School of Nursing

Undergraduate Programs of Study

  • Nursing (major)

Graduate Programs of Study

  • Nursing

Degrees Offered

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.P.N.)

Department Description

The NDSU Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is offered at two locations: NDSU Fargo and NDSU Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck. On the NDSU Fargo campus, department and faculty offices are located in the Stop and Go Center (SGC). On the Bismarck site, department offices, faculty offices, laboratories, and classrooms are located in a building north of Sanford Health. 

The BSN Nursing program offers three tracks. The Pre-Licensure BSN track is a four-year course of study. The LPN to BSN track is a two year course of study designed for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to obtain a BSN degree. Upon successful completion of the Pre-Licensure BSN and LPN to BSN programs, graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse (RN). The RN to BSN track is designed for Registered Nurses (RN) to obtain a BSN degree. The NDSU Nursing program is approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing and is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Vision

The School of Nursing is a national leader, positively impacting the health of society through excellence in nursing education, research, practice, and service.

Mission

The mission of the School of Nursing is to advance nursing knowledge and develop dynamic nurse leaders who improve the health of all people, including underserved, rural, and diverse populations.

Core Values

Through commitment to the following Core Values, we promote excellence in nursing education, research, practice, and service:

  • Professionalism – We are committed to professionalism as foundational to nursing practice. Professional nursing encompasses integrity, respect, collegiality, autonomy, inter-professional collaboration, and ethical practice.
  • Caring – We are committed to caring for the needs of all people with sensitivity and compassion in a holistic manner. Caring is central to nursing practice.
  • Service – We are committed to the people of North Dakota by providing high quality nursing programs to promote the health of the state’s citizens. We provide nursing expertise and service at the University, state, national, and international levels.
  • Scholarship -- We are committed to discovering and disseminating new knowledge and using nursing scholarship to practice evidence-based care. As a practice profession and an academic discipline, nursing is an art and science.
  • Quality - We are committed to improving healthcare quality and patient safety through our excellence in education, research, and practice.  
  • Social Justice – We are committed to promoting equity, fairness, and honoring the dignity and diversity of students, faculty, staff, and the people we serve.
  • Learning – We are committed to facilitating reflective, active, and life-long learning by providing engaging, dynamic, and innovative educational environments.

The School of Nursing fosters the achievement of outcomes necessary to develop dynamic nurse leaders who improve the health of all people. Undergraduate outcome categories are critical thinking, communication, professional values, clinical competence, and leadership.

Curriculum

The curriculum is organized according to a conceptual model that flows from the mission and values of the nursing program. The “Essentials of Baccalaureate Education” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2009) and “The Standards of Nursing Practice” (American Nurses Association, 2010) served as guidelines for development of the curriculum. The content of the program increases in scope and complexity as the student progresses through the major.

BSN Graduate Outcomes

The BSN graduate of the North Dakota State University baccalaureate nursing program will:

  1. Utilize the nursing process to provide nursing care for healthy, unhealthy, or potentially unhealthy human responses of individuals, families, groups or communities.
  2. Evaluate and utilize research findings, theories, and clinical practice guidelines in the performance of evidence-based practice.
  3. Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from the nursing, behavioral, social and natural sciences, and the arts and humanities to provide professional nursing care at an entry level of practice.
  4. Employ critical thinking for decision-making in clinical practice.
  5. Collaborate with the healthcare team as well as individuals, families, groups, and communities to provide patient centered care that promotes wellness, accelerates healing, and prevents disease in all stages of life.
  6. Model effective, interactive communication on the interprofessional team.
  7. Use information and healthcare technologies to plan and provide patient centered care.
  8. Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for ongoing professional development.
  9. Provide culturally competent and sensitive patient care.
  10. Advocate for patients rights through incorporation of professional values, ethical principles, and legal principles.
  11. Manage nursing activities, utilize leadership skills in the delivery of comprehensive, evidence-based, patient centered care with respect for humanity and uniqueness of others.
  12. Participate in the quality improvement of care to enhance safe, quality, and cost effective healthcare.
  13. Demonstrate knowledge of nurse's role in shaping healthcare policy.