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A.S. in Nursing

Rapid City

Do you feel the calling to be a nurse? South Dakota needs you! Enroll now in Dakota Wesleyan University's new Associate Registered Nurse program in Rapid City and start making a difference today. No healthcare experience required! Start this program right after high school or as a second career. 

Overview

What kinds of jobs and specialties await you when you earn your A.S. degree? 

Hospital nurse

Clinical nurse

Long-term care nurse

Speciality practice nurse
School or community nurse
Care, compassion and community are all part of a DWU nursing degree.

What’s the Difference at DWU?

  • You will graduate with an Associate of Science degree in Nursing (A.S.) in just 24 months.
  • Incredible job placement opportunities. Organizations want you! 
  • Your learning will include online class time and simulation-based lessons at our new Rapid City nursing site.  
  • DWU nursing graduates have a high pass rate with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). After you graduate, you will be ready for the exam.  
Accreditation

The new Dakota Wesleyan University A.S. Nursing program has been approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing, 4305 S. Louise Ave., Suite 201, Sioux Falls, SD 57106-3115605-362-2760.

Nursing Admission Requirements

Admission to the A.S. Nursing Program is contingent upon completing the following requirements:

  1.  Transcripts 
    • An official copy of your high school transcript, including class rank and cumulative grade point average.
    • An official copy of any previous college transcript(s). If coursework is still in progress, attach a current transcript that documents all of the courses in progress from that institution. 
    • A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or above is required. 
Post-Admission Requirements

All costs associated with the following requirements are the student’s responsibility. 

  1. Immunizations and Immunization Records
    • Immunizations and immunization records are required prior to participating in clinical rotations. These include (2) MMR or titers proving immunity, Hepatitis B series & Hepatitis B Titer (Hep B Surface Antibody), Tdap vaccinations, Varicella vaccination, annual Tuberculosis testing (QuantiFERON TB Blood Test is required), and an annual influenza vaccination. Covid-19 vaccinations are per guidelines/requirements of clinical facilities.
  2. Physical Evaluation
  3. CPR Certification and Renewal
    • Incoming nursing students must be CPR certified. The American Heart Association course, HeartCode® BLS (Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers CPR) is required. BLS must have a hands-on training component.
  4. Criminal Background Check
    • Department of Nursing requires criminal Background checks on all incoming, accepted nursing students. Background checks are completed before taking the first nursing course and before beginning clinical rotations in a health care agency. Instructions will be provided to you upon acceptance.
  5. Major Medical Health Insurance
    • Dakota Wesleyan University's contractual agreements regarding clinical experiences with cooperating agencies require that all nursing students be covered under a major medical health insurance policy throughout the entire calendar year. If you are 26 or under and are covered under a parent’s medical insurance policy, you will need to verify with your parent’s insurance agent that coverage applies to you while attending DWU.

Our next cohort begins August 2025!

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You can do this.

Our nursing programs are among the best in the region. That's because nursing students work together closely to create a community of support, not just with peers, but also with faculty and staff. You will find the classwork, clinical work and study support to help you achieve your dream of becoming a nurse. 

Want more information? Let's connect!

Nursing Courses

You get the best of both worlds. Your classroom simulations will be mixed with online courses. Courses will include topics like anatomy, chemistry, leadership, managment, medical terminology, nutrition, psychology and even philosopy and ethics. A total of 72 credits are required for graduation. 

