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Top Idaho RN to BSN Programs

Increasingly, nurses who started off their careers by earning an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) are going back to school to advance their educational credentials and earn a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Not only can earning a BSN degree help nurses increase their earning potential, but they can also boost their career prospects and help position a nurse for further advancement down the road. In response to the increased demand for BSN-educated nurses, academic institutions have made it more convenient than ever for nurses with ADNs to earn their bachelor's degrees. These days, RN to BSN bridge programs can be completed in one or two years from the comfort of one's own home, allowing a person to continue to work full-time. But the rise of so many RN to BSN programs has made finding the top programs in a state a difficult process that can take up a lot of time. To make that process simpler and easier for you, we've compiled a list of the top programs in the state of Idaho.

How to Choose a Top RN to BSN Program in Idaho

Deciding the RN to BSN program that you're going to attend is a decision that you should put some serious thought into. While searching for Idaho's top RN to BSN programs, consider the following attributes of each program:

  • Cost of attendance
  • Program accreditation
  • Class sizes
  • Success rate
  • Job placement rate
  • Length of time the program has been operating for
  • Student satisfaction rate
  • Partnership with local hospitals or healthcare facilities
  • Acceptance rate
  • Instructor experience
  • Cost of living in the immediate area

Testing and Certification

Students who've graduated with the Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) must first pass the NCLEX-RN exam before they can become fully licensed RNs. For this reason, RN to BSN graduates don't need to take the exam for a second time.

List of Top RN to BSN Programs in Idaho

1. Boise State University

Founded in 1932, Boise State University is a public research university that's located in the city of Boise. BSU offers students a 30 semester credit hour online RN to BSN bridge program that's been operating continually since 2008. The program, which can be completed in about a year, seeks to advance its students' understanding of evidence-based practice, health policy, resource management, and care coordination. Some courses that students will encounter during the program include Community and Population Health Nursing, Nursing Leadership and Management, and more. New students are admitted three times per year.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Saint Luke's Boise Medical School
  • Alphonsus
  • Vibra Hospital in Boise
  • Intermountain Hospital

Tuition:

The average cost to attend Boise State University's RN to BSN bridge program is between $12,000 and $13,000 depending on the number of academic credits a student enters the program with.

2. Lewis-Clark State University

Founded in 1893, Lewis-Clark State University is a public college located in the city of Lewiston. LCSU offers students an online, 25 semester credit hour RN to BSN bridge program that can be completed in as little as nine months. Besides two in-person practicum courses, the program's coursework is 100 percent online. During the program, students will encounter courses like Healthcare Policy & Economics, Transcultural Healthcare, Nursing Genetics, and more. New program cohorts are admitted three times per year.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Joseph's Regional Medical Center
  • Tri-State Memorial Hospital & Medical Campus
  • Valley Medical Center

Tuition:

The average cost to attend Lewis-Clark State University's RN to BSN bridge program is just under $9,000.

3. Northwest Nazarene University

Northwest Nazarene University is a private Christian university located in Nampa that offers an online RN to BSN bridge program that students can complete in just four semesters. NNU's program prides itself on featuring small classes and having a faculty that's accessible to students. A few courses that students will encounter during the program include History of Nursing, Nursing as Servant Leadership, and Christian Theology, among others. New cohorts are admitted twice per year.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Luke's Nampa Medical Center
  • Alphonsus Medical Center Nampa

Tuition:

To attend Northwest Nazarene University's RN to BSN bridge program, students can expect to pay around $8,455 in tuition plus additional fees.

4. Idaho State University

Founded in 1901, Idaho State University is a public research university located in the city of Pocatello. ISU offers a 19 semester credit hour, online RN to BSN bridge program that students can generally complete in about a year. During the program, students will take courses like Foundations of Health Informatics for Nursing, Population Health Nursing and Clinical, and Evidence-Based Nursing practice, among others. New students are admitted twice per year.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Portneuf Medical Center
  • Bingham Memorial Specialty Clinic
  • Pocatello Children's Clinic

Tuition:

Idaho residents can expect to pay around $7,872 in tuition plus additional fees to attend Idaho State University's RN to BSN program. Out-of-state students can expect to pay around $12,084.