Hi Mindset - usually branching structures are easier to do in a sub-d model since it has a nice way of melting everything together.

For NURBS modeling the usual way is to use a blend between 2 branches as shown here:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=4388.55

or here:
http://tips.rhino3d.com/2009/02/modeling-y-branch-polysurface.html

- Michael