Nursing Department

Return to: Departments & Programs

Department Chairperson: Dr. Anne Pithan
Associate Chair, Academics Programs and Graduate (MSN and DNP) Program Director: Dr. Anne Kleinhesselink
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Program Director: Dr. Shauna Rich Jacobsen
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Assistant Program Director: Dr. Amanda Bainbridge 
 

414 East Clark Street
Lee Med 303
Vermillion, SD 57069
Tel: (605) 658-5600
Fax: (605) 658-3301
gradnursing@usd.edu
CRNA@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/nursing

FACULTY (MSN/DNP)

Assistant Professor:

         Anne Pithan, D.N.P., Allen College

Instructors:

Regan Luken, M.S.N., South Dakota State University 
Lori Munter, M.S.N, Walden University 
Heidi Waters, M.S.N., Walden University

Affiliate Instructors:

Brittany Duford-Hutchinson, D.N.P., Universtiy of Utah
Benjamin Seeley, M.S.N., University of Iowa 
Emily Smith, D.N.P, Graceland University
Christina Tesch, M.S.N., South Dakota State University
Lacey Uttecht, D.N.P., University of Missouri-Columbia
Wendy Vanderkooi, D.N.P., South Dakota State University

FACULTY (Nurse Anesthesia Practice)

Assistant Professors of Practice:

Amanda Baindridge, D.N.P., Morningside College
Shauna Rich Jacobson, D.N.A.P., Mount Marty University
Leanne Siverhus, M.N.A., Mayo School of Health Science

Affiliate Instructors:

Jerome Durfee, D.N.A.P., Mount Marty University
Kristi Trimble, D.N.A.P., Mount Marty University

FACULTY (MSN/DNP/Nurse Anesthesia Practice)

Associate Professors:

Jean Yockey, PhD, University of Northern Colorado

Assistant Professors:

Tamara Keefner, Ph.D., South Dakota State University
Anne Kleinhesselink, Ph.D., Walden University
Anne Pithan, D.N.P., Allen College

Lecturers:

         Dawn Warren, Ed.D., University of South Dakota
         Jessica Warren, Ed.D., Bryan College 

DEGREE

Master of Science in Nursing with specialization in Nursing Informatics and e-Health    
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice  
Doctor of Nursing Practice with specialization in Organizational and System Leadership   

Program Description (M.S.N.)

The Master of Science in Nursing with Nursing Informatics and e-Health specialization meets the growing demand for nurses who have advanced preparation in informatics, health care technologies, analytics and e-Health. This program is flexible and draws on the strengths of the university including distance delivery, use of technologies and inter-professional approaches. This master’s program specializes and prepares you in the science of how to use data, information systems and health care technologies to direct patient care, improve the delivery of services and lead transformative practice and organizational change. Coursework provides a foundation for nurses in advance practice roles. It utilizes contemporary nursing concepts to develop leadership capacity in informatics and technology, health care business for the digital economy and utilization of evidence-based practice to clinical and system improvement.

The M.S.N. can be completed in 33 credit hours.

WICHE Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) eligible program. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (M.S.N.)

1. Completed application through the centralized application service for nursing, NursingCAS found at: https://www.nursingcas.org/
2. In order to complete your Graduate School application to the University of South Dakota, you must submit a $35 application fee, in addition to the NursingCAS fee. The USD Graduate Application Fee cannot be waived or deferred and it is nonrefundable. The fee can be paid on the USD payment site website.
3. Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation). Transcripts must be complete (e.g., if currently enrolled, work-in-progress coursework must be included, foreign transcripts must include a grading scale, and for countries that issue, copy of degree certificate/diploma i.e., India, Nepal, etc.). The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary. 
4. Completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (or equivalent) degree from an institution with institutional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 on conferred degree based on a 4.0 scale is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per University policy.
5. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained a high school diploma, undergraduate, or graduate degree from an institutionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the approved list  of English-speaking countries are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants with degrees from other countries, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT), 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), 8.5 on the TOEFL Essentials, 6.0 on the IELTS Academic, 53 on the PTE, or 110 on Duolingo is required for graduate admission. 
6. Applicants are required to submit a Professional Goal Statement that addresses the following:

a. Describe how your personal strengths, experiences, & interests will contribute to your success in graduate nursing school and career in nursing informatics and e-health; and

b. Describe your reason(s) for pursuing an MSN in informatics and e-health and your career direction.  How do you feel the attainment of an advanced practice degree will contribute to clinical practice and the nursing profession?

