The Second Step: Nursing Education There are many options for nursing education in North Dakota. However, most nursing students choose to pursue Registered Nurse (RN) licensure through either a two year Associate Degree (ADN) or a four year Bachelor’s Degree (BSN) in nursing. RNs are the largest group of health care professionals in the USA, and training includes everything from hands-on clinical care to nurse management, theory, research and more. Those in a BSN program have time to pursue advanced studies in nursing, and also take electives that focus on topics of particular interest to a nursing student, such as caring for children, the elderly, and other populations, or specialized topics like pharmacology, radiology, or any other area of health care practice. The Third Step: Licensure Nursing licensure is achieved upon graduation through successfully passing the NCLEX nursing examination. It is a nationwide exam, and more than 85 percent of students pass it on their first try. Further Reading There are many different ways to become a nurse in North Dakota and many levels of licensure. For a more detailed discussion of the various levels of North Dakota nurse licensure and education, as well as salaries, jobs and much more, visit our North Dakota nursing pages. |