To remain competitive in the nursing industry, many registered nurses (RNs) are choosing to return to school. While an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) is sufficient to start one’s nursing career, many healthcare employers prefer to hire or promote RNs with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Fortunately, several of North Dakota’s top nursing schools offer an RN-to-BSN program, which is perfect for working RNs that already hold an ADN.
RN-to-BSN program overview
A traditional prelicensure BSN program requires four years of fulltime study. By comparison, RN-to-BSN students can earn a bachelor’s degree in approximately two years. Accelerated programs may be completed in just 12 to 18 months. All programs focus on skill-building, professional development, and cultural awareness. Students will complete a number of upper-level nursing courses such as nursing leadership, healthcare informatics, and community healthcare and development. The curriculum also features hands-on clinical learning. University of North Dakota has long offered one of the state’s preeminent RN-to-BSN programs, and North Dakota State University has recently followed suit with its Fall 2016 debut class.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, Sanford Medical Center, St. Alexius Medical Center, Altru Hospital, and Cavalier County Memorial Hospital are all major employers of North Dakota’s registered nurses. Graduates of RN-to-BSN programs quickly find themselves in a higher income bracket. While the state’s RNs receive a median annual salary of $55,400, the highest-paid nurses typically hold a BSN degree and earn $62,600 or more annually.
Interested in becoming an even greater asset to healthcare employers? Browse our list below of the top RN-to-BSN programs in North Dakota.