Program: Post-Graduate Clinical Nurse Leader Certificate - South Dakota State University

2021-2022 Graduate Catalog

Apr 06, 2025

Program Coordinator/Contact

Heidi Mennenga, Interim Associate Dean for Academic Programs
Department of Graduate Nursing
Wagner Hall 255, Box 2275
605-688-5178 or 1-888-216-9806 Ext. 3

Program Information

The Post-Graduate Clinical Nurse Leader Certificate is focused on integrating the vital work of Clinical Nurse Leaders into every hospital. This certificate program is designed for nurses who currently hold a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education or Nursing Administration or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Courses for the certificate are designed to meet the national AACN requirements for the student to become a certified Clinical Nurse Leader and assist students to meet the following CNL competencies: Critical thinking; Communication; Health Assessment; Nursing Technology and Resource Management; Health Promotion, Risk Reduction, and Disease Prevention; Illness and Disease Management; Information and Health Care Technologies; Ethics; Human Diversity; Global Health Care; Health Care Systems and Policy; Provider and Manager of Care; Designer/Manager/Coordinator of Care, and; Member of a Profession.

Program Outcomes

To prepare clinical nurse leaders, nurse educators, family nurse practitioners and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners who:

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

Student Learning Outcomes

Display competence within the legal scope of practice for chosen specialization.
Evaluate and utilize research within advanced nursing practice.
Integrate cultural learning into nursing practice to effectively tailor health care to the diverse lifeways of clients.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

The post-graduate APRN certificate 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.

Certification

Upon completion of the Post-Graduate Clinical Nurse Leader Certificate, students may be eligible for the following certification:

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 and includes a field-based practicum.

Certificate Requirements

NURS 645 - CNL I: Improvement Science: A Microsystem Approach Credits: 5
NURS 646 - CNL II: Clinical Immersion and Capstone Project Credits: 6
NURS 860 - Health Operations and Financial Management for Nurse Leaders Credits: 3

Total Required Credits: 14

Notes

The Post-Graduate Clinical Nurse Leader Certificate program of study is individualized. Interested applicants will contact the graduate nursing department to discuss options.
For additional information, refer to the Graduate Nursing Department webpage.

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL: Score of 81 Internet-based
IELTS: 6.5 total band
Duolingo: 110

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

Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (and if applicable, APRN and licensure) 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 course.
Completed graduate level courses in Advanced Physical Assessment (Lifespan), Advanced Pathophysiology (Lifespan), Advanced Pharmacology / Pharmacotherapeutics (Lifespan) with a course grade of 3.0 within the last 5 years.
Completed and verified application to the Graduate Nursing program via NursingCAS website.
Completed an approved statistical methods course within 5 years of enrollment in the designated research course within the DNP program coursework.
Interview assessment reviewed by graduate faculty.
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.
Completed Compliance requirements: Clear Background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint, clear drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, ACLS certification for FNP specialization, professional liability insurance, influenza vaccine, and TB test.

For applicants who completed their higher education within the United States:

Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
Master’s degree in nursing (from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.

For applicants who completed their higher education outside the United States:

A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Master’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.

Additional Information

Students enrolled in SDSU certificate programs are not eligible for federal student financial aid. The non-federal alternative loan programs may be used for students meeting the lender criteria as found at www.sdstate.edu (search alternative loans). For further information, please contact the SDSU financial aid office at 605-688-4695 or finaid@sdstate.edu.