Profile of the
NDSU College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences (PNAS)
The NDSU pharmacy program was established in 1902 and has evolved over the years to become a major interdisciplinary healthcare education program serving our state, region, and nation. The College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences (PNAS) has been a center of excellence at North Dakota State University (NDSU) for more than 100 years. The College, a major academic unit of North Dakota State University, serves the state, region, and nation through its programs in pharmacy, nursing, and allied sciences providing education, research, patient care, and public service. Through its mission, the NDSU College of PNAS advances health care through research and scholarship and prepares students to become competent, caring, ethical, professionals and citizens, committed to lifelong learning. In addition, through its people and programs the College places an emphasis and value on people; quality; professionalism and ethics; knowledge, teaching, and learning; research and scholarship; patient-focused care; and interdisciplinary education.
The College is composed of four academic departments: (1) the Department of Allied Sciences which joined the College in January 1, 2006; (2) the Department of Nursing which joined the College in 1969 as an associate degree program, 1986 as a baccalaureate degree program; 2001 with a master’s program, and 2005 with doctor of nursing practice; and (3) the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and (4) the Department of Pharmacy Practice which are the founding members of the College (established in 1902). The nursing program is approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Academic degrees offered by the College include: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice; Doctor of Pharmacy, and Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences; and Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Respiratory Care, Clinical Laboratory Science, and Radiologic Sciences.
The NDSU College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences has a total student enrollment of approximately 1,700 students in preprofessional, professional, and graduate programs in pharmacy (800 students), nursing (500 students), allied sciences (350 students), and 50 graduate students. The College annually admits 80-85 students in its pharmacy professional program, and 60-65 students in its nursing professional program. Currently, approximately 60% of pharmacy students applying to the professional program are admitted, compared to 20-25% for other pharmacy schools in the region. Approximately 65% of students in the pharmacy professional program and 95% of students in the nursing program are women. On the average, between 30-35% of pharmacy graduates and 70% of nursing graduates each year stay in North Dakota to practice in their respective disciplines. Based on an annual survey of graduates, the average salary of NDSU graduates is between $90,000-$100,000 for pharmacy and $60,000+ for nursing. Based on 2008-09 rates, pharmacy students at NDSU currently pay $11,535 per year in tuition and fees for the pharmacy professional program compared to approximately $18,000-20,000+ per year for other peer institutions in our region. Seven pharmacy students participated recently in global experiences, participating in experiential rotations in South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Spain, and Canada.
The NDSU College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences currently employs approximately 77 employees including 24 staff and 53 full-time and part-time faculty (27 in Pharmacy Practice, 11 in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 13 in the Nursing Program, and 2 in Allied Sciences). The College has a highly competitive research program with its basic science researchers obtaining major federally funded grants from a variety of sources including past funding from NIH, DOD, EPA, NSF, and EPSCoR. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is the only research department on campus that currently manages three NIH R-01 grant awards, the highest competitive grant awarded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its researchers are also collaborating with other departments on campus as Co-PI’s on a $10.5 million NIH – COBRE grant, and are also part of a $16.3 million NIH – INBRE grant. The Department also currently manages one NSF grant, and two R21, one KO1, two RO3, and one R15 grants from NIH, and two grants from the American Heart Association. With only ten researchers in the Department, it is one of the most productive research departments on campus. The College is also establishing a state supported Center of Excellence in vaccine research and development, including other biopharmaceuticals.
The NDSU College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences facility features the latest advances in technology including the Concept Pharmacy, Nursing Skills Lab, state-of-the-art classrooms, PRS & PDA instruction, Electronic Medical Records, and wireless technology. The College contributes to cultural diversity on campus and offers a Native American Pharmacy Program (NAPP) and Multicultural Affairs in Pharmacy Program (MAP). The College owns the Family Health Center Pharmacy in Fargo which serves a very culturally diverse population of uninsured clients including many refugees from third world war torn countries. The College has built a major teaching program at FHCP including placement of faculty and students. The College also is currently providing pharmacy services to the NDSU Sports Medicine Department and to the NDSU Student Health Center. In addition, the College conducts over 3600 hours of continuing pharmaceutical education each year to over 1500 pharmacists in the region. Through the North Dakota Institute for Pharmaceutical Care, the College has implemented a state-wide skills training program for North Dakota pharmacists in disease state management, laboratory health screening, and immunizations.
Since 2002, the College has received a total of $3.3 million federal grant from HRSA/OAT to implement a state-wide telepharmacy program in North Dakota to restore and retain pharmacy services in medically underserved rural communities all across the state. So far, 67 pharmacies (44 retail and 23 hospital) involving 29 counties in North Dakota and two in Minnesota are participating in the North Dakota Telepharmacy Project. Approximately 40,000 rural citizens have had pharmacy services restored, retained or established through the North Dakota Telepharmacy Project since its inception. The project has restored valuable access to health care in remote medically underserved rural communities and has added approximately $12.5 million annually in economic development to the local rural economy. NDSU’s telepharmacy program received the Outstanding Rural Health Program Award at the 2006 Annual Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health.
About the College
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