South Dakota Nurse Practitioner Degrees
South Dakota, like many other remote states, has been affected by the growing shortage of primary care providers in the United States. Use your nursing education to explore nurse practitioner programs in South Dakota and start preparing for the next stage of your career. On this page, explore nurse practitioner programs in South Dakota, graduation requirements and career options. Begin looking for schools in your area with our featured school listings below, or look for more personalized results with the search box above.
The landscape of healthcare has changed considerably in recent years, impacting care providers at all levels. One of the most significant needs in the United States, particularly in states with large rural populations, is the need for primary care providers.
Many new patients find themselves without any available care providers in their area, while long-time patients may struggle with extremely long wait times. With nurse practitioner schooling, you may use your registered nursing experience to improve access to care in South Dakota.
How Can I Become a Nurse Practitioner in South Dakota?
Start compare your training options now. Your two primary routes to becoming a NP are through a master’s or doctoral program.
Average Master’s Degree Requirements in South Dakota
- Credit hours required: 40 credit hours
- Average cost: $500 per credit hour
- Clinical hours required: No fewer than 500 hours
- Timeframe: Two years
Average Doctoral Requirements in South Dakota
- Credit hours required: 80 credit hours
- Clinical hours required: No fewer than 1,000 hours
- Timeframe: Four to five years
What Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Are Available in South Dakota?
One of the first decisions you have to make as a student is where you would like to complete your degree. In-person programs may help you develop a stronger relationship with your cohort and get in-person help from professors, but this option is not always practical for working nurses.
Those who need a more flexible schedule can learn more about attending nurse practitioner programs online. These options take the same amount of time and offer the same quality of instruction. You simply complete your theory training online.
Your clinical hours must be completed at an approved local site.
Common Course Options for Nurse Practitioners in South Dakota
- Foundations of Advanced Nursing
- Research in Nursing and Healthcare
- Advanced Assessment Across the Lifespan
- Cultural Competence in Healthcare
- Health Policy and Legislation
- Ethics in Healthcare
- Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Your required courses depend on which patient population you decide to work with. South Dakota options include mental health, family care, neonatal care, and pediatric care.
Paying for Nurse Practitioner School in South Dakota
- BestNursingDegree.com: Nursing students of all levels can apply for funding through BestNursingDegree.com. Our scholarship program selects winners four times per year.
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Applicants have up to $50,000 of student loans paid off in exchange for a two-year commitment to an NHSC-approved site.
- NURSE Corps Scholarship Program: This program also requires two years of post-graduation work. If this requirement is not met, applicants have to repay their scholarship funds.
- Nurse Practitioner Association of South Dakota: Each year, this association awards $500 scholarships to nurse practitioner students.
Licensing and Practice Requirements for NPs in South Dakota
The South Dakota Board of Nursing oversees all nurse licensure in this state. You should already have a valid nursing license. This agency requires proof of national certification in your area of practice.
Your scope of practice may be slightly reduced in South Dakota, so it is important to be well-versed in your practice rights before you begin working (AANP, 2016).
Nurse Practitioner Careers in South Dakota
Committing to your education can significantly improve your earning potential and job outlook. Currently, the average salary for a nurse practitioner in South Dakota is $94,680 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
O*Net expects job openings to increase 24% between 2014 and 2024 (2016). Some of the work settings you may explore as a nurse practitioner are hospitals, nursing homes, urgent care centers, community clinics, and chain clinics.
With the right experience and staffing requirements, you may even open your own clinic in South Dakota. At this point, this venture requires an on-site doctor who is willing to supervise your work.
Are you ready to learn more about nurse practitioner degrees? South Dakota school can help.
Picking a Nurse Practitioner Program in South Dakota
South Dakota nurses who want to advance their education and become nurse practitioners can attend an online school, such as Georgetown University, or one of these institutions:
- Mount Marty College. Located in Yankton, Mount Marty offers Master’s-level NP programs including: Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner and Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner. Whenever possible, clinical experiences are arranged near students’ hometowns.
- South Dakota State University. The College of Nursing at South Dakota State has agreements with the University of Missouri-Kansas City for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner courses and the University of Missouri-Columbia for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner courses. Students can also train to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.
- Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing is physically located in Kentucky, but the school, a leader in distance education, has long helped graduates become nursing leaders within their home communities. Frontier offers a master’s level community-based Family Nurse Practitioner program that provides a strong emphasis on the business of primary care. The school also offers DNP-level Family Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner programs.
