Nursing (D.N.P.) - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Specialization (B.S. to D.N.P.)

Program Coordinator/Contact

Mary Minton, Associate Dean for Graduate Nursing
Department of Graduate Nursing
Wagner Hall 217, Box 2275
605-688-4114

Program Information

The Doctor of Nursing Practice prepares advanced practice nurses to transform clinical practice as expert clinicians and leaders with a special focus on rural and under-served populations. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program (NNP) is offered in partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing. The program prepares graduates to provide assessment diagnosis, and medical management of neonates and their families from admission through discharge in collaboration with other health care providers in specific clinical settings. Graduates with this specialization are eligible for the neonatal nurse practitioner examination via the National Certification Corporation.

Program Outcomes

To prepare graduates as clinicians and leaders with a special focus on rural and underserved populations.
To prepare graduates to deliver evidence-based direct patient care to individuals across the lifespan in primary care settings.
To prepare graduates to produce and implement scientific evidence to guide practice.
To prepare graduates to work collaboratively with frontier, urban, and rural communities in an effort to reduce health disparities.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, the graduate will successfully demonstrate the following competencies:

Integrate theoretical and scientific underpinnings of nursing and other disciplines to address emerging healthcare and practice issues.
Engage in health policy at all levels to influence healthcare delivery concerns, such as health disparities, cultural sensitivity, ethics, access to care, health finance, and quality of care.
Employ evidence-based practice and advanced clinical judgment to comprehensively assess, design, and deliver care for neonates.
Demonstrate leadership at the organizational and/or systems level to address health outcomes of individuals and populations though evidence-based initiatives.
Utilize advanced nursing knowledge and information systems/technology related to clinical prevention and health promotion to address gaps in healthcare.
Collaborate with the interprofessional team in the translation, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of evidence-based practice to improve healthcare outcomes.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice at South Dakota State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, 202-887-6791.

Licensure

Students must provide evidence of professional registration by submitting a copy of the most current RN license.

Certification

After completing the program of study, graduates may be eligible to complete certification through several professional organizations.
Nursing Certification - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Course Delivery Format

Nursing courses are delivered face-to-face and enhanced with web-based instruction. Online course delivery is also offered for specified courses.

The College of Nursing has agreements for distance education and hybrid courses with the University of Missouri-Kansas City for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner courses, and the University of Missouri-Columbia for Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist courses. Students in these specializations receive their degree from SDSU.

Facilities and Services

The College of Nursing provides world-class facilities and a variety of students services and programs for graduate student engagement.

Available Options for Graduate Degrees

Doctor of Nursing Practice

B.S. to D.N.P.

71 Credits

Core Requirements

Offered in collaboration with the University of Missouri - Kansas City

A minimum of 1,000 preceptor hours are required for the DNP degree. Clinical Courses offered through the University of Missouri – Kansas City. University of Missouri coursework is subject to change – contact the SDSU Graduate Nursing Department for updated information.

There are online campus requirements – refer to the Graduate Nursing webpage for additional information.

HSC 631 - Biostatistics I Credits: 3
NURS 615 - Foundations of Advanced Nursing Credits: 3
NURS 623 - Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan - Application to Advanced Practice Nursing Credits: 4
NURS 670 - Health Policy, Legislation, Economics and Ethics Credits: 3
NURS 675 - Cultural Competence in Health Care Credits: 3
NURS 750 - Transformational Leadership in Nursing Credits: 3
NURS 760 - Advanced Concepts in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Credits: 3
NURS 835 - Ethical Issues Influencing Practice and Research in Health Credits: 2
NURS 850 - Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations for Evidence-Based Care Credits: 3
NURS 855 - Translational Research in Health Care Credits: 3
NURS 860 - Health Operations and Financial Management for Nurse Leaders Credits: 3
NURS 875 - DNP Intensive Credits: 1-3 (6 credits required)
NURS 880 - DNP Project Credits: 1-8 (8 credits required)

University of Missouri - Kansas City Courses

N5547N - Neonatal Assessment Credits: 3
N5548N - Physiology/Pathophysiology of the Neonates Credit: 2
N5549N - Neonatal Pharmacology Credits: 3
N5564N - Neonatal Nursing I Credits: 3
N5566N - Neonatal Nursing II Credits: 3
N5572-NI - Preceptorship I Credits: 5
N5572-NII - Preceptorship II Credits: 5

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL: Score of 600 paper-based, 100 Internet-based, OR
IELTS: 7.0 total band

In addition to meeting the Graduate School admission requirements, applicants for graduate study for the Bachelor’s to Doctor of Nursing Practice must have:

Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the United States or its’ territories prior to enrollment in first graduate nursing course.
Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE Accredited program with a minimum cumulative 3.3 GPA.
1500 hours of documented nursing practice experience prior to the first clinical lab or within the first program year.
Completed and verified application to the Graduate Nursing program via NursingCAS website.
Completion of a written response to questions regarding educational goals, scholarly practice interest and desired practice career.
Completed an approved statistical methods course within 5 years of enrollment in the designated research course within the DNP program coursework.
Interview with graduate faculty.
Compliance requirements: Background check, FBI rolled fingerprint, drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, Advanced Life Support certification specific to chosen DNP specialty, professional liability insurance, influenza vaccine, and TB test.
Applicants who have begun but not completed a graduate nursing program at another college or university must submit a letter to the College of Nursing indicating their reason for leaving that said program. A letter of recommendation must also be submitted to the College of Nursing from the dean/director of their former program that includes the applicant’s standing in that program upon exit.

General Requirements

Graduate students must consult with their advisor before registering for graduate work.

For additional information refer to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Requirements .