Nursing Practice-Organizational and System Leadership (D.N.P.)

Program Overview

The DNP with organizational and system leadership specialization meets the growing demand for leadership at the organizational and systems level. Ideal for nurses in mid-level nursing management for preparation to lead within complex health systems in roles of administration, executive leadership and academic faculty. 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 DNP program has a virtual residency leadership experience during BADM 761. Learn more at usd.edu/nursing.

DELIVERY: Online

Doctorate in Nursing Practice (D.N.P.): Total 69-76 credit hours

• Conferred Master of Science Nursing (from an accredited institution) 33 credit hours
• Required courses in major area 36-43 credit hours
  • Minimum of 1,000 clinical hours is required (students must take 1-7 clinical credits to meet the minimum 1,000 clinical hours required for the program if they have not met this requirement)
  • USD Nursing may accept up to 280 supervised clinical practice hours from the student’s master’s program

Required Courses in Major Area: 36-43 credit hours

• BADM 761 - Leadership Development 3 cr
• HSAD 770 - Managing Health Services Resources 3 cr
• NURS 773 - Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods 3 cr
• NURS 811 - Scientific Underpinnings and Evidence-Based Practice 3 cr
• NURS 812 - Leadership Development in Healthcare Policy and Advocacy 3 cr
• NURS 813 - Scholarly Writing and Communication 1 cr
• NURS 814 - Dissemination of Clinical Project 1-2 cr (2 credit hours required)
• NURS 841 - Applied Evidence-Based Practice and Population Health Concepts 3 cr
• NURS 861 - Leadership Development in Quality Improvement in Nursing for Health Systems 3 cr
• NURS 862 - Leadership Development in Information Systems/Technology for Patient Care Improvement 3 cr
• NURS 863 - Leadership Development in Healthcare Business 3 cr
• NURS 880 - DNP Project (C) 1-8 cr (6 credit hours required)
• Elective 0-7 credit hours required (Students must take 1 - 7 clinical credit hours to meet a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours for the program if not completed prior to entering the D.N.P. program. USD Nursing may accept up to 280 supervised clinical practice hours from the student’s master’s program. Contact the graduate advisor for more information.)
• NURS 895 - Practicum (C) 1-11 cr (if required 1-7 cr hrs)

General Application Requirements

1. Completed application
2. $35 application fee
3. Official transcripts*
4. Letters of recommendation*
5. Statement of purpose
6. Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. This list is not all-inclusive, to view specific program requirements and submission deadlines, follow the  “Admissions Information” hyperlink at the top of this page OR visit the specific program/dept. page found here: link.usd.edu/grad-catalog

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization

Questions?

Department of Nursing
605-658-5600 | nursing@usd.edu | usd.edu/nursing

Graduate Admissions 
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu  | usd.edu/grad