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

7. Three (3) professional letters of recommendation are required. Preferred recommenders include academic sources who can attest to scholarly abilities and current employer.
8. Resume.
9. Copy of current nursing license. Application can be complete with receipt of scheduled NCLEX exam. Students must have an active license prior to starting the program. 
    

Applicants accepted to the program will be required to submit up-to-date immunization records, insurance card, Basic Life Support for healthcare providers certification, successfully complete a criminal background check and pass a drug screening before matriculation. This is a strict requirement of USD Health Affairs and the School of Health Sciences.

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the above criteria may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Application Deadline (M.S.N)

• July 15th  
  • Fall start

Program Description (Nurse Anesthesia Practice)

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) post baccalaureate program prepares registered nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who will have the educational background and skills necessary to provide anesthesia care that is founded in innovative evidence-based practice and use of advanced technologies. Furthermore, graduates of the program will be able to assume leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings and improve healthcare delivery. This DNAP program is designed for BSN or MSN prepared RNs with at least one year of full-time critical care/ICU experience.

The Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Program (DNAP) at the University of South Dakota was awarded initial accreditation on October 12th, 2022 by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 222 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068; (847) 655-1160, URL (http://COACRNA.org). The program will be scheduled to apply for continued accreditation in 2028.

On January 18, 2023, the South Dakota Board of Nursing approved the University of South Dakota for full approval status of the DNAP program.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (Nurse Anesthesia Practice)

1. Completed application through the centralized application service for nursing, NursingCAS found at: https://www.nursingcas.org.
2. In order to complete your Graduate School application to the University of South Dakota, you must submit a $35 application fee, in addition to the NursingCAS fee. The USD Graduate Application fee cannot be waived or deferred, and it is nonrefundable. The fee can be paid on the USD payment site website.
3. Official transcripts of all academic work (in English or with translation) at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for all students. Official transcripts must verify the receipt of an undergraduate degree. Transcripts must be complete (e.g., if currently enrolled, work-in-progress coursework must be included, foreign transcripts must include a grading scale, and for countries that issue, copy of degree certificate/diploma i.e., India, Nepal, etc.). The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary. All transcripts must be verified by NursingCAS for your application to be considered complete. See NursingCAS for further details.
4. Completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (or equivalent) degree or an entry-level master’s degree in nursing from institutions with institutional accreditation for those degrees. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per University policy.
   1. A science GPA will also be calculated and considered for admission.
5. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained a high school diploma, undergraduate, or graduate degree from an institutionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the approved list  of English-speaking countries are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants with degrees from other countries, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT), 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), 8.5 on the TOEFL Essentials, 6.0 on the IELTS Academic, 53 on the PTE, or 110 on Duolingo is required for graduate admission. 
6. A written 500-1000 words statement to address advanced practice professional goals.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

7. Three (3) letters of recommendation.

   1. These can come from a manager or supervisor, a healthcare provider, an anesthesia provider, or a nursing faculty member. The letters should address the applicant’s potential for success in the DNAP program, focusing on clinical skills, critical thinking, independent decision-making, and collaborative abilities with other health professionals.

   2. Personal references from friends or family do not fulfill the requirement.

   3. If you cannot provide one of the specified reference letters, please include an explanation in your statement of purpose.

8. Current resume/CV.
9. Proof of current unencumbered United States RN licensure. Upon matriculation, all students must have a copy of current nursing South Dakota license (or one from a compact state).
10. At least one year (preferably two years) of current full-time experience as an RN in an intensive care or critical care setting at time of application demonstrated on resume/cv.
11. Current certification at the time of application is required for the following (submit certification card):
    • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
    • Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers
    • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) for healthcare providers from the American Heart Association (note: If an applicant has ALS, they must obtain their ACLS certification prior to the program start).
12. Completed shadow experience log indicating a minimum of 8 hours.
13. Evidence of successful completion of a statistics course and an organic chemistry or biochemistry course with a B or better at the time of application. Courses must be from institutionally accredited institutions. Refer to NursingCAS for further details.

