Does the medical world intrigue you? Are you ready to respond to a higher calling? At Southeast Tech, get to where you want to be in just eleven months with a Licensed Practical Nursing diploma. As a Licensed Practical Nurse or LPN, you’ll provide basic patient care under the supervision of physicians and Registered Nurses. You’ll learn to provide direct patient care, give medications in various ways including injections and IVs and performing many other cares necessary for patient treatment through intensive hands-on instruction.

And at Southeast Tech, you can choose to complete your diploma during traditional classroom hours or as an evening program either with a fall or spring start.

Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN and be licensed as an LPN after approval by the Board of Nursing in their state of residence. Students who are not South Dakota residents or South Dakota residents who are seeking employment outside South Dakota should contact that state’s Board of Nursing for any additional requirements.

Scheduling Options

LPN Day students:

Full-time LPN day students can expect to be in class or at clinical Monday–Friday. Clinical shifts may start as early as 7:00am or last until 5:30pm. It is recommended that full-time LPN students work no more than 20 hours/week at an outside job.

Students in the day LPN programs are required to attend 2 hours of open lab each week to practice skills. Times are posted at the start of the course, with several options available each week.

Evening LPN students:

Evening students can expect to be in class Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30–9:30pm, and at clinical almost every Saturday for up to 12 hours.

Students should plan time every week to practice skills in preparation for check offs. Open lab times are available for all nursing students taking lab courses.

All nursing students should plan on attending some clinical shifts at facilities outside of Sioux Falls. These facilities are usually, but not always, within a 60 mile radius.

View Fall Start Curriculum Here

View Spring Start Curriculum Here

View Part-time Day (Fall Start) Curriculum Here

View Part-time Evening Curriculum (Spring Start) Here

View Admission Requirements Here

This program is also available in Huron, S.D. View Details.

Curriculum

Faculty

Bernadette Willuweit, LPN

Lab Specialist
605.367.4713
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Bernadette Willuweit is a Licensed Practical Nurse who is currently the Nursing Lab Specialist for Southeast Tech Nursing Program. She specializes with the “hands on” skills needed to work in the field of Nursing. She has worked with Southeast Tech Nursing students for more than seven years in a full-time position as well as 25 years of nursing experience in the clinic and hospital industries.

Bernadette is a certified CPR/First Aid Instructor,
has been active with the South Dakota LPN Association and is also the founding and active member of the Southeast Tech LPN Student Nurse Association. She is a member of the Sanford CPR Instructor network.

Education: AAS, Southeast Tech

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Elise Derry, RN, BAN

Instructor
605.367.4730
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Elise Derry began teaching at Southeast Tech in fall 2013. Elise has a Bachelor’s Degree in the Art of Nursing from Augustana College. She is a Registered Nurse and has Healthcare Provider CPR certification.

She has gained experience in the field having: worked in Pediatrics/Neonatal Intensive Care, Clinical Float Pool, Urogynecology Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.  Elise continues to work in industry on an as needed bases at Dermatology, Obstetrics and Urogynecology Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.  

Elise has always had a passion for teaching, and finds being with students in the nursing field is the best of both worlds. She believes that any student can achieve if they put in the time and effort. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Dr. Suess

Education: RN, BAN, Augustana College

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Sarah Lang, RN

Instructor, TAACCCT Grant
605.367.7676
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Sarah Lang is an LPN instructor for the TAACCCT Grant, rural healthcare initiative and has been with the program since October 2014. She has worked for five years in the obstetrics and gynecology clinical setting, along with two years in family practice clinical setting. Sarah also ran the All Women Count program in both clinical settings. She states that, “I really enjoy watching the students learn and succeed.  I believe that everyone can succeed with hard work and perseverance.”Sarah’s interests are reading, gardening and spending time with her family.

Education: RN, AA Southeast Tech; LPN, Southeast Tech; AAS Temple College

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Amanda Dvanajscak, RN, MSN, MHA

Instructor
605.367.5871
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Amanda graduated from South Dakota State University with her Bachelors in the Science of Nursing and a Minor in Health Science in 2010. She graduated from University of Phoenix in 2013 with a Masters in Nursing and a Masters in Health Administration. In 2014 she completed a post-masters certification in nursing education, also through the University of Phoenix.

Amanda is a registered nurse with a background in cardio-pulmonary and hospice care. She has a passion for caring for patients in the end of life and continues to work as a hospice nurse outside of being an instructor for Southeast Tech. In regards to her teaching philosophy, Amanda believes in challenging and encouraging students to be successful by taking an active part in their learning. She enjoys watching the transition of students throughout their time in the nursing program. She finds it to be so rewarding to watch students evolve and become successful and confident nurses.

Education: RN, MSN, University of Phoenix, MHA, University of Phoenix, BSN, South Dakota State University

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Dustin Pepper, RN, BSN

Instructor
605.367.5686
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Dustin began teaching at Southeast Tech in 2010.
He has certifications in American Heart Association CPR instructor, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and a postsecondary instructor credential. He currently serves as the president of the safety committee at Southeast Tech, mentors newly hired nursing staff, coordinates online curriculum, and works as a nursing student advisor.

Accruing extensive industry training working in three different large health systems in two states Dustin says, “By working in multiple health systems I have learned so much from both peers in nursing and physicians. The hospitals provided great additional training and evidenced based practice that I reference often during lectures/clinical so students stay up to date with the ever-changing health care industry.” He started his career working in cardiology/telemetry and step down units, and then moved to the Intensive Care Unit and considers medical surgical nursing his specialty.

“I really love teaching, especially interacting with students. I believe all students can be successful and consider my role as facilitating student learning. I use examples from my experience to aid students understanding of the nursing profession.”

