Pre-Nursing

Career opportunities in nursing are excellent. Employment of nurses is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. New positions in nursing are expected from retirement of existing nurses, technological developments in patient care and an expansion of the need for medical care. As a result of the aging population, employment in home health care and in nursing homes are expected to grow the fastest. In addition, many procedures traditionally performed by physicians are being shifted to nurses with special training. Thus, new job opportunities will add to the growing market for nurses.

Black Hills State University offers pre-nursing courses in cooperation with the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. There are two major education paths to a career as a registered nurse: Associate of Science degree in nursing (A.D.N.) from USD (articulation from RN to BSN is also available), and Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing (B.S.) from SDSU. Students can complete courses at BHSU prior to enrolling into these degree programs which are located in Rapid City.

In addition, states require prospective nurses pass a national examination to obtain a nursing license. Nursing education involves classroom instruction and clinical practice in hospitals and/or other health care facilities. BHSU offers courses that fulfill the requirements for all the basic science and general education courses. Pre-nursing students are encouraged to join the Health Sciences Student Organization at BHSU, www.BHSU.edu/hsso

The following individuals should be contacted for specific information regarding program and application requirements:

Sources of Additional Information

American Association of Colleges of Nursing http://aacn.nche.edu
National League for Nursing http://www.nln.org/
South Dakota Board of Nursing http://www.state.sd.us/doh/nursing/
South Dakota Nurses Association http://www.nursingworld.org/snas/sd/about.htm