Nursing

Why study nursing?

As the only university in South Dakota to earn a Holistic Nursing Program endorsement, Augustana and its nursing department have been regional leaders in preparing nurses for more than 80 years.

AU’s pass rates on the NCLEX are consistently higher than the state and national average.
Nursing students are immersed in an interactive learning environment that features an advanced simulation center, case study reviews, role playing and electronic health records.
Students have weekly clinical experiences in health care settings in Sioux Falls — a health care hub.
Students participate in leadership practicums focused on the collaboration, delegation, and prioritizing skills essential to success in health care.

Augustana also offers a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) and post-graduate certificates.

Apply to BSN Program Looking for Accelerated Nursing? Degree in 3 School of Health Professions

Nursing at AU

CCNE Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Augustana University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

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Holistic Nursing

The Augustana University Nursing Program within its School of Health Professions is officially endorsed as a Holistic Nursing Program by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC) — the only college in South Dakota and one of only 17 schools in the nation to earn this endorsement.

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Application Process

Joaquin J. Andujar Endowed Scholarship

Sergeant Major (SGM) Joaquin (Jei) Andujar served our country in the United States Army for 26 years, most recently as part of Mortuary Affairs. He was a decorated combat veteran and humanitarian. In his honor, Jei's wife Tara has set up a memorial scholarship fund for full-time university students who are veterans of the military, spouses and/or children of veterans, or active duty personnel pursuing a major in nursing or a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN). For more information regarding the scholarship, please contact Tresse Evenson, Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid, at 605.274.5216 or at financial.aid@joe-yan.net.

2024-25 Nursing Student Handbook

Related Programs of Study

Exercise & Sport Sciences
Fitness Management
Health Education
Physical Education
Graduate Nursing Programs (MSN & Post-Graduate Certificates)
Accelerated Nursing Program

Contact Us

Dr. Lynn White, program director

School of Health Professions

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Latest News

Nursing in Paradise: Augustana Partners With Costa Rican University for First Faculty-Led Semester Program

Thanks to an initial gift and a strong international partnership, six Augustana students and a faculty member spent the 2024 spring semester studying in Costa Rica. With a successful semester under their belts, Augustana and the International Programs Office (IPO) are seeking ways to expand this enriching partnership.

Augustana Nursing Graduates Achieve Highest NCLEX Pass Rate of BSN Programs in South Dakota in 2023

Augustana is proud to announce that the university’s Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) graduates within its School of Health Professions achieved a 95.5% National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) pass rate in 2023 — the highest of all 4-year BSN programs in South Dakota, and the third highest among all RN programs in the state. In addition, Augustana’s December 2023 Accelerated Nursing Program graduates achieved a 100% pass rate.

Augustana University’s 2024 Student Research Symposium to Feature Entomologist Dr. Esther Ngumbi

Augustana is excited to once again host its annual Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium, set to take place on Saturday, April 13, at the Froiland Science Complex, located on the university’s campus.

Highlights

Simulation Learning at AU

Careers

Augustana graduates are leaders who work as nurses, educators and administrators in community health agencies, hospitals, nursing homes and schools across the country.

Hands-On Learning

Many future health care workers choose to become patient care techs, CNAs or volunteers at local hospitals to gain experience while in school.

Clinical opportunities include:

Sanford and Avera Health
Veterans Affairs Sioux Falls Healthcare System
Sioux Falls Schools
Bethany Lutheran Home
Children’s Home Society
Lutheran Social Services Refugee and Immigration Program
South Dakota Department of Health

Internship opportunities include:

Avera or Sanford Health
Veterans Affairs (VA) Sioux Falls Health Care
Sioux Falls School District (SFSD)
Various community sites, including the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, Union Gospel Mission and Dougherty Hospice House

The Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium provides students with the opportunity to engage in and present health care and nursing research.

Nursing students study away in:

Costa Rica — focusing on leadership in nursing with AU faculty
Norway — focusing on leadership in nursing with AU faculty
Greece — focusing on culture, health and well-being with AU faculty

Courses & Organizations

Nursing applications are due no later than Feb. 15 of the year in which the student desires to begin upper-division nursing courses. Applications are available in the nursing office.

