outside of your academic program or within support offices (non-academic units) at USD. Further inquiries should be directed to the graduate director of the department.

Learn More

You'll find the mentorship and opportunities you need to study topics that spark your curiosity. 

At USD, our graduate students are actively pursuing unique research and presenting at local and national conferences exploring innovative areas of interest to them. Additional research and grant opportunities include:

Graduate Research

Departments & Facilities

Explore the departments, facilities and centers that contribute to your education.
Nursing Student During a Patient Simulation.

Nursing

Our department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, supporting today's health care workforce and delivery of quality patient care.

The USD Medicine leadership team cutting the ribbon unveiling the new Parry Center facilities.

Parry Center

The Parry Center for Clinical Skills & Simulation is a state-of-the-art learning environment that allows collaboration among students and safely simulates real-patient experiences.

Three medicine students looking at a tablet working in the Human Anatomy laboratory.

Human Anatomy Lab

The University of South Dakota’s human anatomy lab offers a cadaver-based experience to undergraduate, graduate, medical and health sciences students. Our lab enables future health care professionals to assist their patients through the mastery of human anatomy.

Faculty & Staff

Get to know the faculty and staff in the Department of Nursing. Our faculty are committed professionals, experts in their field, and contribute to research and scholarship in health promotion, disease prevention, and  chronic disease management. USD faculty are committed to producing life long learners, and develops exceptional health practitioners, leaders, and scholars who improve and advocate for the well-being of all people. We focus on person-centered care, with caring, compassion and respect as the foundation to nursing care.
Bio Image for Faculty Member Anne Pithan

Anne Pithan

Chair, Nursing/Assist Professor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Christine Doty

Christine Doty

Senior Secretary
Bio Image for Faculty Member Kelli Ebbesen

Kelli Ebbesen

Faculty Advisor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Lisa Feller

Lisa Feller

Associate Prof/Dir Regulatory Affairs
Bio Image for Faculty Member Cheryl Fischbach

Cheryl Fischbach

Lecturer/Coordinator of Graduate Programs
Bio Image for Faculty Member Danielle Fleming

Danielle Fleming

Clinical Lab Specialist
Bio Image for Faculty Member Katie Fransen

Katie Fransen

Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Samantha Gottsleben

Samantha Gottsleben

Instructor

Specialty

Nursing
Bio Image for Faculty Member Helene Hegge

Helene Hegge MSN,RN

Site Director/Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Abby Houg

Abby Houg

Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Valarie Hower

Valarie Hower

Management Analyst
Bio Image for Faculty Member Tyler Kaufmann

Tyler Kaufmann

Clinical Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Anne Kleinhesselink

Anne Kleinhesselink

Associate Chair of Academic Prog/Assist Professor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Michelle Knuppe

Michelle Knuppe

Clinical Experiences Director/Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Sabina Kupershmidt

Sabina Kupershmidt

Associate Professor

Specialty

Interprofessional teamwork
Bio Image for Faculty Member Regan Luken

Regan Luken

Student Services Director/Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Beth Melstad

Beth Melstad

Student Services Specialist
Bio Image for Faculty Member Lori Munter

Lori Munter

Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Lesli Olson

Lesli Olson

Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Brynn Paumen

Brynn Paumen

Expansion Program Advisor/Recruiter
Bio Image for Faculty Member Jeannie Rossow

Jeannie Rossow

Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Michele Seaton-Bertsch

Michele Seaton-Bertsch

Asst Advisor/Recruiter
Bio Image for Faculty Member Leanne Siverhus

Leanne Siverhus

Assist Professor of Practice
Bio Image for Faculty Member Barbara Stolle

Barbara Stolle MS, RN CNE, CHSE

SIM Oversight/Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Lorie Truhe

Lorie Truhe

Clinical Lab Specialist
Bio Image for Faculty Member Dawn Warren

Dawn Warren

Rapid City Site Dir/Lecturer
Bio Image for Faculty Member Angela Wilhelm

Angela Wilhelm

Senior Secretary
Bio Image for Faculty Member Ashtyn VanZee

Ashtyn VanZee

Instructor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Jean Yockey

Jean Yockey

Associate Professor

Specialty

Nursing Education
A computer science student at their computer.

Take Your Classes Online

We're committed to bringing our knowledge to you. USD serves the largest number of online students in the state of South Dakota. With competitive online tuition rates, we offer the same price whether you’re out-of-state or an in-state resident.

Enroll in an online program today!


View all online programs
Nursing  student studying online

Developing Your Specialty

We have integrated a specialization into your advanced degree, ensuring you graduate with a marketable and unique education that positions you for success in your career. Your understanding of organizational and system leadership will make you an asset to your health care organization.

Surprisingly Affordable

Whether you’ve recently completed your undergraduate degree, or you want to kick your career up a notch, graduate school is the next logical step. The good news is there is funding for both online and on-campus students to get you through your program. 
GA (Resident*)
Resident
Online
Non-Resident
Tuition (1 cr.)
180.3
340.15
470.45
654.05
GAF Fee (1 cr.)
55.3
55.3
0
55.3
Total

More About Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates are subject to change and may vary depending on the program or department. Visit the Graduate Tuition & Costs page for more information.

* Graduate Assistant (GA) rates are available for resident, non-resident and online students.

** Resident rates may be available to you through the SD Advantage, Child of Alumni or Western Regional Graduate Program. To see if you quality, visit usd.edu/grad-tuition.


Quality Educational Experiences
 

CCNE Logo

 

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of South Dakota are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.






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