North Dakota Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
There is a great need for family nurse practitioners in North Dakota, due to the sparse population density. This presents a great opportunity for nurses that are ready to take on more responsibility and further their education. If you want to spend more time interacting directly with patients, keeping up on the standards of evidence-based care, and providing a variety of health care services, becoming a family nurse practitioner may be the next step in your nursing career.
While family nurse practitioners have a wide range of duties that they are responsible for, the majority of their time is spent seeing and treating patients. Family nurse practitioners are considered to be some of the most versatile advanced nurses, because they can treat patients of all ages.
This is particularly important in North Dakota, where nurse practitioners have full practice rights. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners nurse practitioners in North Dakota can work without the oversight or collaboration of a physician. As a result, family nurse practitioners can offer affordable, evidence-based care to residents living in rural areas.
Taking a set to become a nurse practitioner may also boost your earning potential. According to O*Net, the median salary for a nurse practitioner in North Dakota is $83,000. The listed range of salaries goes from $64,800 to $111,100 (O*Net, 2012).
To learn more about programs offered to North Dakota nurses, click on the schools on this page to request more information.
Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum in North Dakota
Before applying to nurse practitioner programs, you should make sure that you meet the various entrance requirements. First, you have to have a bachelors degree in nursing. In addition, some schools have work requirements that you must meet. For example, it is common for schools to require that students complete one year of full-time nursing experience prior to starting their program.
As you choose which nurse practitioner program can help you meet your goals, you should consider the wide variety of scheduling options you have. Many schools offer traditional daytime classes, but there are also some schools that have online classes or evening classes. Once you begin your nurse practitioner program, you may have to take courses in a variety of areas. Some of the courses required at this level include Health Care Ethics and Policy, Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Disease Control.
In addition to classes, you also have to complete a substantial amount of clinical hours. In general, North Dakota schools require between 700 and 800 clinical hours. While you can complete a degree in two years at some schools, it will take most students between three and four years to get a nurse practitioner degree. The amount of time it takes you depends on whether you go full-time or part-time.
Financing your Family Nurse Practitioner Program in North Dakota
Applying for scholarships can greatly reduce the amount of money you have to spend on your education. One option for North Dakota students is the Trinity Health Foundation Nursing Scholarship. The Trinity Health Foundation awards these scholarships every year.
Family Nurse Practitioner Careers in North Dakota
Once you have graduated from an accredited nursing school, the next step is getting licensed by the North Dakota Board of Nursing. After earning your license, it’s important to remember to renew it every two years. In order to renew your license, you must complete 15 hours of continuing education in pharmacology.
Nurse practitioners can work in a wide variety of settings and North Dakota, but the most common employers are urgent care clinics, hospitals, and traditional medical clinics. Some of the largest nurse practitioner employers in North Dakota are Pro Med Healthcare Services and Baxter Healthcare. One way of staying up-to-date on new job listings is joining the North Dakota Nurse Practitioner Association. In addition to getting new job listings, members can receive updates on new nursing legislation, network with other healthcare providers, and learn about new continuing education opportunities.