NUR 217 Introduction to Nursing (RC)
Hours
This didactic course introduces students to the concepts of professional nursing. Students explore foundational concepts that allow application to the discipline of nursing.
NUR 310 Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts I (RC)
Hours
This clinical, lab and didactic course allows students to gain basic competency of foundational nursing skills. Students focus on beginning nursing concepts including patient documentation, communication, safety, asepsis, elimination, functional ability, and mobility. Students apply fundamental nursing concepts using the nursing process and nursing diagnosis as a guide for nursing care in the clinical setting.
NUR 316 Nursing Concepts in Pathophysiology (RC)
Hours
This didactic course covers basic concepts in pathophysiological processes and their effect on multiple body systems. Students explore the effect and progression of selected disease entities in client populations. This course provides a foundation for clinical judgement, diagnosis, and management of clients experiencing existing alterations in or risks for alterations in health status.
NUR 320 Fundamental Nursing Concepts II (RC)
Hours
This clinical, lab and didactic course allows students to gain fundamental competency of foundational nursing content and skills. Emphasis is on introductory medical/surgical concepts that focus on acute illness and health alterations. Lifespan, culture and diversity considerations for health and illness are explored. Students will use the nursing process, nursing diagnosis and clinical reasoning to apply fundamental concepts learned to lab, class, and clinical settings.
NUR 321 Health Assessment Nursing Concepts (RC)
Hours
This lab and didactic course allows students to gain competency in comprehensive health assessment skills and basic concepts of health promotion and disease prevention. Students learn and practice skills related to communication, health assessment, promoting well-being, and lab and diagnostic testing. Students integrate nursing process and nursing diagnosis and learn techniques to gather and record patient data. A signature assignment based on core course competencies validates student learning.
NUR 326 Nursing Concepts in Pharmacology (RC)
Hours
This course provides the foundation of basic pharmacology for professional nurses in general practice. Emphasis is on collaborative nursing management required for pharmacological therapies for healthcare participants across the lifespan. The course incorporates core drug knowledge related to therapeutic use, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, contraindications, adverse effects, and drug interactions with other drugs/food. Dosage calculations and basic conversions are explored while maintaining client safety.
NUR 342 Mental & Social Health Nursing Concepts (RC)
Hours
This clinical and didactic course allows students to gain competency in the care of individuals across the lifespan that are experiencing mental illness. Students examine acute and chronic mental illness and the affect that social health has on these clients. The course allows students to gain experience in the care of clients with mental illness and allows an examination of treatment options and community and private resources for this population.
NUR 408 Advanced Nursing Concepts (RC)
Hours
This clinical and didactic course allows students to gain competency of advanced nursing content and skills. Emphasis is on higher level thinking medical/surgical concepts that focus on acute illness and health alterations. Lifespan, culture and diversity considerations for health and illness are explored. Students will use the nursing process, nursing diagnosis and clinical reasoning/judgement to apply advanced concepts learned to class and clinical settings.
NUR 411 Lifespan Nursing Concepts I (Maternal/Women) (RC)
Hours
This clinical and didactic course allows students to gain competency in providing nursing care for childbearing clients and their families across the lifespan to include pregnancy, birth, and the newborn period. Students explore women’s health, male/female reproduction, and contraception.
NUR 412 Lifespan Nursing Concepts II (Pediatrics) (RC)
Hours
This clinical and didactic course allows students to gain competency in providing nursing care for infants, children and adolescents across the lifespan to include the context of the family. Students explore normal development and nutrition and focus on abnormal development and congenital defects.
NUR 423 Complex Nursing Concepts (RC)
Hours
This clinical and didactic course allows students to gain competency in complex nursing content and skills. Emphasis is on higher level thinking medical/surgical concepts that focus on acute and chronic illness and health alterations. Lifespan, culture and diversity considerations for health and illness are explored. Students will use the nursing process, nursing diagnosis and clinical reasoning to apply complex concepts learned to class and clinical settings.
NUR 425 Intro to Population Health (RC)
Hours
This clinical and didactic course allows students to gain competency in the practice of population focused health promotion and disease and injury prevention across the lifespan. Students learn the effect that health disparities, health economics, culture, and spirituality have on the health of a population. Students gain experience with multidisciplinary collaboration, care coordination, and insight into health policy.
NUR 450 Transition into Professional Practice (RC)
Hours
This clinical course provides students with the opportunity to gain competency in independent professional nursing practice and to apply, integrate, synthesize, and evaluate all concepts learned throughout the program. Students gain experience in a structured clinical setting through one-on-one collaboration with a dedicated preceptor. This allows students to gain experience for transition into entry level nursing practice.

If you have taken general education courses in the past, you may be able to move right into the nursing core courses. Review the A.S. Plan of Study and visit with your admissions counselor to discuss your options.

The DWU Difference

"DWU provides a very personalized education. Professors know you by name and know who you are. You're a person here, not just a student. My most memorable experiences include the lectures, simulations and clinical experiences with classmates who have become some of my best friends."

- Hope Bartmann '23

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Get to Know Your Contacts

You will be supported every step of the way. If you have questions, simply connect with us! 

Devin Constant, M.S.N., RN

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Lydia Nemec, M.S.N., RN, CNEn

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Megan Sarne

Admissions Counselor

Penny Tilton, DNP, M.S.N., RN

Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing | Administrative Chair of Nursing

The Experience

Clinical experience is critical to your career. We have included clinical opportunities in almost every semester. With clinical hours, you can practice your skills as you learn them. 

The A.S. curriculum is designed to develop knowledged-base, leadership and management of care skills needed for a registered nurse (RN) in the current healthcare practice setting.

