Nursing Schools in North Dakota

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the United States is the state of North Dakota. Like its neighbor, South Dakota, North Dakota is one of the least populous states in the country. Its half a million residents experience the full four seasons in North Dakota.

Agriculture is the primary industry and there are large tracts of land dedicated to farming. The energy sector and the services industry are the other engines of growth. North Dakota’s health care industry is not very large because of the small size of the general population.

Non-Hispanic Whites predominate in the state with Native Americans comprising the largest minority. North Dakota has had a general decline in its population in the past few decades but spurts in immigration have been recorded from time to time.

Just over 6,000 nurses work in health facilities which are mostly located in cities such as Bismarck and Fargo. There are only a handful of nursing schools in North Dakota, the most prominent of which are the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University and the University of Mary.

North Dakota nursing schools offer practical nursing, associate, baccalaureate, masters, doctorate, and continuing education courses. Masters program tracks are psychiatric nursing, nurse anesthesia, gerontology, nursing education and nursing administration. These tracks lead to advanced nursing certifications such as clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner.

Student applicants must comply with all admission policies which usually include a high school diploma and minimum test scores for entry-level programs. Higher level nursing programs may require some college credits and clinical experience. Nursing schools in North Dakota must be accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The North Dakota Board of Nursing offers the Nursing Education Loan Program for students in need. Local and federal loans are also available. Some scholarships are the North Dakota Scholars Program and the North Dakota State Student Incentive Grant Program. Native American students may qualify for special incentives.

The nursing shortage in North Dakota is not as bad as in other states. The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences estimates that the state will need an additional 2,000 nurses by 2013. North Dakota may not be a popular work destination compared to other states, but nursing opportunities still exist especially in the community setting and reservations. Nurses who value a slower pace of life will find North Dakota the ideal place to practice quality nursing.

Employment: 6,260
Hourly Mean Wage: $26.98
Annual Mean Wage: $56,110
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

State Nursing Board: North Dakota Board of Nursing
State Nurses Association: North Dakota Nurses Association
State Hospital Association: North Dakota Healthcare Association

North Dakota Nursing Schools