Nursing Degrees in Idaho

What does it take to start a career in one of the most in-demand fields in the United States? If you have ever considered becoming a nurse or taking the next step in your current nursing career, this may be the time to act. Nursing programs in Idaho offer training options at various levels of study, allowing you to choose the degree that fits your schedule and career goals. You may choose to begin your career as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse. You may also look into advanced degree options that take you into independent clinical work or administrative nursing positions. Read on for more information about nursing education and careers in Idaho, or click the program links from the featured schools below to get more information from a particular program.

Featured Programs:

Nursing Education in Idaho

There are many great reasons to get started in the nursing field now. The state’s need for nurses is growing rapidly, increasing the need for dedicated nursing schools and educated graduates.

Studying nursing may also give you the chance to work with high-end medical technology that makes your job simpler. Patient simulators are becoming more common in nursing programs in Idaho. These simulators may give you valuable experience with patient cases and build your clinical intuition.

Becoming a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) may allow you to play a critical role in Idaho’s health care industry. Idaho has the lowest number of registered nurses per capita in the United States. The workforce of Idaho nursing is lopsided—while eastern Idaho has a higher amount of nurses, the western half of the state still has a critical shortage.

Learn more about registered nursing degrees in Idaho by reaching out to the schools that interest you in order to find out if this is the right career path for you.

The skills you gain in nursing school depend on whether you decide to become a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse. LPN programs in Idaho tend to only last about one year. RN programs generally require two to four years of study, depending on whether you want to earn an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing in ID.

Early in your nursing education, you may start with core theory and practicum courses. Courses that may appear early in your curriculum include Professional Nursing Theory, Fundamentals in Nursing, Health Assessment, and Health Fundamentals. Later in your program, plan on taking more advanced courses like Mental Health Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Population Health Nursing Theory, and Adult Health Nursing. Clinical work is an important part of your training. By the time you graduate, you may have more than 600 hours of clinical experience behind you.

Nursing Degree Programs in Idaho

Below you will information about specific degree programs for nursing that you can choose from in Idaho.

Transition programs for nurses:

Graduate programs for nurses:

Entry level nursing programs:

If you’re looking for is more of a high-level view of program information, keep reading!

Idaho LPN Programs

Admissions requirements: High school diploma, strong physical health, and a background check
Credit hour range: 30 to 45 credits
Online degree options: Not offered at this level, due to required clinical experience
Licensing exams: NCLEX-PN

If you are short on time and you simply want to start working in nursing as quickly as possible, you may want to look more into licensed practical nursing programs in Idaho. Licensed practical nurses fill many important roles at local healthcare facilities, especially nursing homes and home care facilities. In a full-time LPN program, you may be able to finish your education in just one year.

BSN Programs in Idaho

Admissions requirements: High school diploma, strong physical health, and a background check
Credit hour range: 120 to 130 credits
Online degree options: No fully online programs due to clinical course requirements
Licensing exams: NCLEX-RN

At many private and public Idaho colleges and universities, you may have the option of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. BSN programs aim to help students become confident, competent nursing professionals over a period of approximately four years. As you meet general education requirements and complete nursing theory courses, you build on your education with clinical rotations at hospitals, nursing homes, and community clinics. This type of degree is required for graduate or doctoral study, so it may offer you a number of options for your future nursing career.

Idaho MSN Schools

Admissions requirements: An Idaho nursing license and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
Credit hour range: 36 to 45 credits
Online degree options: Available in some specialized areas of study
Licensing exams: Vary in each nursing specialty

Once you become a registered nurse and complete your undergraduate education, you may feel drawn to specific areas of nursing. Graduate study may permit you to explore these options. Students interested in advance clinical work may learn how to become nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, or nurse anesthetist. Some administrative areas of study include nurse education, nursing informatics, and nurse administration. At some schools, you can complete your graduate Idaho nursing degree online.

DNP and PhD Nursing Programs in Idaho

Admissions requirements: An Idaho nursing license and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
Credit hour range: 80 to 90 credits
Online degree options: Options vary between Idaho schools
Licensing exams: Licensing requirements are set by each certification agency

Earning a doctoral degree may be key to expanding your expertise in nursing research and program leadership. Doctoral programs require four to six years of study beyond a Bachelor’s degree, depending on how long it takes you to complete your final project or dissertation.

Nursing Colleges in Idaho with Nursing Bridge Programs

Time is of the essence in education. Everyone wants to complete their training as quickly as possible so they can get into the workforce. If you meet the qualifications for Idaho bridge nursing programs, you may be able to finish your degree more quickly.

Some bridge programs are designed for licensed practical nurses with several years of experience in the industry. In a bridge program, you may complete your RN degree in about one year or your BSN in about three years.

Other options are ideal for working registered nurses. RN to BSN programs last an average of 18 months, and some are offered entirely online for students with enough work experience. RN to MSN programs combine undergraduate and graduate coursework.

Accelerated nursing programs are optimal for students with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. These programs truly live up to their name, since most are meant to be finished in just 12 to 18 months. Because of this, many Idaho programs forbid outside work for the duration of the program. Accelerated MSN programs are another option for non-nursing graduates. These programs are slightly longer than standard MSN programs, since they include registered nursing training and coursework.

Tips for Choosing the Top Nursing Schools in Idaho

When you’re excited about starting your nursing career, you may be tempted to rush through a list of Idaho nursing schools, apply as quickly as possible, and jump right in. It’s recommended that you slow down and take your time when choosing a nursing school. Your nursing education is the foundation of your career, so it is exceptionally important that you choose a facility that aligns with your nursing philosophy and professional interests.

As you compare nursing schools in Idaho, you may find that they are accredited by different agencies. Attending an accredited school may make it much easier to earn your license. Graduates of unaccredited programs may have to have their education verified before they can apply for licensure. Some students are unable to become licensed with a degree from an unaccredited institution. While the ACEN and CCNE are the two main accreditation agencies, there are others that are acceptable in Idaho. You may also compare your list of schools to the list of approved education providers offered by the Idaho Board of Nursing.

From there, there are many criteria you can use to whittle down your list of Idaho nursing schools. Consider the average class size and the NCLEX pass rate. When you talk to admissions representatives at each school, find out how many clinical hours students complete and where students get clinical experience. You may also ask about any opportunities students have for extra experience or enrichment.

2017 Career Outlook for Nursing Professions

When you choose a new career path, you want to know that your choice may remain stable for several years to come. Across the country, the demand for nurses has grown extremely rapidly in recent years. While job outlook statistics are not available for some nursing roles in Idaho, experts believe that the nursing shortage is becoming a crisis. A recent report indicates that Idaho ranks last in terms of nurses per capita (KMVT, 2017).

This means that healthcare facilities may struggle to find and retain the nursing staff they need. This has a number of unpleasant results, including increased wait times for patients, larger patient loads for nurses, and increased workloads for physicians.

Graduates of Idaho licensed and vocational nursing programs may begin working after passing the NCLEX-PN. In Idaho, the average salary for a licensed practical nurse is $40,680 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017).

If you choose to attend a Bachelor of Science In Nursing program and become a registered nurse, you could benefit from a wide variety of job options in this state. The average annual salary for Idaho registered nurses is $62,470 (BLS, 2017).

In many rural parts of Idaho, patients struggle to receive primary care services. This is where nurse practitioners are an essential community resource. Between 2014 and 2024, job openings for nurse practitioners may increase 32% in Idaho (O*Net, 2017). They claim an average income of $97,660 per year (BLS, 2017). At Idaho schools, you may find graduate and doctoral nurse practitioner programs.