Welcome to the Dakota Nursing Program!
The demand for qualified, caring, and nurturing nurses is critical throughout North Dakota - most visibly in its rural area. That need spurred the creation of the Dakota Nursing Program - whose mission and vision is to respond to the nursing needs of the people of North Dakota by delivering a high-quality nursing educational program to students through innovative instruction. Students can study close to home without uprooting families and find employment where they reside upon completion of their degrees.
The Dakota Nursing Program is a nursing education consortium made possible through the collaborative efforts of four state colleges: Bismarck State College, Lake Region State College, Minot State University - Bottineau, and Williston State College. We are educating more than 175 future practical nurses and associate degree nurses (two-year registered nurses) at the four colleges who work together within the Dakota Nursing Program.
The program is structured to provide a foundation for career paths for future leaders in nursing practice and to prepare lifelong learners who demonstrate knowledge, skill, critical thinking and flexibility. Dakota Nursing Program students are able to move quickly from certified nursing assistants to one year Practical Nurse certificate and on to a two year Registered Nurse degree. Students are educationally prepared to continue on to a four year BSN degree and beyond.
In 2003, the North Dakota HB1245 eliminated the mandate for a four year Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree and the two year Associate Degree Practical Nursing allowing implementation of the two year Registered Nurse (RN) degree and the one year Practical Nurse (PN) certificate. In March of 2004, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education gave approval for the four campuses to offer the Dakota Nursing Program. The North Dakota State Board of Nursing gave initial approval of the Dakota Nursing Program PN certificate program in July 2004 and the ADN program in September 2004.
The four state colleges continue to collaborate to deliver one nursing education program with a common curriculum. Currently, didactic courses are delivered over the Interactive Video Network (IVN) to the four state colleges and five different distant education sites located in Northwood, Rugby, New Town, Langdon, and Minot. Clinical courses and laboratory experiences are coordinated and delivered by each college and/or site locally. The Dakota Nursing Program is administered by one Nursing Director and a Nursing Coordinator located at each of the four colleges along with nursing faculty and staff.
Dakota Nursing Program faculty and staff strive to explore and utilize best practices in distant education to create environments that promote student learning. Educational experiences are continually assessed to assure that graduates are highly competent and prepared for a variety of nursing practice roles. Opportunities for nurses with Associate Degree nurses (RN) and certificate Practical Nurses (LPN) exist in a variety of healthcare settings.
On behalf of the faculty and staff, I invite you to become a part of our program to pursue your personal and professional goals. You will find extraordinary individuals who share a common goal of serving others through caring healing practices.
We hope you will join us!
Julie Traynor, MS, RN, Director
Dakota Nursing Program
1801 College Drive North
Devils Lake, ND 58301
Phone: (701) 662-1492
Fax: (701) 662-1608