The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has formally granted initial accreditation to the North Dakota State College of Science Registered Nursing programs. This includes the one-year Associate in Science in Nursing degree (ASN RN) and the two-year Associate in Applied Science degree in Registered Nursing (AAS RN).

The College’s Practical Nursing program has been accredited by the ACEN since 1991. The NDSCS Practical Nursing program is scheduled for continuing accreditation in 2019 and the Registered Nursing programs are scheduled for continuing accreditation in 2022.

According to acenursing.org, the ACEN supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by the functions of accreditation. Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review, self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality. The monitoring of certificate, diploma, and degree offerings is tied closely to state examination and licensing rules and to the oversight of preparation for work in the profession. 

NDSCS offers three academic options for Nursing students. The Practical Nursing program is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing or wish to transfer to an associate or bachelor’s program for nursing. The two-year Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing program is available to applicants wishing to become a Registered Nurse. The Associate in Science for Nursing program is available to Licensed Practical Nurses who wish to continue their nursing education and become a Registered Nurse. In addition to its regular cohorts, NDSCS has conducted more than 30 satellite nursing programs as part of its commitment to meeting the workforce needs of rural North Dakota and the region.

To learn more about the NDSCS Nursing program visit www.ndscs.edu/nursing or call 1-800-342-4325 ext. 2521.

The NDSCS Practical Nursing Southeast North Dakota cohort achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). The students graduated from NDSCS in December 2017 with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Practical Nursing.

The students in this cohort, from Lisbon, Ellendale, Oakes and surrounding areas in North Dakota, completed their studies over a three-year period in Oakes, N.D. The program consisted of evening classes and clinical experience based in southeast North Dakota, allowing students to continue with their current employment and maintain other responsibilities.

Community businesses and organizations in southeast North Dakota donated dollars to help fund the program offered in Oakes, N.D. These area donors include:

• City of Lisbon Star Fund, Lisbon, N.D.
• Ransom County Economic Development, Lisbon, N.D.
• Dickey County, Ellendale, N.D.
• Good Samaritan Society, Oakes, N.D.
• Oakes Enhancement Initiatives, Oakes, N.D.
• Sanford Oakes Clinic, Oakes, N.D.

NDSCS offers three academic options for Nursing students. The Practical Nursing program is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing or wish to transfer to an associate or bachelor’s program for nursing. The two-year Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing program is available to applicants wishing to become a Registered Nurse. The Associate in Science for Nursing program is available to Licensed Practical Nurses who wish to continue their nursing education and become a Registered Nurse. In addition to its regular cohorts, NDSCS has conducted more than 30 satellite nursing programs as part of its commitment to meeting the workforce needs of rural North Dakota and the region.

For further information on the NDSCS nursing programs visit ndscs.edu/nursing or email alliedhealthcareers@ndscs.edu.

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) announced today that the College will start a new class of Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing (AAS RN) students every fall beginning in 2019. The additional class starts will produce 22 nursing students annually, an action that directly addresses the region’s nursing workforce shortage. NDSCS will soon begin seeking additional nursing instructors to meet the existing and expanded instructional needs of the department.

NDSCS began the AAS RN program in August 2017 with a cohort group of 22 students who will graduate in May 2019. NDSCS offers two nursing program options in addition to the AAS RN program: the Associate in Applied Science degree in Practical Nursing with a new class beginning each fall and spring semester, and a Registered Nursing (Associate in Science in Nursing) program for qualified AAS Licensed Practical Nurses to obtain their Registered Nursing degree, with a new class starting every fall semester.

The projected employment in 2024 for registered nurses in the state of North Dakota is 10,442, a 2.2% annual percentage change from 2014, with 403 estimated annual openings.* In the past year, 166 nursing job openings were posted on the NDSCS job website, with 41 of those openings in North Dakota. There are more than 500 Registered Nursing job openings posted on the Job Service North Dakota website.

Registered Nursing graduates from the 2016-17 academic year reported a 100% placement rate, while Practical Nursing graduates had a 97% placement rate.* NDSCS nursing graduates typically achieve a first time-pass rate of 94-100% when taking their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

Additional information about NDSCS nursing programs can be found online at ndscs.edu/nursing, or by calling 701.671.2981. Individuals interested in joining NDSCS as a nursing instructor should direct inquiries to the Human Resources department on the Wahpeton campus at 701.671.2903.

*Data Sources:
Labor Market Information Center, Job Service North Dakota, Projections Unit
NDSCS 2017 Placement Report (ndscs.edu/placement)