North Dakota is the only state to ever require a BSN degree for entry into nursing practice. According to the North Dakota Nurses Association, the North Dakota state legislature passed a law requiring all newly-hired RNs to have a Bachelor's degree in nursing in 1987. That law, however, was repealed in 2003, partly because of concerns about nurse supply.
The state and many state nurses associations and employers still encourage BSN education. According to the Center for Rural Health, rural and semi-rural healthcare facilities are most likely to pay a premium for BSN nurses.
Most North Dakota nurses work for healthcare organizations that provide at least some tuition reimbursement for BSN education. Additional financial assistance is available through the North Dakota Nursing Education loan.
RN to BSN programs for North Dakota nurses include:
- Minot State University. Minot State offers a flexible online RN to BSN program that can be completed with full or part-time study. Full-time students typically finish in 18 months or less.
- North Dakota State University. The RN to BSN program at North Dakota State is offered mostly online. Students may take some general education courses in conjunction with upper level nursing courses.
- University of Mary. RN to BSN students at the University of Mary complete their education with a group of nursing peers, even though the peers may be separated by many miles. Students are grouped into "cohorts" and may work together on projects, even though most coursework is completed online.
