RN Programs in Idaho

Idaho RN Program Guide

Registered nurses in Idaho have chosen the best time possible to advance their education and careers. According to the official publication of the Idaho Nurses Association, the Idaho Action Coalition received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in the summer of 2013. Idaho was one of 33 states to receive the grant. This grant has enabled nurses and other professionals in Idaho’s healthcare industry to provide the best care possible to the citizens. The recipients of the grant work hard to prepare nurses in order to lead system change, strengthen nursing education, and expand access to care by utilizing nurses to the fullest potential in recruiting and training a more diverse workforce. This improves the overall quality of healthcare in the state of Idaho.

In our Idaho RN program guide, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key Idaho RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.

The State of Idaho offers 11 RN programs in 8 different cities. Public institutions offer 7 of the RN programs in the state while there are 1 private, for-profit and 3 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.

In the State of Idaho, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate’s degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.

Nurses who graduate from an RN program are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.

What is the best RN program for you to attend? Your sweet spot might be the least expensive school with the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate. Or, it might the school that offers the best NCLEX-RN passing rate no matter the total cost of attendance. You may also want to consider schools with the highest enrollment rate so that you can collaborate with fellow students and have a large alumni to connect with after graduation.

Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to Idaho RN Programs.

Accredited RN Programs in Idaho

Nursing school accreditation is very important to consider when deciding which RN program to attend. If you ever plan to continue your education, the academic credits from an accredited program are more easily accepted or transferred between accredited college programs. Some employers will prefer to hire nurses from an accredited program.

The two primary accrediting agencies for nursing programs are the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), We recommend that you attend a nursing program that is active and current in their accreditation status. Find those programs in our ranking guide below.

ADN Programs in Idaho

Registered nurses are very busy with their career alone so, when school is added to the mix, life can become quite hectic. Idaho offers programs both online and onsite for RNs to earn a BSN with full and part-time enrollment. A majority of the universities have Academic Advisors ready to assist students in designing a course of study. In order to enroll in a RN to BSN program, you must have already obtained RN licensure, submit your transcript from your associate or diploma education and complete the prerequisite courses by every program. At least one university offers a Stimulation Center suite that can be used as a clinical resource. This allows students a 12-bed practice lab and Learning Resource center. This provides hands-on training without posing risk to patients.

How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in Idaho?

We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in Idaho so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.

When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

The lowest cost ADN program in Idaho is offered by College of Southern Idaho at about $6,213.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of N/A%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by  Boise State University and it will cost about $14,430.00.

• Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inIdaho: $9,199.57
• Net-Price Range for Idaho ADN Programs: $6,213.00 to $14,430.00

Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Idaho Schools: $10,056.14
• Student borrowing range for ADN programs in Idaho: $4,077.00 to $16,328.00

ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 6
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 1
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 1

BSN Programs in Idaho

Idaho has 11 accredited nursing schools that offer RN to BSN on campus and online, as well as 3 to 4 year on campus BSN degrees. The programs are highly competitive and admissions are dependent on the cumulative GPA 2.5 and higher is required of the prerequisite courses which are 36-39.00 credit hours. CNA certification or the LCSC substitution may be required prior to admission into the program. TOEFL and Entrance Exams may also be required. HEISA2 Admission Assessment Exam scores of 75% to 80% are required. Students with English as a second language must meet minimum English requirements. Application fees vary per institution. A Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen are required. Upon graduation the student will pay a $90.00 application fee for state licensure and $200.00 fee for the NCLEX RN exam. Elective courses can include: A foreign language, Anthropology or writing.

How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in Idaho?

We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in Idaho to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.

The lowest cost BSN degree program in Idaho is offered by Brigham Young University-Idaho and will cost you about $8,148.00. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by Stevens-Henager College-Boise and will cost you about $24,247.00.

• Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in Idaho: $15,192.17
• Net-Price Range for Idaho BSN Programs: $8,148.00 to $24,247.00

Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Idaho Schools: $14,640.67
• Student borrowing range for BSN programs in Idaho: $8,450.00 to $22,935.00

BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 3
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 3

MSN Programs in Idaho

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.

Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Idaho offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Learn about the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

Online Programs in Idaho

Today, there are very few disadvantages to earning an online RN degree. With advances in online learning coupled the need to educate more nurses because of the nursing shortage, many nursing schools are offing online nursing programs.

For nurses needing to complete clinicals, nursing programs usually help a nurse to find one.

Be sure to choose an accredited program that meets quality standards set by either the ACEN or CCNE accrediting agencies. An accredited online RN Nursing program will help ensure that your units pass can transfer to another accredited college and help you in gain employment. Learn more about online RN programs.

Idaho RN Licensing Requirements

Idaho adopted the Nurse Licensure Compact on July 1, 2001. This allows nurses who reside in a Compact state the ability to practice in other states without holding additional licenses. Nurses only hold a valid license in only one compact state and that is their primary state of residence. The other compact states include: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. If your new state of residence is a member of the Compact, your Idaho license will become invalid when you are granted a new license.

RN Licensure by Exam

Nursing candidates may request for licensure by examination to the board via telephone, fax, or mail. Provide the following information with your request:

• Name, Telephone number
• Mailing Address
• Date of Graduation
• School of Graduation
• The type of application you are seeking

Please contact the Board office to check qualification status if you are applying for licensure through examination. You will also need to contact the Board office for a Fingerprint Card.

RN Licensure by Endorsement

Licensure through endorsement can be achieved the same way. The application processing may take about 4-6 weeks and a temporary license will be issued when the application has been completed with the appropriate fees being paid. The fee for an endorsement is $110. Candidates must also pay for fingerprinting and a refresher course if they have not actively practiced within three years.

RN Salaries in Idaho

There are 11,530 Registered Nurses in the state of Idaho who have a compact nursing license. This is an advantage when nurses are contemplating traveling or relocation after graduation. It is predicted by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics that there will be a 26% increase in need for nurses from 2001 to 2020. This means nurses are becoming part of a growing profession.

Idaho Registered Nursing Salaries

This table will show that the Coeur d’Alene metropolitan area has the highest hourly mean wage. The same area also has the highest annual median wage. Lastly, you will notice that the Boise City- Nampa, Idaho has the largest number of registered nurses employed.

Area name	Employment	Hourly median wage	Annual median wage
Boise City-Nampa, ID	5,810	$29.17	$60,680
Coeur d’Alene, ID	1,260	$32.85	$68,330
Idaho Falls, ID	1,020	$27.08	$56,320
Lewiston, ID-WA	650	$27.92	$58,070
Pocatello, ID	580	$29.93	$62,250
North Idaho nonmetropolitan area	690	$26.79	$55,720
Southwest Idaho nonmetropolitan area	270	$27.81	$57,840
Southcentral Idaho nonmetropolitan area	1,170	$26.98	$56,130
East Idaho nonmetropolitan area	570	$25.88	$53,820

Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data