Top candidates may be selected for an interview with faculty (if moved forward by the program admissions committee).

Applicants accepted to the program will be required to submit up-to-date immunization records, insurance card, successfully complete a criminal background check and pass a drug screening before matriculation. This is a strict requirement of USD Health Affairs and the School of Health Sciences.

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all the above criteria may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Application Deadline (Nurse Anesthesia Practice)

• Spring start (January)
  • Deadline: June 1st of the year prior to the Jan. start

    • NOTE: To be considered for an interview, all transcripts must be verified by NursingCAS, no later than June 30th. We highly recommend submission of all materials to NursingCAS four to six weeks prior to the June 1st deadline to allow ample time for verification.

Program Description (D.N.P.)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with Organizational and System Leadership specialization meets the growing demand for nursing leadership that practice at the organizational and systems level. This 100% online program prepares nurses to lead within complex health systems in roles of administration, executive leadership and academic faculty. This specialization is ideal for nurses in mid-level nursing management and management positions to assume leadership roles within health care organizations. It delivers concepts from nursing science and other related disciplines in areas of finance, information systems technology, patient care improvement, health care business, population health concepts and health services resources.

The D.N.P can be completed in as little as 36 credit hours, or as many as 43, depending on academic and clinical background.

WICHE Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) eligible program. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (D.N.P.)

1. Completed application through the centralized application service for nursing, NursingCAS found at: https://www.nursingcas.org
2. In order to complete your Graduate School application to the University of South Dakota, you must submit a $35 application fee, in addition to the NursingCAS fee. The USD Graduate Application Fee cannot be waived or deferred and it is nonrefundable. The fee can be paid on the USD payment site website.
3. Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels (in English or with translation). Transcripts must be complete (e.g., if currently enrolled, work-in-progress coursework must be included, foreign transcripts must include a grading scale, and for countries that issue, copy of degree certificate/diploma i.e., India, Nepal, etc.). The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary. 
4. Completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (or equivalent) degree and a Master of Science in Nursing degree from institutions with institutional accreditation for those degrees. A minimum graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred master’s degree based on a 4.0 scale is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per University policy.
5. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained a high school diploma, undergraduate, or graduate degree from an institutionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the approved list  of English-speaking countries are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants with degrees from other countries, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT), 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), 8.5 on the TOEFL Essentials, 6.0 on the IELTS Academic, 53 on the PTE, or 110 on Duolingo is required for graduate admission.  
6. Applicants are required to submit a Professional Goal Statement that addresses the following:

a. Identify a clinical practice inquiry you would like to explore as part of the DNP program (e.g., quality improvement initiative, evidence-based practice guidelines, new model of care, policy analysis).  Describe how you see this inquiry improving clinical practice and contributing to the nursing profession? (500 - 1,000 words); and

b. Describe your leadership skills and how they contribute to the healthcare environment and promoting positive healthcare outcomes? (250 - 500 words)

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

7. Three (3) professional letters of recommendation are required. Preferred recommenders are academic sources who can attest to scholarly abilities and current employer.
8. Resume.
9. Copy of current nursing license. Application can be complete with receipt of scheduled NCLEX exam. Students must have an active license prior to starting the program.   
10. Verification of clinical hours from master’s nursing program.

Applicants accepted to the program will be required to submit up-to-date immunization records, insurance card, Basic Life Support for healthcare providers certification, successfully complete a criminal background check and pass a drug screening before matriculation. This is a strict requirement of USD Health Affairs and the School of Health Sciences.

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the above criteria may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Application Deadline (D.N.P)

• Spring Start
  • Deadline: December 1st

Student Learning Outcomes for Nursing Practice-Organizational and System Leadership (D.N.P.)

1. Apply principles of evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, nursing and leadership science, ethics, cultural sensitivity, and determinants of health to ensure accountability for quality of health care and patient safety. 
2. Employ principles of business, finance, economics, and health policy to system wide initiatives that will improve safety and quality of care. 
3. Synthesize scientific methods and underpinnings to shape and influence healthcare decisions and systems of care. 
4. Employ data driven clinical and system decisions by integrating healthcare technology and informatics in managing complex healthcare environments. 
5. Facilitate transformative practice and organizational change that is based on critical evaluation of relationships among practice, fiscal policy issues, populations, and healthcare delivery systems. 
6. Employ strategic leadership skills to influence complex healthcare systems and to advance the profession.

