LPN to RN Bridge Programs in North Dakota

North Dakota may be one of the states that has been most impacted by the Affordable Care Act. This state is largely populated by remote communities who have access to one or zero care providers. Under the Affordable Care Act, this cannot continue. As a result of changing standards and an increase in patient numbers, North Dakota employers are looking for ways to make their health care dollars go further. One of the things they’re doing is increasing their hiring of registered nurses.

If you’ve ever considered going from LPN to RN, this may be one of the best motivators to do so. Furthermore, the availability of specialty nursing jobs is growing. An RN license may qualify you for these sorts of jobs. For example, a recent recent North Dakota bill restored funding to the state’s sexual assault nursing program.

LPN to RN bridge programs in North Dakota can help you take the next step in your career. Check out our list of schools below for more information.

Why Should I Enter an LPN to RN Program in North Dakota?

There are plenty of reasons that becoming a registered nurse may be the right move for you right now, including personal and professional benefits. Taking on additional responsibility and expanding your scope of practice may help you find greater fulfillment in your career, particularly if you can work with new populations and in new settings. Furthermore, there are economic benefits to this decision. The Bismarck Tribune reports that registered nurses are in such short supply in parts of North Dakota that some employers are offering sign-on bonuses of up to $10,000 per nurse.

In the long term, you may also see a boost in your earning potential. Currently, LPNs in North Dakota earn an average salary of $39,700 per year; to compare, the average salary for a registered nurse is $57,200 per year (O*Net, 2014).

Curriculum of LPN to BSN and LPN to ADN Programs in North Dakota

There are two types of nursing undergraduate programs in North Dakota. The short option is an Associate’s degree, which takes two years, and the long version is a Bachelor’s degree, which takes four years. Whichever degree you choose, your LPN education allows you to complete your training about one year quicker than new students. These schools offer bridge programs that help you smoothly transition from LPN to RN.

The training you receive at an undergraduate nursing program in North Dakota should give you the skills and background knowledge you need to explore different nursing specialties, advance your theoretical understanding of this field, and fulfill leadership roles in the community. Courses you may take in your curriculum include Complex Health Alterations, Introduction to Nursing Management, Health Promotion, Clinical Practice Concepts, and Nursing for Adults. Clinical practice is extremely important, both for your training and for licensure purposes. Plan on completing several hundred hours of clinical work by the time you graduate. Both your classroom hours and your clinical hours help you get ready for the NCLEX-RN, the licensing exam required across the country.

As the nursing shortage has grown, many companies and government agencies have increased their scholarship offerings. You may apply for grants like the Allan B. Engen Nurse Scholarship.

Becoming an RN allows you to contribute more to the nursing community. Take the first step and contact LPN to RN programs in North Dakota.