Nursing Mission Statement, Vision and Core Values
Arlene Gates Department of Nursing Mission Statement

The Arlene Gates Department of Nursing, as an integral part of Dakota Wesleyan University, is aligned with its mission, vision, values, and philosophy. The nursing department aspires to prepare students for meaningful careers in professional nursing within a liberal arts setting. The nursing department aspires to cultivate a challenging learning environment based on Christian values and acceptance of diversity. The faculty foster lifelong learning, professional development, and responsibility to service.

Arlene Gates Department of Nursing Vision

The Vision of the Arlene Gates Department of Nursing is to strategically develop and grow DWU nursing programs to further the practice of professional nursing throughout the region.

Arlene Gates Department of Nursing Core Values

The Mission, Vision and Philosophy of the Arlene Gates Department of Nursing are carried out with guidance from AACN’s Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2019). The core values for nursing are human dignity, integrity, autonomy, altruism, and social justice.

Program Learning Outcomes

The Program Learning Outcomes are supported by AACN’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2019). Based on ten domains that represent the essence of professional nursing practice and expected competencies for each domain, four spheres of care are articulated. The domains, competencies and spheres of care lend a uniqueness to the profession of nursing, and diversity to practice (AACN, 2019) while providing a guide for the nursing curriculum toward outcomes-based learning.

The four spheres of care are: 
  1. disease prevention/promotion of health and wellbeing
  2. chronic disease care
  3. regenerative or restorative care
  4. hospice/palliative/supportive care across the lifespan

The domains and competencies allow the learner to build knowledge, skills, and abilities for entry into professional practice. The Essentials also features eight overarching concepts which are fundamental to professional nursing practice and are integrated within and across the domains and competencies. The Essentials serve as a guide for the DWU nursing programs’ program learning outcomes.

The Program Learning Outcomes are as follows: 
  1. Teach graduates to independently provide culturally sensitive, competent nursing care in a variety of settings guided by a scientific concept-based curriculum and professional accountability.
  2. Develop graduates who incorporate critical thinking and clinical judgement in the provision of holistic, evidence-based nursing care of clients throughout the lifespan.
  3. Support graduates in the planning and providing of person-centered, coordinated nursing care that contributes to safe and high-quality care outcomes.
  4. Facilitate graduates who communicate and collaborate with inter-professional teams, utilize health information technology, incorporate cost-effectiveness, and utilize educational principles to promote wellness and well-being.
  5. Motivate graduates to be committed to lifelong learning and service, display leadership, and who participate in scholarships that advance the profession of nursing.
  6. Produce graduates who exhibit caring behaviors and who uphold moral ethical and ethical competence in the practice of nursing.
A.S. Program Costs

Program Tuition: $375/Credit Hour 

Nursing Credits (72): $27,000 

Nursing Clinical Fee: $1,800 

TOTAL TUITION AND FEES: $28,800 

Other anticipated expenses (estimated and subject to change):  
  • Background check: $87 | You must complete a background check within 30 days of the start of the first nursing course. The cost of the background check is your responsibility.  
  • Uniform: $40 | You are responsible for the purchase of one royal blue scrub uniform. This is an approximate cost. 
  • Nursing Textbooks: Approx. $1,379 | This includes the cost of nursing textbooks for the entirety of the program.
  • Other Textbooks: varies based on your schedule and course requirements.
  • CPR Certification: $55-$65 | This covers a required CPR course provided by the American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers.
  • RN Licensure Fee: $100 | This fee is due to the South Dakota Board of Nursing upon graduation.
  • NCLEX-RN Exam: $200 | This is the registration fee to Pearson Testing upon graduation in order to take your exam. 

Complete your FAFSA Online

Complete your FAFSA online to begin the financial aid process and to determine the various types of aid you may qualify for to help finance your education. Dakota Wesleyan University’s code for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is 003461.

Payment Options

Several payment plan options are available for you: 

  • Online with a checking account or credit card
  • Monthly payment plan
  • Check or money order
  • PLUS or alternative loan

Scholarship Opportunities

Are you a member of the United Methodist Church? Students enrolled in the program are eligible for the United Methodist Recognition Award, a $1,000 annual scholarship awarded to confirmed members of the United Methodist Church. You must be a member for at least one year and a certification form is required.

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Questions?

Just contact us!

DWU Admissions
1200 W. University Ave. 
Mitchell, SD 57301
 

Email: admissions@dwu.edu 
Phone: 605-995-2650