Nursing Schools in South Dakota

South Dakota is best known for Mt. Rushmore, one of the most recognizable symbols in the United States. It is one of the least populated states and large tracts of land are classified as rural. However, nursing opportunities are present in and around cities like Sioux Falls, one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country in recent years.

Aside from tourism and agriculture, the services industry, which includes healthcare, is a major driver of growth in South Dakota. The state has one of the largest proportions of elderly people in the U.S. The growing number of seniors needing care poses a challenge for current and future nurses.

There are over 15 nursing schools in South Dakota. They offer practical nursing, associate, bachelor, and masters nursing programs. There are tracks for advanced practice nursing such as nurse midwife, nurse anesthetists, nurse specialist and nurse practitioner. Lately, schools have begun to offer LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, and accelerated nursing programs.

The South Dakota Board of Nursing says that South Dakota nursing schools had to turn away roughly half the number of applicants in 2009. Yet, admission waiting lists in South Dakota may be relatively shorter compared to other states. Applicants would be wise to explore their options with nursing schools in South Dakota since they would have less competition. However, they have to take note that state universities like the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University are tougher to get into, often requiring students to undergo a complete and comprehensive credentials evaluation.

Thankfully, private colleges have less stringent admission processes, and many students who are being turned away by larger programs can find a spot in these schools quicker. Another good alternative is to enroll in an online school. Regardless of the kind of program, students need to check if the accreditation status of the school is current, especially those who only hold interim or probation status. Students can avail of many financial aid programs such as the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program and school programs. The quality of South Dakota nursing education is reflected by the high NCLEX passing rate which is higher than the national average based on data from the South Dakota Board of Nursing.
 
The state faces a nursing shortage of 9 percent by 2015 and 23 percent by 2020 according to the South Dakota Nursing Workforce. Many future nurses will be employed in nursing homes, home health agencies and hospitals to care for elderly patients and patients with chronic diseases. Nursing students who prefer quality nursing instruction, low-cost living conditions and a laidback lifestyle may fit well as a nurse in South Dakota.

Employment: 10,530
Hourly Mean Wage: $25.73
Annual Mean Wage: $53,520
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

State Nursing Board: South Dakota Board of Nursing
State Nurses Association: South Dakota Nurses Association
State Hospital Association: South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations

South Dakota Nursing Schools