Nursing (M.S.) - Clinical Nurse Leader Specialization

Program Coordinator/Contact

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

Program Information

Established in 1979, the M.S. in Nursing at South Dakota State University prepares nurses for advanced practice roles in nursing administration, leadership, clinical practice, or education.

Program Outcomes

To prepare Nurse Administrators, Clinical Nurse Leaders, Family Nurse Practitioners, and Nurse Educators who:

apply knowledge of evidence-based practice,
engage in life-long learning,
serve South Dakota, the region, the nation, and the world in urban, rural, and frontier health care settings, and
function in leadership roles.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

Incorporate knowledge and theories from nursing and other supportive disciplines to promote and translate evidence into practice to effectively tailor health care to diverse populations.
Use leadership strategies at the organizational and individual level to work with interprofessional teams to recommend quality improvement initiatives to provide safe healthcare delivery and improve population health.
Assume accountability to influence health policy, improve healthcare delivery, decrease health disparities, and address the diversity of health care needs.
Utilize informatics to enhance delivery of healthcare to a population
Communicate effectively with populations to improve health through population- centered strategies of health promotion/disease prevention education
Utilize microsystem assessment data to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions that improve safety and quality for selected populations.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

The master’s degree in nursing 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 are eligible to complete certification through the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC).

Upon completion of the M.S. in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader Specialization, students may be eligible for the following certifications:

National Certification Eligibility	Certifying Body
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)* *requires graduation from a CNL master’s education program or a student in their last term of a CNL education program that meets the criteria delineated in the CNL Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader^SM Education and Practice are eligible to sit for this certification examination.	Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC)

Course Delivery Format

The program coursework is delivered online with an on-campus requirement for NURS 631-631L and includes a field-based practicum.

Available Options for Graduate Degrees

Master of Science

Option C - Coursework Only

39 Credit Hours

Core Requirements

NURS 615 - Foundations of Advanced Nursing Credits: 3
NURS 623 - Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan - Application to Advanced Practice Nursing Credits: 4
NURS 626 - Research in Nursing and Health Care Credits: 3
NURS 631 - Advanced Assessment Across the Lifespan Credits: 4
NURS 631L - Advanced Assessment - Lifespan Clinical Laboratory Credits: 0
NURS 645 - CNL I: Improvement Science: A Microsystem Approach Credits: 2-5 (5 credits required)
NURS 646 - CNL II: Clinical Immersion and Capstone Project Credits: 1-6 (6 credits required)
NURS 670 - Health Policy, Legislation, Economics and Ethics Credits: 3
NURS 675 - Cultural Competence in Health Care Credits: 3
NURS 760 - Advanced Concepts in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Credits: 3
NURS 860 - Health Operations and Financial Management for Nurse Leaders Credits: 3
PHA 645 - Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan: Application to Advanced Practice Credits: 2-4 (2 credits required)

Total Required Credits: 39 (Option C)

Additional Admissions Requirements

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

In addition to meeting basic requirements for admission to the Graduate School, applicants for graduate study in nursing must have:

Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE Accredited program with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.
Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the United States or its’ territories prior to enrollment in first graduate nursing course.
1500 hours of documented nursing practice experience prior to the first clinical lab or within the first program year.
Completed approved statistical methods course within the past 5 years.
Completed and verified application to the Graduate Nursing program via NursingCAS website.
Compliance requirements: Background check, FBI rolled fingerprint, drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, ACLS certification for FNP specialization, professional liability insurance, influenza vaccine, and TB test.
Interview with graduate faculty for FNP specialization only.
Completion of a written response to questions regarding educational goals, scholarly practice interest and desired practice career.
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 should consult with their advisor before registering for graduate work.

For additional information refer to the Master’s Degree Requirements .