Department of Nursing

About the Department

Through the completion of a degree within the Department of Nursing at Dickinson State University, you will have attained the education necessary to make a significant impact upon the state of North Dakota and the surrounding region, improving both the health and quality of life of its citizens. Our goal is to foster students’ development into knowledgeable healthcare professionals who are adequately prepared to serve in a continually-evolving healthcare environment.

Upon completion of the program the individual is qualified to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Licensed Practical Nurses or Registered Nurses, as required by the North Dakota State Board of Nursing for licensure as an LPN or RN.

Majors and Programs

Bachelor's Degrees

• Nursing

Associate Degrees

• Practical Nursing

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for the AASPN, LPN Degree Program

Application Deadline is February 1^st, for all materials to the DSU Department of Nursing

• Official High School transcripts, or GED, and/or all college and university transcripts. Minimum 2.25 high school or college GPA, or GED of 145 or 450
• Algebra: minimum high school or college accepted, Grade of C, or Math GED 145 or 410
• Chemistry: minimum of high school or college accepted, Grade of C , or Science GED of 145 or 410
• Completed NDUS application for DSU
• Completed DSU Department of Nursing AASPN application
• English as a second language requires minimum TOEFL scores to be 22 in all respective areas or minimum IELTS scores of 6 in all respective areas with an overall minimum score to be 6.5 or minimum Duolingo scores of 90 in all respective areas with an overall score of 115. Students who are unable to achieve the minimum required TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores MUST meet the following for admission consideration: 1. Attain a WritePlacer minimum score of 5; or 2. Complete ASC 088 (if Writeplacer score is below 5) with ENGL 110 Composition I; and receive course grades of ≥ ‘C’.

Admission Requirements for the BSN, RN Completion Degree Program

Application Deadline is February 1^st, for all materials to DSU Department of Nursing

• Official college and university transcripts with a cumulative college and cumulative nursing courses GPA with a minimum 2.50
• Verifiable evidence of unencumbered nurse licensure, LPN , ADRN, or RN diploma
• Completed DSU Department of Nursing BSN application
• Completed NDUS application for DSU
• English as a second language requires minimum TOEFL scores to be 22 in all respective areas or minimum IELTS scores of 6 in all respective areas with an overall minimum score to be 6.5 or minimum Duolingo scores of 90 in all respective areas with an overall score of 115. Students who are unable to achieve the minimum required TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores MUST meet the following for admission consideration: 1. Attain a WritePlacer minimum score of 5; or 2. Complete ASC 088 (if Writeplacer score is below 5) with ENGL 110 Composition I; and receive course grades of ≥ ‘C’.

See Department of Nursing policy handbook for further details, and for the alternate admission to the BSN completion program.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

AASPN Program

The practical nursing program at Dickinson State University, located in Dickinson, ND is accredited by the: 

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the practical nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. 

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm

BSN Completion Program

The baccalaureate nursing program at Dickinson State University, located in Dickinson, ND is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the baccalaureate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm

North Dakota Board of Nursing

The AASPN and BSN programs are approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing. The Board’s address is: 919 South 7th St., Suite 504, Bismarck, ND 58504-5881. The Board’s phone number is: 701-328-9777. Their website can be found at www.ndbon.org

Graduate Achievement Data

LPN, AASPN Graduate Achievement Data

RN, BSN Graduate Achievement Data

Public Notice of Upcoming Accreditation Review Visit by the ACEN 

The Dickinson State University Department of Nursing wishes to announce that it will host a face to face* visit for continuing accreditation of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Completion Program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

You are invited to meet with the site visit team and share your comments about the Program in person at a meeting scheduled at 2:00-2:30 p.m. MT on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 in Klinefelter Hall Room 415, located on the Dickinson State University campus at 291 Campus Drive, Dickinson, ND.

Written comments are also welcome and should be submitted directly to:

Dr. Marsal Stoll, Chief Executive Officer, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Or email: mstoll@acenursing.org

All written comments should be received by the ACEN by October 5, 2021.

*Alternate arrangements for the meeting to be held remotely via GoToMeeting will be made as needed and will be posted on the Department of Nursing webpage.