Mission: "To provide professional nursing education, to advance knowledge of the discipline, and to serve as a resource for the health care needs of society."

The Nursing Program and Curriculum

The baccalaureate nursing program is a cooperative program with Concordia College and Minnesota State University Moorhead through the Tri-College University Nursing Consortium. The basic or generic nursing track is a four year course of study leading to a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing (B.S.N.). Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate will be eligible to apply to take the national examination for licensure (NCLEX) as a registered nurse (R.N.). A baccalaureate degree is required in North Dakota for entry into professional practice. This program is approved by the North Dakota and Minnesota Boards of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing (NLN).

The mission of the nursing consortium is to provide professional nursing education, to advance knowledge of the discipline, and to serve as a resource for the health care needs of society.

• The nursing curriculum prepares professional practitioners by providing a sound educational base for continuing development, for graduate study in nursing, and for accepting professional and civic responsibility. The nursing program serves as a resource for society through consultation, collaboration and scholarship.
• The nursing curriculum is organized according to our curricular framework that includes the paradigm of nursing: professional nursing role, person/client, environment, and health.
• Beginning courses focus on the individual with specific health needs in a family system.
• Advanced courses view health needs in a broader social context.
• A strong foundation in the liberal arts, plus the theory and clinical experiences, will help you anticipate and respond to changes affecting the health needs of individuals, groups and communities.
• As a first- and second-year student, you will take courses to meet the general education requirements including communication, math, physical, social and behavorial sciences, humanities, global and cultural perspectives, nutrition and an introductory nursing course. The third and fourth years are devoted to nursing, electives and pharmacology classes.
• The nursing program offers you a solid foundation for pursuing advanced practice roles, such as family, pediatric, adult or gerontological nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse educator and clinical specialist; and is an excellent background for earning a masters or doctorate degree in nursing.
• Electives are offered in a variety of nursing specialties: women's health issues, cardiac care nursing, needs of the institutionalized elderly, and cooperative education.
• Independent studies are offered to further develop areas of interest in nursing.

NDSU Nursing Fact Sheet

Accreditation and National Licensure

All states require new graduates to pass a rigorous national examination before they are licensed as registered nurses. The number of NDSU graduates who pass the examination on their first attempt exceeds the national and state average.

The Tri-College University undergraduate nursing program at NDSU is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing. It is also approved by the Boards of Nursing in Minnesota and North Dakota. These credentials ensure the quality of the program.

State regulations require an 8:1 student-faculty ratio in the clinical practicum, which further ensures quality professional training.

As a participant in our program you are entitled to apply to graduate and professional schools and are qualified for various scholarship programs, including those of the armed forces.

Student Organizations

The Nursing Student Association and a variety of other campus organizations bring in speakers, professional leaders and representatives from professional schools to provide updates on career opportunities, employment trends, current issues, admission to graduate schools and other topics. These groups are also service organizations, with opportunities to participate in community blood drives, blood-pressure screening, food drives for local charities and a variety of research projects.

You may be eligible to join Sigma Theta Tau International, an international honor society that reflects the nursing program's commitment to scholarship, leadership and nursing research. Students are nominated for membership based on academic achievement.

FACULTY AND STAFF

The strength of the nursing program is our faculty, who keep current with trends through clinical practice, consultation, and membership in professional organizations, and local nursing groups. A student/faculty ratio of 8:1 ensures close, personal contact with faculty, especially during the crucial clinical-experience phase of the program. The philosophy of the faculty and the nursing program is to treat you as an individual. Faculty create an intellectually stimulating learning environment and foster a mentoring relationship with you.

Dr. Mary Margaret Mooney, Chair
Sandra Alberty
Shila Bartsch
Amy Fisher
Dr. Beverly Greenwald
Dr. Dean Gross
Carla Gross
Dr. Norma Kiser-Larson
Maggie Lee
Tina Lundeen
Dr. Marjorie McCullagh
Gloria Nysveen, Administrative Secretary