UND Nursing Prepares Students for the Changing Field

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The UND nursing program is doing all it can to prepare students for a changing field.

UND dean of the College of Nursing Gayle Roux says shortage of nurses isn’t ending soon.
 
“Some experts that were really in a shortage, and it’s here to stay. The shortage is really a maldistribution,” said Dr. Roux.
 
Roux says unequal distribution of healthcare professionals are one contributor to the shortage.

She says educating students on growing needs in healthcare, such as rural healthcare access and mental health have been key.
 
Dr. Roux says one of the ways they are addressing the shortage is making sure graduates are as well rounded as possible.
 
“In the last few years we have really tried to revise the curriculum to really be able to address the more topical, and common health needs that were seeing today,” said Dr. Roux.
 
One nursing student we spoke to says the variety of courses have better prepared him for the real world.
 
“Where getting prepared for a lot of things were getting trained in public health, adult healthcare were just getting experience with everything,” said Addison Montiel, nursing student at UND.
 
He says the hands-on experience has made all the difference.
 
“I mean the experience I’ve had up to this point with the simulations, and everything its really nice to get to experience that before you go and work with patients,” said Addison.
 
In 2015 the pass rate for licensed nurses at UND was 95%, which is nine percent higher than the nation average.