Department of Nursing
Nursing Major
The Nursing program is a four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate is eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse (RN). The nursing program is approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing and is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Mission
The mission of the nursing department 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.
Core Values
The faculty, students, and graduates of the department of nursing believe in the inherent worth and dignity of individuals and the value of professional nursing as an integral part of the health of society. We believe the core values of autonomy, caring, integrity, justice, professionalism and respect guide the scholarship of education, service, practice and research.
The role of faculty is to encourage, facilitate, and provide opportunities which support self-directed learning and critical thinking, enhance personal growth and socialize students as members of the profession. The role of students is to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential to professional nursing practice and graduate study in nursing. The role of the graduates is to promote the health of society, advance the discipline, and function as responsible citizens of the nation and the world.
Nursing is an art and science. It is a practice profession and an academic discipline. The domain of nursing is the human response to actual or potential variations in human functioning and life processes. Nursing involves interactions among the nurse, the person and the environment in the prevention of disease, the promotion and restoration of health, and the comfort of the dying.
Professional nursing practice is the creative application of therapeutic nursing interventions based on a synthesis of scientific knowledge, research, professional values and standards. Professional nurses work with individuals, families, communities and other aggregates to meet primary, secondary, and tertiary health care needs. Nurses practice independently, interdependently, and collaboratively in a variety of settings. Nurses balance career advancement, personal well-being, and fidelity to nursing’s social contract.
Core values provide a framework that supports education for and practice of professional nursing as envisioned by the Department of Nursing.
Caring is the central concept of nursing. The competence, sensitivity and compassion that characterize professional caring, guide our behavior in faculty/student and nurse/client interactions. Respect is reflected by nurses’ regard for human dignity and in our acceptance of the diversity of humankind. In our practice we demonstrate our respect for other disciplines through collegiality and collaboration.
Autonomy reflects a patient’s right to make decisions about his/her health care and nurses’ rights to make decisions about their professional practice. Integrity is manifested in our honesty with patients and the public, by adherence to standards of academic honesty, through our accountability for our actions, and through our provision of care based on practice standards.
The professional obligation to assure equal treatment and equal access to care is a facet of justice. Nurses have a professional responsibility to encourage legislation and policy development that advances nursing care and quality health care for all people. Nursing faculty has an obligation to ensure that students have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to an excellent learning environment. Professionalism encompasses a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development, participation in professional organizations and the political process, and adherence to professional values and regulations.
Curriculum
The curriculum is organized according to a conceptual model that flows from the mission and values of the nursing program. The “Essentials of Baccalaureate Education” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2009) and “The Standards of Nursing Practice” (American Nurses Association, 2004) served as guidelines for development of the curriculum. The content of the program increases in scope and complexity as the student progresses through the major.
Graduate Outcomes
The graduate of the North Dakota State University baccalaureate nursing program will:
- Practice nursing in accordance with American Nurses Association Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance.
- Apply in nursing practice an understanding of the basic relationships among disease transmission, health status, health policy, cultural influences and health care economics within the global community.
- Apply quality improvement approaches in work as peers on multidisciplinary teams.
- Use information technology and communicate effectively with clients, health care team members, policy makers and the public.
Application Procedures
- The pre-nursing program (first two semesters) is open to all high school graduates who wish to pursue a nursing major. To enter the pre-nursing program, students must be admitted to the university. The nursing major begins the fall semester of the sophomore year.
- For admission into the professional nursing program, an application must be submitted by May 20 to the Nursing Office, 136 Sudro Hall. Students will be notified by letter during July of their admission status.
Students enrolled at NDSU in the pre-nursing program should consult with their nursing faculty adviser prior to the application deadline.
Admission is competitive and based on all of the following:
- cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
- selective GPA of at least 3.0 that incorporates selected prerequisite courses (see recommended curriculum)
- completion of prerequisite courses with a 'C' or better
- references and recommendations
- essay
- number of credits (up to 27) taken in the North Dakota University System
- interview, if requested, by Admission Committee
For further information contact:
Department of Nursing
136 Sudro Hall
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND 58105
Telephone (701) 231-7395
Disclaimer: The recommended curriculum is subject to change based on nursing program development/planning. Students must consult with their nursing advisor to keep updated with the current curriculum.
