DAKOTA NURSING PROGRAM TECHNICAL LIMITED ENROLLMENT Contact Person: Suzie McShane • Allied Health Campus 221 • (701) 224-2476 • Suzie.McShane@bismarckstate.edu
Bismarck State College, in collaboration with Lake Region State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, Williston State College and Fort Berthold Community College, offers the Dakota Nursing Program at the Certificate Practical Nurse and Associate Degree Nursing levels.
Students will be selected through an interview process, competing with other eligible applicants to both the PN and ADN programs.
Nursing education is organized as a career ladder that begins with Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training offered at BSC. CNA certification and pre-requisites are required before enrolling in the Dakota Nursing Program. Students are eligible to earn a Certificate in Practical Nursing after the first year of nursing classes. If qualifications are met, including maintaining a minimum program required GPA of 2.75, students may continue on to complete the second year, leading to an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing. Students must continue to maintain a minimum program GPA of 2.75 during the second year.
The Dakota Associate Degree Nursing Curriculum prepares an individual with the professional knowledge, abilities, and skills to practice nursing independently and interdependently through application of the nursing process to provide safe nursing care to individuals and families across the lifespan in a variety of settings.
The student will receive classroom instruction via Interactive Video Network (IVN), with instructors for some courses on campus, and instructors for other courses at distant sites. Nursing courses are not currently online, so students will be required to travel to campus to attend class. Clinical/Lab practice occurs at local sites, and clinicals include nursing homes, hospitals, community settings, and may include evenings and weekend hours.
Students planning to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) should consider the RN to BSN or RN to MSN bridge programs offered in the state. (See coordinator for details.)
Career Possibilities for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs): Clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and acute care centers.
Career Possibilities for Registered Nurses (RNs): Hospital acute care settings, long-term care facilities, clinics, outpatient offices, health care industry, community and public agencies.
Prerequisites for entry into the Dakota Nursing Program include: • High School Diploma or GED • Admission to respective college • Proof of completing a CNA class and current North Dakota certification. • Current CPR Certification for Health Care Providers • ENGL 110 Composition or higher level ENGL with "C" or better • CHEM 115/115L Introductory to Chemistry with "C" or better • High School Algebra/Beginning Algebra (ASC-92) or the COMPASS/ASSET exam equivalent within the last five years upon date of application. Students may verify this knowledge with a minimum COMPASS math score of 25-26 in the algebra domain or an ASSET Intermediate Algebra test of 33 or ACT math score of 16 or Accuplacer math score of 44-108. • An ACT composite score of 19 is required of students who have not completed 12 credits of classes included in the program requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.75 unless student can provide ACT equivalents of COMPASS, ASSET, or Accuplacer test(s). • Minimum GPA of 2.75 for all completed college courses that are requirements for the Dakota Nursing program. • An overall minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 of all college courses taken. • "C" or better in all courses previously completed. • The following courses will need to be repeated if older than 5 years from class completion date: Anatomy and Physiology I/L and II/L, Developmental Psychology, and Pharmacology. • Students who meet the prerequisites and whose file is complete are selected for a competitive entry interview. • Applications will be available Jan. 15. Applications received after March 1 will be considered on available space.
YEAR 1 PRACTICAL NURSE CURRICULUM FALL Anatomy and Physiology I and lab (BIOL 220/220L) 4 credits Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 111) 3 credits Foundations of Nursing (NURS 120) 3 credits Practical Nursing I (NURS 121) 3 credits Clinical Practice I (NURS 122) 3 credits Total credits 16
SPRING Anatomy and Physiology II and lab (BIOL 221/221L) 4 credits Development Psychology (PSYC 250) 3 credits Intro to Pharmacology (PHRM 215) 3 credits Practical Nursing II: Introduction to Medical/Surgical Nursing (NURS 127) 2 credits Introduction to Maternal/Child Nursing (NURS 145) 2 credits Clinical Practice II (NURS 124) 3 credits Total credits 17
SUMMER Practical Nursing III (NURS 129) 4 credits Clinical Practice III (NURS 126) 3 credits Total credits 7
Year 1 Total 40 Total Prerequisite Credits 7 credits Total Program Credits 47 Upon successful completion of the above curriculum, students will receive a Certificate in Practical Nursing. At this time, students may choose to continue into Year 2 and/or apply to take the NCLEX PN examination with the Board of Nursing.
DAKOTA NURSING PROGRAM: YEAR 2
ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE IN NURSING
Prerequisites for continuation toward the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) 1. Successful completion of the first year of the Dakota Nursing Program with a minimum GPA of 2.75 in all prerequisite courses; in the 40 credit course requirements as defined above; and maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.5. 2. A letter of intent desiring continuation dated no later than March 1 of the year the student would be entering the 2nd year of the program. 3. Pass a pre-admission examination.
OR
Prerequisites for External Application toward the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) 1. Unencumbered license to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the United States of America. 2. Minimum GPA of 2.75 in all prerequisite courses (including nursing classes) and an overall minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 3. Admission to the college of choice as well as completion of a formal application to the Dakota Associate Degree Nursing Program. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the ADN program. Application forms for admission to the Dakota ADN Program may be obtained from the Nursing Department during the second half of spring semester. 4. Pass a pre-admission examination. 5. Currently enrolled, or satisfactory completion with a C or better in each of the following courses: All required nursing courses from an accredited Practical Nursing Program Introductory Chemistry and lab (CHEM 115) Composition I (ENGL 110) Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 111) Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (BIOL 220) Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (BIOL 221) Introduction to Pharmacology (PHRM 215) (must be within 5 years of ADN admission).
Developmental Psychology (PSYC 250)      Students who meet the prerequisites and whose file is complete are accepted into the program based on each college's admission criteria.
YEAR 2 CURRICULUM
FALL Professional Role Development (NURS 224) 2 credits Alterations in Health I (NURS 225) 3 credits Maternal Child Nursing (NURS 226) 3 credits Clinical Application I (NURS 227) 4 credits Microbiology and lab (MICR 202/202L) 4 credits Total credits 16
SPRING Alterations in Health II (NURS 228) 4 credits Health Promotion and Psychosocial Nursing (NURS 229) 2 credits Clinical Application II (NURS 237) 5 credits Role Transition (NURS 259) 1 credit Communications Elective 3 credits Total credits 15
Total for year 31 credits
Upon successful completion of the above curriculum, students will receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing.
