North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Programs and Careers
You love being a nurse, but you’re ready to take on more responsibility with patient care. If this describes you, you may want to become a nurse practitioner. You could work with psychiatric patients, adults, seniors, children or families. Browse the content on this page for more information on courses, graduation requirements and nurse practitioner careers. Use the search box above and the featured school listings below to start comparing nurse practitioner programs in North Dakota.
Nurse practitioners present a practical, affordable solution to the shortage of healthcare providers in the United States. This problem has significantly impacted healthcare availability in North Dakota, where many people live in rural areas that are underserved by healthcare providers. Keep reading to learn how to become one!
How Can I Become a Nurse Practitioner in North Dakota?
If you use your registered nursing experience and education to become a nurse practitioner, you may work at clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes throughout the state of North Dakota. Both Master’s degree programs and doctoral programs can help you reach this goal.
Average Master’s Degree Requirements for Nurse Practitioners
- Credit hours required: 35 credits
- Average cost: $700 per credit hour
- Clinical hours required: At least 500 hours
- Timeframe: Two years
Average Doctoral Degree Requirements for Nurse Practitioners
- Credit hours required: 80 credits
- Clinical hours required: At least 1,000 hours
- Timeframe: Five years
What Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Are Available in North Dakota?
One of the most important decisions you make as an aspiring nurse practitioner is which area of nursing you want to focus on. North Dakota schools have programs in family care and gerontology, giving you the opportunity to further specialize in primary care or acute care.
Many courses are applicable to all advanced areas of study, so you may start your education with the advanced nursing courses listed below.
Courses Commonly Required in Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
- Health Promotion
- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
- Advanced Health Assessment
- Illness Management
- Advanced Pharmacology for Primary Care
- Role Development of the Nurse Practitioner
- Theories and Concepts in Advanced Nursing
Although you spend quite a bit of time on nursing theory, clinical work is still a major part of your nurse practitioner schooling. You need at least 500 hours to qualify for certification, but many graduate programs require far more.
As you complete rotations in different healthcare settings, you may learn how to respond to different medical emergencies, function as a leader in a medical setting, and collaborate with other healthcare providers.
How Can I Pay for Nurse Practitioner School in North Dakota?
- North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association: This statewide association, which may be an excellent resource for you as a student and as a professional, awards multiple $1000 scholarships to nurse practitioner students each year.
- BestNursingDegree.com Scholarship: Through our scholarship program, we provide $2500 scholarships to nursing students four times per year.
- NURSE Corps Scholarship Program: Students who receive scholarships from this program are required to spend two years in a Health Professional Shortage Area after graduation.
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: By completing a two-year commitment in an NHSC-approved location, selected applicants may have up to $50,000 of eligible student loans repaid.
Licensing and Practice Requirements for NPs in North Dakota
The licensure of all nursing professionals is regulated by the North Dakota Board of Nursing. After getting your nurse practitioner degree, you can supply them with proof of your education, your registered nursing license, and your national certification to begin the licensing process.
North Dakota allows nurse practitioners to enjoy full freedom of practice (AANP, 2016).
Nurse Practitioner Careers in North Dakota
With the variety of employment options in North Dakota, you may be able to choose a work setting that fits your preferences. If you are willing to work in a rural area, you could have quite a few opportunities to consider. The need for healthcare providers is growing in remote parts of North Dakota, and as a result, many employers offer bonuses to new staff.
Overall, demand for nurse practitioners is expected to increase 40% in North Dakota through 2024 (O*Net, 2016). The average income for a nurse practitioner in North Dakota is $92,750 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
With your North Dakota nurse practitioner education, you may provide local residents with the care they deserve.
Choosing a ND School to Become a Nurse Practitioner
Nurses in North Dakota who want to advance their education and become nurse practitioners can attend an online school, such as Georgetown University, or one of these institutions:
- North Dakota State University. Located in Fargo, North Dakota State offers a DNP-level family nurse practitioner program.
- University of Mary. A Benedictine university in Bismarck, the University of Mary offers a blended online/on-site master’s-level family nurse practitioner program.
- University of North Dakota. The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks offers an online family nurse practitioner program that can be completed in five semesters. The part-time option typically takes seven semesters.
