According to the Institute of Medicine, more advanced practice nurses will be needed nationally in the near future in every sector of healthcare, and the need will be most acute in rural areas. This is no exception in North Dakota.
The majority of MSN-prepared nurses work in advanced practice specialties. The most popular of those is the nurse practitioner specialty. With the advent of healthcare reform, primary care providers are desperately needed in shortage areas, and about 81 percent of this rural state's 53 counties are designated as health professional shortage areas according to the North Dakota Center for Nursing.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that more MSN-prepared nurses will be needed to fill non-clinical roles such as educators, researchers, and policy makers. There is a particular need for nurse educators in North Dakota. According to the University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health, about 62 percent of nurse educators in the state have MSNs and most teach in LPN and ADN programs. Their salaries are commensurate with the national average (about $42,000/year).
MSN programs in North Dakota are enhancing their distance learning options to make it easier for nurses to get their degrees and enter the workforce. Check out the North Dakota Board of Nursing, North Dakota Nurses Association, and the North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association for more information.
Programs to consider:
North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND). NDSU is ranked among the top universities in the U.S. by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. Among their MSN offerings is a nurse educator track that follows guidelines from national organizations such as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND). MSN students can choose from a number of advanced practice specialties and a nurse educator track. UND offers a thesis or non-thesis option.
