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Inspiring the next
generation of nursing
and health science experts
You can’t change the world without experiencing it first. Idaho State University graduates have an 80.5% graduation success rate, and that doesn’t come from entering the workforce without prior exposure and engagement made possible by the university’s partnerships with industry leaders and institutions.
Last fall, ISU President Robert W. Wagner signed numerous Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with colleges around the state to mark the start of even more advanced collaborations. That includes a newly signed partnership with the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) to ease the CSI to ISU transfer. Another with Kootenai Health in Idaho to provide an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme.
There are more still, including those with Lewis-Clark State College and the University of Idaho. It’s a web of connections that shares one vision: supporting ISU nursing and health science students in their paths to success.
Programmes that improve the health of rural and diverse populations
What makes an ISU education in nursing stand out is its commitment to serving the underserved.
“We're all about rural nursing, and we know that — Idaho's very rural and there are towns of population of 300 to 5000 people with nothing around for hours and hours. And, so if there's a way we can help those people achieve their dreams of becoming a nurse, then that's something we want to do,” says Melissa Newlan, a clinical educator affiliate faculty at ISU.
Programmes at the School of Nursing stay true to this goal. They prepare students to become exemplary nurse leaders who integrate education, service and scholarship, through practice and research, to enhance the quality of life for rural and diverse populations.
The Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is conducted in ISU’s Pocatello campus through a hybrid model of in-person and online classes. Students who do not have a bachelor’s degree and no nursing experience or are licensed practical nurses tackle real-world issues in professional settings like community hospitals, schools, service agencies, and more.
Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Unlike the traditional nursing undergraduate degree, which is completed in four semesters, the students in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing complete their programme in three. This track requires the applicant to have completed an undergraduate degree in another field. It’s perfect for those looking for a career pivot to nursing, coupled with the fact that opportunities are expanding statewide. Last year, ISU began a partnership with Kootenai Health to address the nursing shortage in North Idaho, allowing students to gain clinical practice at its medical facilities. Students do need to undergo a review process with an ISU academic advisor before applying to see whether they’re required to take any prerequisite courses.
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
Offered in a part- or full-time curriculum, the MSN programme is designed to nurture graduates who can lead nursing education to the next level and answer to discrepancies in the healthcare system. The programme takes an evidence-based approach that prepares students to lead in educational roles in either an acedemic or clinical setting. The top concern of MSN Nurse Educators is ensuring that students and patients have the information they need to be successful.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Education Programme
Independent research defines the PhD in Nursing at ISU. Students work towards bettering healthcare conditions for rural and vulnerable communities, conducting research in collaboration with the interprofessional faculty advisors at the university. In terms of delivery, students complete their classes, coursework, and dissertations fully online, in either the full-time or part-time curriculum, and contribute to the vast expanse of scientific nursing knowledge by conducting their own research study prior to graduation.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at ISU has two nurse practitioner tracks: psychiatric mental health Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner. Each of these roles are vital to a rural state like Idaho where the state is 100% and 98% underserved in the areas of mental and physical healthcare respectively. The Doctorate trained Nurse Practitioner, in addition to excellent patient care, focuses on implementation of best evidence for clinical practice. While a student in the programme, an implementation of best practice Scholarly Project is conducted to help better serve the community.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
ISU is bettering the healthcare industry
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