For at least the past decade, nursing programs nationwide have expanded in hopes of meeting critical nursing shortages, and accredited nursing degree programs in Idaho are no exception. While parts of the state have leveled out in their nursing needs, other areas are still experiencing a lack of skilled nursing care especially for emergency, trauma, operating-room and intensive-care specialties. To this end, Idaho’s colleges and universities continue to work with employers to provide nursing professionals with the desired competencies and knowledge to establish and maintain a high level of patient care across medical settings.

Idaho State University

School of Nursing

Idaho State University opened its doors in 1901 and has risen through the educational ranks to become a Carnegie research and teaching institution. With five colleges, a division of health sciences and a graduate school, ISU offers students a world-class education with state-of-the-art technology to support superior instruction. Its traditional nursing program offers undergraduates a pathway towards preparing for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses. ISU ranks at No. 105 for schools in the West and at No. 234 for research universities on Forbes Top Colleges list.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The curriculum for this degree follows guidelines from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which determines the minimum skills and competencies necessary for navigating global health care systems. Students complete their studies through a combination of traditional classes, online instruction, clinical experiences and off-campus healthcare practicums. Coursework entails 120 credits from general education studies with heavy emphasis in biology, chemistry and psychology along with specialized nursing content in the junior and senior years through lectures, labs and supervised clinics. Topics in the major cover the following trending issues:

  • Nursing theory
  • Professional ethics
  • Health assessments and diagnostics
  • Mental health and psychiatric disorders
  • Child health and development
  • Women’s health, childbearing and family practice
  • Adult and community health
  • Pharmacology
  • Nursing informatics
  • Evidence-based practice and research

Accreditations

  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
  • National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission

Contacts
Idaho State University
921 South 8th Avenue
Pocatello, Idaho 83209

Abbey Hirt, BA, M.Ed
School of Nursing, Division of Health Sciences
(208) 282-4481 (Office)
sonadvis@isu.edu
http://www.isu.edu/nursing/traditional.shtml

Lewis-Clark State College

Nursing and Health Sciences

Created as a normal school for teachers in 1893, Lewis-Clark State College became a four-year educational institution in 1943 and established itself over time as one of Idaho’s top regional state colleges. Its nursing programs were instituted in 1965 and have expanded from offering practical and associate degrees into conferring baccalaureates that prepare graduates to become professional registered nurses. LCSC holds rankings at No. 3 for top public schools and No. 21 for regional colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

This program offers a basic BSN track for first-time students or completion tracks for nurses seeking to complete their bachelor’s degree in the field. Program goals include developing professional knowledge, honing skills required for competitive nursing employment, and mastering competencies in leadership, management, provider care and nursing technology. Students in the basic track complete 123 credits towards a BSN that includes general university core classes and advanced support courses covering anatomy, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, pathophysiology, nutrition and statistics. The remaining credits come from lectures, labs, and supervised practicums in health assessments, nursing applications, pharmacology, geriatric nursing, transcultural nursing, family health, community health, psychiatric nursing and healthcare policy.

Accreditations

  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • Idaho Board of Nursing
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Contacts
Lewis-Clark State College
500 8th Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501

Mary Lou Robinson, PhD
(208) 792-2250
nhs@lcsc.edu
Scroll to “Major and Minors” and click on “Nursing-BSN”: http://webdev.lcsc.edu/catalog/Page.aspx?pageID=14
BSN Plan: http://webdev.lcsc.edu/catalog/ProgramPlans/NursingBSN.pdf

Northwest Nazarene University

Department of Nursing

Since 1913, NNU has expanded into a global university serving over 10,000 students through traditional and distance learning programs with degree offerings in more than 60 study areas including nursing. The NNU nursing program enjoys a good reputation among employers for graduating professionals with superior educational knowledge and skills. NNU ranks at No. 43 for best regional universities in the West by U.S. News & World Report and also appears as a best regional school in The Princeton Review. It also holds recognition as a top Christian university by Colleges of Distinction and as an affordable institution for older students by BestColleges.com.

Bachelor of Science, Nursing

NNU’s BSN provides intensive studies in general university courses and nursing major requirements. Students participate in lectures, labs, and supervised clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare settings that prepare them to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses. The plan of study involves 114 to 126 credits depending on prerequisites required. Nursing students can expect to study the following content for the major:

  • Medical terminology
  • Lifespan development and health needs
  • Microbiology and pathophysiology
  • Family health assessment
  • Nutrition and pharmacology
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Acute and chronic diseases
  • Gynocology and childbearing
  • Complex health care, surgery and trauma nursing

Accreditations

  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contacts
Department of Nursing
Northwest Nazarene University
623 South University Boulevard
Nampa, Idaho 83686

(208) 467-8650 or (877) 668-4968 (toll free)
nursing@nnu.edu
http://nursing.nnu.edu/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing-degree

According to the Idaho Department of Labor, registered nursing will continue to be an occupation in demand well into the next decade. The IDOL also states that qualified RNs holding bachelor’s degrees have steadily risen from 6 percent in 2008 to 53 percent in 2013 with a goal to reach 80 percent in the near future. In light of these facts, aspiring nurses looking to begin their career path can find that accredited nursing degree programs in Idaho offer great opportunities for realizing career ambitions.