This program is available to licensed practical nurses who have a certificate or diploma and are seeking to increase their knowledge and skill base and earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Practical Nursing. The curriculum is dependent on the transferability of the general education courses from the initial granting institution. The graduate has an excellent opportunity for immediate entry into the health profession and/or transfer to an associate of science or bachelor’s program for nursing.
Practical nurses have excellent job opportunities, which include: employment in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, home health, schools and industry.
The bridge option will be delivered as a hybrid program that will include online, classroom and simulated labs.
The NDSCS Practical Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006, 1-800-669-1656, ext. 153, and North Dakota Board of Nursing. It was the nation’s first accredited Associate Degree Practical Nursing program. This accreditation exemplifies high-quality instruction. The majority of the faculty has master’s degrees in their areas of expertise.
The NDSCS Department of Nursing adheres to the NDSCS college equal opportunity policy as stated in the NDSCS Catalog.
Barbara Diederick, MS, RN
Department chair, Department of Nursing
701-671-2968 or e-mail
Patti Wells, administrative assistant
Allied Health Careers
NDSCS
800 Sixth Street North
Wahpeton, ND 58076 0002.
1-800-342-4325, ext. 3-2981 or 701-671-2981 or e-mail
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to having earned a certificate or diploma as a licensed practical nurse, the following courses are required: | ||
| NURS 247 | Expanded Maternal Child | 2 |
| NURS 248 | PN Transitions | 2 |
| NURS 248L | PN Transitions Lab | 3 |
| NURS 249 | PN Leadership | 1 |
| Related/General Education Courses | ||
| BIOL 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| BIOL 220L | Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 221 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 |
| BIOL 221L | Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 1 |
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| MICR 202 | Introductory Microbiology | 3 |
| MICR 202L | Introductory Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| NUTR 240 | Principles of Nutrition (and Diet Therapy) | 3 |
| PSYC 250 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Humanities elective - PHIL 210 Ethics | 3 | |
| TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS | 38 | |
| (in addition to previously earned certificate or diploma as a licensed practical nurse) | ||
At least 16 credits of the final 24 credits of the curriculum must be taken through NDSCS and be from the Bridge to the AAS-LPN program.
Suggested sequence of study
Students will plan their sequence of study based on how many credits they wish to carry each semester and the number of courses they have to complete. The bridge courses (NURS prefix) are taken last in the sequence of courses toward completion of the program. It is required that the student meet with a program contact to plan their sequence of study before registering for any courses.
Applicants will be admitted to the program following a selection process:
Upon successful completion of the required courses, students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Practical Nursing, be prepared to apply theoretical concepts in the provision of safe, basic, technical nursing care to client/patients, utilizing the nursing process within the bounds of the legal definitions of a practical nurse as defined in the Nurse Practices Act. This award will allow the student to apply to the Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) program at NDSCS.