Nursing students often participate in:

Zeta Zeta, Augustana's chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International — the honor society of nursing
Augustana Nursing Student Association (ANSA)
Medical Humanities Club
Be The Match On Campus
Senior nursing mentorship
Augiethon

NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Augustana nursing students' NCLEX pass rates are repeatedly higher than South Dakota and the nation's average.

Year	Pass Rate of First-Time Test Takers	South Dakota Average	National Average
2023	95.52%	94.33%	90.17%
2022	97.53%	86.72%	82.32%
2021	97.33%	86.83%	86.06%

Accelerated Nursing Program

Earn an Accelerated BSN

Become a nurse in just over a year with the Augustana University Accelerated Nursing Program. Our program is designed for students who have a bachelor's degree in a different area from an accredited institution and would now like to pursue a nursing career. At Augustana:

Our 16-month accelerated program includes two fall semesters, one J-Term, one spring semester and one summer session, along with the completion of prerequisite courses. Our program is offered as a full-time plan of study with classes taking place in person during the day.
Our accelerated nursing students receive full-time, quality instruction from Augustana’s renowned nursing faculty. We are proud of our students' exceptional NCLEX success rates.
Our program is competitively priced with a review of transfer credits available for the prerequisite courses.

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Nursing at AU

Application Instructions

To initiate your application through NursingCAS:

Visit NursingCAS
Click on Create an Account and begin completing the required fields to start your application. If you have already created an account in previous application cycles, you can click on the Application Login at the top of the page.
Once your account with NursingCAS has been created, you will have access to all of our program applications. Please complete the information required for the Accelerated BSN application.

Nationally Ranked

The Augustana University Accelerated Nursing Program was ranked No. 3 out of all accelerated nursing programs in the nation in 2021 by Best Value Schools, which "compares the best schools by attributes that matter to you."

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Application Requirements

The accelerated nursing program begins each fall. The application deadline for admission is Feb. 15, or until the program is full.

Students who apply for admission will submit documentation of:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and 2.70 or higher in pre-requisite courses
Pre-requisite course completion

Admission into the program requires certain sensory, psychomotor, cognitive, communication and behavioral/social abilities that are essential to the practice of nursing.

Contact Us

Dr. Lynn White, program director

School of Health Professions

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Norwegian Nursing Exchange Program Calendar

Fall 2024 Calendar

March 15 | Augustana application materials due
April 1 | Admission decisions set to partner schools
April 15 | Enrollment deposit due ($600, includes $100 refundable housing deposit and $500 non-refundable Orientation fee)
May 1 | Additional documents due (immunizations, physical exam, CPR, background check)
Aug. 11 | Arrival Date
Aug. 12 | Nursing exchange welcome and orientation
Aug. 13-16 | Nursing Health Assessment Course
Aug. 19-20 | International Student Orientation
Aug. 21-23 | IPO trip to the Black Hills
Aug. 24-27 | Augustana Welcome Week
Aug. 28 | First day of class
October 14 - No classes — Indigenous People's Day
Oct. 15-16 | No classes — fall break
Nov. 27-29 | No classes — Thanksgiving break
Dec. 9-13 | Final exams (Note: exams may be scheduled on Saturday; no exams on Sunday)

Spring 2025 Calendar

Oct. 15 , 2024 | Augustana application materials due
Nov. 1, 2024 | Admission decisions set to partner schools
Nov. 15, 2024 | Enrollment deposit due ($600, includes $100 refundable housing deposit and $500 non-refundable orientation fee)
Dec. 1, 2024 | Nursing application requirements due to nursing (immunizations, physical exam, CPR, background check documentation). Documents found here by clicking on the Application Requirements drop down.
Jan. 27, 2025 | Arrival date
Jan. 28, 2025 | Nursing exchange welcome and orientation
Jan. 29 - Feb. 3, 2025 | Nursing Health Assessment Course
Feb. 4 - Feb. 5, 2025 | International Student Orientation
Feb. 6, 2025 | First day of class
March 8 - March 16, 2025 | No classes — spring break
April 18 - April 21, 2025 | No classes — Easter break
May 17-22, 2025 | Final exams (Note: exams may be scheduled on Saturday; no exams on Sunday)