[ INTERVIEW ]
Anne Pithan, DNP Chair of the USD Department of Nursing EARLIER THIS YEAR, the University of South Dakota announced two new programs designed to equip more area nurses to step into healthcare leadership roles. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, which opens in the spring, will prepare nurses for administrative positions in all kinds of complex systems. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program emphasizes nursing
MED: How did the school decide on these two particular tracks?
informatics and e-Health and is designed to help nurses become leaders in the growing area of telehealth. The MSN program opens
AP: We met with providers
in the fall. Both programs will be offered entirely online.
about what the need was in
MED spoke with Anne Pithan, chair of USD’s nursing depart-
nursing right now. What
ment, for additional insights into these timely new educational
bubbled to the surface from
tracks.
these conversations was information and eHealth and
“THE NEED FOR LEADERSHIP WITHIN NURSING HAS NEVER BEEN AS PROFOUND AS IT IS NOW, IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.”
nursing leadership. We knew
we need to be able to provide
this before the pandemic, but
quality care from a distance.
the pandemic really
Those are big focuses for our
highlighted that need. Our
MSN program.
goal with these programs is
MED: Both programs were developed in partnership with other departments. Why was that important?
to meet workforce needs in our region.
MED: Our region is largely rural. How do you think these programs will benefit rural areas?
AP: The DNP program is partnering with our business
AP: Making sure that our
school because nurses not
citizens in rural areas are
only need leadership skills
getting their health needs
but they also need to have
met is a big focus for us. We
those business and financial
know that telehealth is an
pieces in order to lead
opportunity to have a
effectively. Dakota State
personal connection with
University is especially
people from a distance. But
strong in informatics and
we still want to maintain
AP: The need for leadership
cybersecurity, two areas that
that compassionate caring
within nursing has never
we knew we wanted to focus
side of nursing while using
been as profound as it is now,
on in our MSN program, so
the latest technology to
in the midst of the pan-
we are partnering with
deliver those patient
demic. Both new nurses and
them, as well. These
outcomes. We are excited to
experienced nurses need
partnerships bring an
have this opportunity to
strong leadership. The
interprofessional aspect to
enhance the nursing
pandemic has also shown us
our educational programs
profession statewide. We
that we really need to be able
that will make them solid
need solid leaders now more
to use data to provide the
and strong.
than ever. ❖
MED: Why did USD decide to introduce these two programs now?
6
best patient outcomes and
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