Students at NDSU’s School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck are receiving the best education both in and outside of the classroom.
Colton Schulte, a junior in the traditional pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing track, said the clinical opportunities he has participated in so far have been beneficial to his future career.
“The biggest thing I’ve noticed is the wide variety of clinical applications and stuff that we’ve been able to take part in. I don’t think a lot of other programs really give that opportunity as far as it’s just a wide variety of stuff that we’d get to see,” said Schulte, who is from Bismarck. “I’ve seen all sorts of different things from pediatrics all the way to medical surgery. It’s been a great experience and that’s something that is so cool about this program.”
After high school Schulte started working at Sanford as a patient care tech in the ER until he realized nursing was a career he wanted to pursue. Being able to stay in his hometown was a plus for Schulte when he was looking for four-year nursing programs, along with the strong reputation NDSU’s School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck has.
“I’ve heard really good things about the NDSU program here in Bismarck and that really brought me in,” he said.
Schulte has been enjoying his program and the smaller class sizes that allow for him to work closely with other students and faculty.
The program curriculum is designed to be interactive and offer a mix of classroom, clinical and hands-on learning experiences for students to be prepared to enter the workforce. Located right next to Sanford Health in Bismarck, students are able to immerse themselves in the hospital environment with convenient access to clinical rotations.
Charys Kunkel, the director and assistant professor of practice at the NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck, said faculty are providing students with the knowledge they need to be successful.
“Our faculty are instrumental in ensuring that students have that baseline knowledge so that when we go to the hospital, we can provide students with hands-on opportunities to work with patients while providing direct patient care,” she said.
After he graduates, Schulte wants to work in the emergency department as a registered nurse to gain more experience. In the future Schulte hopes to pursue a career as either a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or a flight nurse.
The job outlook for nursing jobs is growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a registered nurse is $81,220 with a faster than average job outlook and an expected 6% job growth by 2032.
Schulte recommends NDSU’s School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck and wants prospective students to go into the program with the goal of learning more.
“Ask questions if you don’t know,” he said. “Just like they say, no question is a dumb question and that’s something I’ve learned here at nursing school. People are willing to help you.”
Apply now to start your nursing journey or schedule a visit by emailing NDSU.BisNursing@ndsu.edu.