Student Learning Outcomes for Nursing Practice-Nursing Informatics and e-Health (M.S.N.)

1. Synthesize scientific research, evidence and theoretical knowledge in nursing and other disciplines for application into advanced nursing practice. 
2. Apply knowledge of complex healthcare systems to optimize effectiveness and coordinate resources to provide safe, quality, and equitable care.  
3. Demonstrate leadership as an advanced-level nurse in the design and implementation of change to improve the quality, safety, and outcomes of care for diverse populations and across the healthcare continuum.   
4. Utilize knowledge of healthcare technologies, informatics process, and best practice to engage in data driven decision making to improve the delivery of safe, quality, and efficient care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.   
5. Demonstrate professional nursing practice and comportment by ensuring care is reflective of principles of person-centered care and nursing values. 
6. Engage in intentional collaboration and partnerships with other disciplines, patients, communities and stakeholders optimize care and strengthen outcomes.    
7. Demonstrate commitment to personal and professional growth and well-being and the development of advanced practice expertise critical to the profession and practice environments.   

Student Learning Outcomes for Nurse Anesthesia Practice (D.N.A.P.)

In addition to the D.N.P. outcomes, D.N.A.P. graduates will have knowledge, skills, and competencies related to patient safety, perianesthesia patient management, critical thinking, communication, leadership, and the professional role.

Patient Safety will be demonstrated by the student’s ability to:

• Be vigilant in the delivery of patient care
• Conduct a comprehensive equipment check
• Protect patients from iatrogenic complications

Perianesthesia patient management will be demonstrated by the student’s ability to:

• Perform comprehensive histories and physical assessments
• Provide individualized, culturally competent, evidence-based perianesthesia care to patients across the lifespan
• Administer and/or manage various types of anesthesia techniques to patients with various physical conditions for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures
• Maintain ACLS and PALS certifications

Critical thinking will be demonstrated by the student’s ability to:

• Apply theory and evidence-based principles in decision making/problem solving and when providing anesthesia services.
• Perform a preanesthetic assessment and formulate an anesthesia plan of care before providing anesthesia services
• Identify and appropriately manage complications and/or anesthetic equipment-related malfunctions
• Interpret and utilize data obtained from noninvasive and invasive modalities
• Recognize, evaluate, and appropriately manage physiological responses and/or complications coincident to the provision of anesthesia services
• Use science-based theories and concepts to analyze new practice approaches
• Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid and blood component therapy

Communication skills will be demonstrated by the student’s ability to:

• Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients and their families while maintaining respect, privacy, and confidentiality of patients
• Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective interprofessional exchange of information and collaboration with other healthcare professionals
• Utilize appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and written communication in the delivery and transfer of perianesthesia care
• Maintain comprehensive, timely, accurate and legible healthcare records
• Transfer responsibly of care of the patient to other qualified providers in a manner that assures continuity of care and patient safety
• Teach and mentor others

Leadership skills will be demonstrated by the student’s ability to:

• Integrate critical and reflective thinking in his or her leadership approach
• Employ strategic leadership skills to influence complex healthcare systems and facilitate intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration

Professional role will be demonstrated by the student’s ability to:

• Adhere to the Code of Ethics for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
• Function professionally within legal and regulatory requirements with integrity and accept responsibility and accountability for his or her practice
• Apply ethically sound decision-making processes
• Provide anesthesia services in a cost-effective manner
• Demonstrate knowledge of wellness and substance use disorder in the anesthesia profession
• Participate in activities that support and improve patient care
• Inform the public of the role and practice of the CRNA
• Advocate for the advancement of the CRNA specialty and improved patient care
• Demonstrate scholarship through presentations, publications, or leadership activities
• Evaluate how public policy making strategies impact the financing and delivery of healthcare
• Analyze strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of care
• Analyze health outcomes in a variety of populations, clinical settings, and systems
• Disseminate scholarly work
• Use information systems/technology to support and improve patient care and healthcare systems
• Analyze business practices encountered in nurse anesthesia delivery settings

Return to: Departments & Programs