Education: RN, BSN, South Dakota State University

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Jeanette Saugstad, RN, BAN

Instructor
605.367.5693
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Mrs. Jeanette Saugstad has been teaching at Southeast Tech since 2004. She brings a wide range of various clinical experience to the academic world. Mrs. Saugstad has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
Mrs. Saugstad’s teaching philosophy focuses on the individuality in learning and she has had the opportunity to meet and teach many great students. “I am honored to teach future nurses who can make a difference in our health care system.” “Being a nurse is an exciting career.”

Education: RN, BAN, Augustana College

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Kristin Possehl, RN, MSN, MEd, BSN

Nursing Program Director
605.367.4753
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Kristin began teaching at Southeast Tech in April, 2001, when she was hired as the LPN Program Director. Since that time, she has led the nursing program through tremendous growth, the addition of the LPN to RN AAS degree, and national accreditation for the RN program. Kristin’s job now is administering the program and supervising the large nursing staff. Kristin was appointed to the SD Board of Nursing in 2010, and currently serves as president. Prior to working at Southeast Tech, she taught high school courses in Brookings, for students interested in health careers. She has also worked as an RN in school nursing, pediatrics, and pediatric oncology. Kristin received a MSN from University of Phoenix, a MEd from South Dakota State University, and a BSN from Vanderbilt University.

She lives in Brookings and enjoys flower gardening, quilting and other crafts and spending time with family.

Education: RN, MSN, University of Phoenix; MEd, South Dakota State University; BSN, Vanderbilt University

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Britney Mower, RN, BSN

Instructor
605.367.5552
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Britney began teaching with the Southeast Tech Nursing Department in 2014. She is an alumna of the Southeast Tech LPN program and now holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Texas.

Britney has experience as a Registered Nurse in Critical Care, Women’s Health/Postpartum and Pediatric Nursing. Her teaching philosophy encompasses “a measure of success in teaching is how effectively an instructor prepares the students for professional nursing practice.” She enjoys incorporating her industry experience with hands on learning in the lab and clinical settings. She states “witnessing each student progress from a novice nursing student to obtaining a professional career as a Licensed Practical Nurse is very rewarding.”

Britney lives in Lennox with her husband and children. She enjoys camping, reading, watching sports and spending time with family.

Education: BSN, University of Texas, RN, ASN, Western Iowa Tech, LPN, Southeast Tech

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Myra Werkmeister, BSN, RN

Instructor
605.367.5507
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Myra J.Werkmeister has been teaching as both adjunct and full-time at Southeast Tech since January 2015 working in both the LPN and LPN-RN programs. Myra began working in healthcare in 1999 as a nursing assistant and has since worked in the roles of CNA, UAP, LPN and RN. Career experiences include long-term care, correctional health, and hospice. Myra has always had an aspiration to teach others about nursing. Watching concepts of critical thinking grow in students is the most rewarding part of being Nursing Faculty. Nursing Faculty roles include simulation clinical, on-site clinical, skills lab, and lecture. Myra is proud to serve others at an institution that helped her grow in her nursing career.

Education: BSN, Dakota Wesleyan University; AAS, Southeast Tech; Diploma, Southeast Tech; Diploma, Western Iowa Tech

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Matthew Haynes, RN, BSN

Instructor
605.367.5783
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Matthew Haynes has more than 10 years working professionally as a nurse and educator. In 2006, he started his nursing career in the Sanford ICU. He nursed in ICU for four years, then he gained even more critical care experience by working in the emergency department until 2013. In 2013, he started working as a substitute school nurse. Working day hours allowed him to follow his passion for coaching his sons in baseball and in basketball. While working with students and athletes he realized his potential to inspire young minds. Subsequently, Matthew began his teaching career, teaching science at the secondary level from 2016-2018.

Matthew obtained his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from South Dakota State University. He also took pedagogy classes at SDSU and achieved his secondary South Dakota Teaching Certificate in 2018. In the summer of 2018, he became an instructor of the new pre-apprenticeship program at Southeast Tech.  Shortly after, he was hired as a clinical instructor in the LPN program.

Matthew’s philosophy in teaching is to encourage his students with a multitude of learning scenarios where they can cultivate critical thinking skills needed to be true advocates for their patients, co-workers, and other community members. 

Education: RN and BSN, South Dakota State University; Secondary South Dakota Teaching Certificate (2018)

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Michelle Osborn, BSN

Instructor
605.367.5795
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Michelle has nine years of nursing experience and previously worked in Pediatrics, Acute Care and Family Medicine. She has worked the last three years teaching health core coursework at Southeast Tech. This included lab assisting in the CNA program and teaching lecture/lab for Anatomy and Physiology.  

Michelle has a passion for education and is excited to have the opportunity to share her nursing knowledge and have an impact on a student’s nursing education.  

Education: BSN, Presentation College; AS, Presentation College; LPN Diploma, Southeast Tech 

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Colette Schwartz, BSN

Instructor
605.367.5710
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Colette has 14 years of nursing experience. She started out her career in MedSurg trama then in orthopedics and lastly in labor and delivery/high-risk antepartum as a maternal flight nurse. Colette has been teaching students for the past six years as a clinical adjunct instructor for Southeast Tech. Prior to that, she taught clinical adjunct for the Registered Nurse program in Vermillion, SD. Colette believes that learning is a life-long process and she enjoys helping students succeed. She received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from the University of South Dakota in 2004. Colette completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 2017 also from the University of South Dakota. Colette will be assisting with the LPN nursing program. 

Education: BSN, University of South Dakota; ADN, University of South Dakota

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Kris Tebay

Instructor
605.367.4622
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