Nursing is a dynamic and rewarding profession focused on promoting health, preventing illness, and caring for individuals, families, and communities. A nursing program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical foundation needed to deliver safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care in a variety of healthcare settings.
In this program, students are introduced to core areas such as human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, patient care techniques, and clinical decision-making. Alongside classroom learning, hands-on clinical experiences allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world environments under the guidance of experienced professionals.
The program also emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and teamwork—essential skills for working effectively in today’s complex healthcare systems. Students learn to respect diversity, uphold patient dignity, and adapt to rapidly changing medical technologies and practices.
Graduates of a nursing program are prepared to pursue licensure and begin careers in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and community health organizations. More importantly, they enter a profession dedicated to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives every day.
Accreditation
The Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing program and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at North Dakota State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
The Baccalaureate nursing program and the Doctoral program are approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing. The North Dakota Board of Nursing regulates nursing programs which prepare students for entry level or advanced practice.
Eligibility for application to the School of Nursing (LPN-BSN and RN to BSN programs) is dependent on individual state board of nursing requirements for distance programs. Please contact the School of Nursing to ensure eligibility.
Licensure/Certification
All states require 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 the state averages.
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the North Dakota State University will qualify the graduate to complete the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) in all 50 states. State Board of Nursing requirements for licensure eligibility vary by state. See the individual state’s board of nursing website for specific details.
The number of nurse practitioner graduates who pass the certification examination for advanced practice also exceeds the national average. Graduates of the doctoral program are eligible to write a certification exam for Family Nurse Practitioner.
History of School of Nursing
The history of NDSU nursing starting in 1969 to the creation of the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Mission and Vision
NDSU SON Mission: The School of Nursing provides transformational education to advance nursing knowledge and develop innovative leaders who improve the health of all people, including underserved, rural, diverse and global populations.
NDSU SON Vision: To be a dynamic leader, positively impacting the health of society through excellence and innovation in nursing education, research, practice, and service.
Core Values
- Professionalism: Cultivate professionalism in nursing practice by emphasizing accountability, collegiality, collaboration, ethical behavior, integrity, respect, and resilience.
- Person-Centered Care: Committed to caring for all people in a holistic, compassionate, and sensitive manner.
- Commitment to Community: Provide nursing expertise and service that extends across the University, state, national, and global populations to promote health and well-being.
- Scholarship: Discover and disseminate new knowledge using evidence-based practice to guide nursing care, recognizing that nursing, as both a practice profession and an academic discipline, embodies both art and science.
- Quality and Safety: Improve healthcare through excellence in education, research, and practice.
- Advocacy and Equity: Promote equity and inclusivity, advance health policy, and honor the dignity and diversity of all people.
- Transformative Learning: Facilitate an environment of continuous growth and exploration by encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and the pursuit of knowledge.
- Resilience: Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and adapt to change with a positive mindset, learning, evolving, and emerging stronger.