Rasmussen College Expands Accelerated Entrance Options for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree to Fargo

Fargo, N.D. (Sept. 21, 2017)—Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited² private college, today announced the expansion of its accelerated entrance options for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to its Fargo, N.D. campus. The Rasmussen College BSN degree program, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE),³ is now available with two accelerated pre-licensure entrance options in Fargo with classes beginning in January. The entrance options are designed for students who are committed to the nursing profession and eager to launch their careers as quickly as possible, as well as help fill a significant need for registered nurses (RNs) with Bachelor’s degrees in North Dakota. Additionally, the campus will open a new nursing simulation lab to provide an enhanced learning experience for its Fargo accelerated BSN students and prepare them to enter today’s growing healthcare field.

“We are excited to expand our accelerated BSN entrance options to Fargo—an area that continues to see the need for highly qualified nurses to fill workforce shortages,” said Dr. Joan Rich, vice president of the School of Nursing at Rasmussen College. “These options give driven students the opportunity to achieve their BSN degree at an accelerated pace and enter the nursing profession more quickly, while also positively impacting the healthcare needs in the Fargo area community. We are proud to not only offer these accelerated options, but also provide a brand new simulation lab that will train our students for success in increasingly complex and demanding healthcare environments.”

New Nursing Simulation Lab

The new nursing simulation lab at the Rasmussen College Fargo campus will serve as both a classroom and simulation space for students and faculty.

Faculty and students will have access to the following:

• Four hospital bed stations where students perform learned tasks in a realistic patient care experience. Each station is stocked with additional equipment to provide an authentic experience.
• Simulation equipment including four new high-tech mannequins that faculty can control from a one-way mirror observation room. Faculty can also record students performing tasks and then play back the video for an advanced learning experience. The mannequins provide the student nurse the opportunity to experience and practice patient care scenarios in the safety of the laboratory setting.
• Classroom space for prebriefing and debriefing to support deeper learning with the simulation experience.

The College plans to host an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new simulation lab later this Fall.

High Demand for RNs with a Bachelor’s Degree in North Dakota

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends the proportion of working RNs with Bachelor’s degrees increase to 80 percent by 2020 in order to meet the needs of an aging population and the evolving healthcare system across the U.S. According to labor analytics firm Burning Glass, there were nearly 1,120 job postings in 2016 for RNs with a Bachelor’s degree in North Dakota. When compared to the number of job postings just five years ago—around 192—there has been a 483 percent growth in demand for registered nurses with Bachelor’s degrees across the state.

“Like much of the state, Fargo and its surrounding communities are feeling the need for highly skilled nurses. Specifically, there have been more than 360 job postings over the past year for RNs with Bachelor’s degrees in the Fargo-Moorhead area alone, which has more than tripled in five years,” said Dr. Robert Muster, Rasmussen College regional dean of nursing and Fargo campus nurse administrator. “In addition to preparing graduates to write the RN licensing exam, the Rasmussen College BSN degree program will prepare students for leadership roles in the nursing field by providing real-world curriculum taught by experienced nursing faculty as well as hands-on training in our new simulation lab. The Rasmussen College BSN degree program is also available to Moorhead area residents.”

Two Accelerated Pre-Licensure BSN Entrance Options

Second Degree Entrance Option

The Second-Degree Entrance Option is a pre-licensure track that may be completed in as few as 18 months.¹ Candidates for this option currently hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree and are now looking to complete their BSN.

Standard Entrance Option

The Standard Entrance Option is a pre-licensure track that may be completed in as few as 33 months.¹ Candidates for this option do not currently hold a Bachelor’s degree. Students who enroll in the BSN program through the Standard Entrance Option are also eligible for the Rasmussen College Flex Choice^® Credit by Assessment learning option, which allows them to complete some of their general education courses through online, self-directed assessments at a more affordable cost.

Rasmussen College first launched its accelerated BSN entrance options in Fall 2015. Residents in the Moorhead community may also have the ability to enroll in the accelerated BSN entrance option in Fargo. To learn more about the accelerated entrance options for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree now being offered at the Fargo campus, please visit https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/bachelor-science-nursing-bsn/.

¹ Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and courses completed each term.
² Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. hlcommission.org | 800-621-7440
³ The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Rasmussen College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE):
One Dupont Circle NW | Suite 530 | Washington, DC 20036
202-887-6791 | www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation.