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)
DoctorateThe 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.
Program Details
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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
USD offers advanced nursing programs online to make your education flexible and convenient.
USD is home to the state's only comprehensive health sciences school and medical school.
Prepare for high level careers in nursing administration, expand your knowledge of the business and finance areas in health systems or consider a career in academia as a nursing faculty.
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
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.
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:
Departments & Facilities
Nursing
Our department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, supporting today's health care workforce and delivery of quality patient care.
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.
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
Anne Pithan
Christine Doty
Kelli Ebbesen
Lisa Feller
Cheryl Fischbach
Catharine Fransen
Samantha Hannon
Helene Hegge MSN,RN
Abby Houg
Valarie Hower
Tyler Kaufmann
Anne Kleinhesselink
Michelle Knuppe
Timothy Leach
Regan Luken
Beth Melstad
Lori Munter
Lesli Olson
Jeanna Pankratz
Michele Seaton-Bertsch
Diane Smith
Alyssa Studer
Lisa Varenhorst
Dawn Warren
Jessica Warren
Heidi Waters MSN, RN
Angela Wilhelm
Ashtyn Van Zee
Take Your Classes Online
Developing Your Specialty
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.Graduate Tuition & Costs
Learn more about tuition and fees for undergraduate students and see how your out-of-pocket costs at USD compare to those at other colleges and universities. Visit the Graduate Tuition & Costs Detailed page for program specific costs and fees.
Financial Aid
Navigating options for how to pay for college can be challenging, but you are not alone. The Office of Financial Aid will work with you and your family to explore how you can make your college education even more affordable.
Graduate Assistantships
USD offers opportunities for grad students to earn a reduced tuition rate in exchange for their teaching, research and service efforts to the university.
Quality Educational Experiences
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.
