RN Programs in North Dakota

North Dakota RN Program Guide

North Dakota is well known for designing and implementing nursing practice initiatives that are intended to enhance healthcare and the nursing profession. North Dakota is the only state to require a bachelor’s degree before being admitted into the field. In 1987, legislation was passed that requires all newly hired registered nurses to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. However, due to popular demand, the law was repealed in 2003. Despite the repeal, North Dakota and state nurse associations continue to encourage a BSN education. Nurses who are willing to advance their education, know that now is a great time to earn their RN or BSN degree from an accredited institution.

In our North Dakota RN program guide, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key North Dakota RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.

The State of North Dakota offers 13 RN programs in 11 different cities. Public institutions offer 10 of the RN programs in the state while there are 0 private, for-profit and 3 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.

In the State of North Dakota, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate’s degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.

Nurses who graduate from an RN program are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.

Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to North Dakota RN Programs.

ADN Programs in North Dakota

The Dakota Nursing Program is a consortium of Bismarck State College, Lake Region State College, Dakota State College at Bottineau, and Williston State College.  This collaboration educates several hundred practical nurses and associate degree RNs yearly, preparing them to advance their degree to a bachelor’s degree.  “The Dakota Nursing Program is administered by one Nursing Director and a Nursing Coordinator located at each of the four colleges along with nursing faculty and staff.”

NCLEX Passing Rates for North Dakota  ADN Programs

North Dakota State College of Science has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in North Dakota of 95.83%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $8,342.00 a year.

• ADN Programs Offered in North Dakota: 6
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 89.31%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 80.00% to 95.83%

How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in North Dakota?

We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in North Dakota so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.

When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

The lowest cost ADN program in North Dakota is offered by Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College at about $5,579.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 80.00%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by  Williston State College and it will cost about $9,259.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 88.35%.

• Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inNorth Dakota: $7,905.83
• Net-Price Range for North Dakota ADN Programs: $5,579.00 to $9,259.00

Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for North Dakota Schools: $8,485.00
• Student borrowing range for ADN programs in North Dakota: $7,133.00 to $10,498.00

ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 6
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 0

BSN Programs in North Dakota

BSN nursing degrees in North Dakota generally offer a liberal arts and science foundation. The intended result is for nurses to receive a well-rounded educational base, which can help in developing nursing and leadership skills that will positively impact patients. Programs are offered online as well as in a traditional campus setting. Both programs offer a fully accredited education with full or part time schedule available for busy nurses. Programs vary in completion time. Nurses are encouraged to seek out specific information from all schools they inquire about. Most programs require clinical hours but work hard to schedule them in the student’s community.

NCLEX Passing Rates for North Dakota BSN Programs

North Dakota State University-Main Campus wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in North Dakota with a score of 93.82%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $13,662.00 a year.

• BSN Programs Offered in North Dakota: 6
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 88.71%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 84.04% to 93.82%

How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in North Dakota?

We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in North Dakota to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.

The lowest cost BSN degree program in North Dakota is offered by Dickinson State University and will cost you about $9,981.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 93.40%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by University of Jamestown and will cost you about $16,568.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 84.62%.

• Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in North Dakota: $13,777.67
• Net-Price Range for North Dakota BSN Programs: $9,981.00 to $16,568.00

Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for North Dakota Schools: $16,834.67
• Student borrowing range for BSN programs in North Dakota: $13,489.00 to $20,250.00

BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 4
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 2

MSN Programs in North Dakota

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.

Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in North Dakota offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

North Dakota RN Licensing Requirements

North Dakota State Board of Nursing
919 South 7th Street, Suite 504
Bismark, ND 58504
(701) 328-9777

Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $110
License renewal (every two years), RN: $90

Continuing Education Requirements:
RNs and LPNs: 12 contact hours every renewal period

RN Licensure by Exams

Upon completing a degree program, nursing candidates will begin the steps toward licensure. If the steps are completed in a timely manner so that he/she will be eligible to work as a graduate nurse while the steps are being completed and the paperwork is being processed. The license application fee is $130 and can be found online. Official transcripts need to be sent to the Board. Before North Dakota can issue a 90-day work authorization, the candidate must also register for the NCLEX exam through the Pearson VUE website and pay the $200 fee. When authorization to test has been issued, the candidate can schedule the computer-based test. Candidates are required to apply for the CHRC within 60 days of graduation in order to obtain temporary work authorization. There is no limit on exam retakes however, there is additional paperwork required.

RN Licensure by Endorsement

Registered nurses who have obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states can apply for licensure by endorsement. In addition to the application, candidates must submit a criminal background check, official transcripts, and license verification. There will be a refresher course required if the candidates is not a recent graduate and has not practiced at least 400 hours within the past four years.

RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad

Nurses who completed an education program abroad are required to have their coursework evaluated by a professional evaluation service such as CGFNS. The certificate should be submitted with the licensure for examination. A social security number is also required for licensure. Applicants from Canada need not provide a CGNFS certificate.

RN Salaries in North Dakota

North Dakota has been suffering from a nursing shortage for almost five years. A lot of hospitals in North Dakota are hiring traveling nurses, which is apparent with the lack of qualified nursing personnel in the hospitals across the state. The median annual salary in the state of North Dakota is $53,300. The top end of the range is $70,000 and is dependent on the nurse’s experience, education, and practice setting. Pursuing higher education can help nurses to expand the setting in which they can practice and open up career possibilities that did not exist with an associate’s.

North Dakota Registered Nursing Salaries

Overall, the amount of registered nurses in North Dakota is on the low end. However, Fargo has the highest amount of registered nurses across the nations. It should come to no surprise that Fargo also has the highest hourly wage and annual median wage.

Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data