BOTTINEAU, ND — Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB)

nursing students

have set a new benchmark by achieving a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for practical nurse (PN) certificate graduates. This notable accomplishment, administrators say, underscores the rigorous preparation and dedication of both the students and faculty within the Dakota Nursing Program, a collaborative initiative among North Dakota University System colleges.

The Dakota Nursing Program, which includes Lake Region State College, Bismarck State College (BSC) and Williston State College, has featured a string of recent successes. BSC reported a 97.87% pass rate, while both DCB and WSC achieved perfect scores of 100%. These outstanding results are significantly higher than the national average pass rate of 89.65%, highlighting what the administrators say is the program’s success in preparing students for the demands of the healthcare industry.

This achievement comes at a crucial time for nursing education in North Dakota, and for prospective students in Dickinson and southwest North Dakota. Dickinson State University (DSU) has recently faced significant challenges, including the

resignation of its entire full-time nursing faculty

and

university president Stephen Easton

, amid concerns over workload and accreditation standards. In response to this crisis, DSU has entered into a collaborative agreement with

Mayville State University (MaSU)

to support and restore its nursing program.

The partnership between DSU and MaSU involves sharing nursing administration resources to maintain accreditation and ensure that DSU nursing students can continue their education without disruption.

MaSU nursing administrators

Carey Haugen and Collette Christoffers visited Dickinson to speak with students in the nursing program and expressed their commitment to helping DSU maintain its program standards and support student success.

DSU recently appointed

Ty Orton as the acting president

following the resignation of Easton. Orton, who has served as the executive director of the DSU Heritage Foundation since 2015, says that the university plans to conduct a full search for a permanent interim president starting on Aug. 7, with the goal of filling the position by late September.

Bismarck State College has also announced plans to expand its nursing program to accommodate students affected by the situation at DSU. According to BSC representatives at a recent State Board of Higher Education meeting, several DSU nursing students have reached out to the college, seeking to transfer and continue their studies.

Despite the challenges faced by DSU, the collaborative efforts between North Dakota institutions underscore a collective commitment to maintaining high standards in nursing education and addressing the critical demand for healthcare professionals in the state.

The Dakota Nursing Program’s exemplary NCLEX pass rates reflect the program’s dedication to rigorous preparation and student success, providing a promising outlook for the future of nursing education in North Dakota.

Dakota College at Bottineau’s nursing program offers an 11-month practical nursing Certificate and associate degree on the Bottineau campus and at remote locations in Minot and Valley City.

James B. Miller, Jr. is the Editor of The Dickinson Press in Dickinson, North Dakota. He strives to bring community-driven, professional and hyper-local focused news coverage of southwest North Dakota.