Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Nursing at 208-426-4143.

1. What nursing programs do you offer?
   The Nursing Department at Boise State University offers a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) in Nursing, Online/Distance RN to BS in Nursing Completion Option, Master of Nursing (MN), and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). We also have Advanced Placement opportunities for LPNs who want to return and obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
   
   
2. Is your undergraduate nursing program accredited?
   Yes, our Associate and Bachelor of Science programs are accredited by the National League of Nursing and Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30326. All educational options are approved by the Idaho State Board of Nursing.
   
   
3. Why get a Baccalaureate degree in nursing?
   There are many ways to obtain the education required to prepare for licensure as a registered nurse; a diploma through a hospital (not offered in Idaho), an associate degree, or a baccalaureate degree. We hope you choose to begin your career in nursing with a baccalaureate degree. If however you choose to obtain an associate degree in nursing as your entry level degree, please continue on with your education to complete your baccalaureate degree. Baccalaureate prepared nurses are prepared to practice in all health care settings. Completion of your baccalaureate degree will not only bring you personal satisfaction, it will also open professional doors you will find closed to associate degree graduates.
   
   
4. Is the graduate program accredited?
   At this time, the graduate programs are not accredited by the National League of Nursing and Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). The MN and MSN programs were developed using the NLNAC accreditation standards and the Department of Nursing will apply for accreditation as soon as we are allowed to (we have to be within 2 years of graduating a class to apply and then the NLNAC visit one semester after the first class graduates).
   
   
5. How are BSU students doing on the NCLEX (National council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse)?
   BSU NCLEX Frequently Asked Questions & Pass Rate Information
   
   
6. How can I learn more about your program, and find out if nursing is right for me?
   Please call the Department of Nursing at 208-426-4143 or email us at nursing.boisestat.edu for an advising appointment.
   
   
7. How do I apply for admission into the nursing program?
   There are separate application processes for each of the programs in the Department of Nursing. Please visit the Programs section of the Department of Nursing website to find your specific program
   
   
8. When can I apply for admission to the undergraduate nursing program?
   The deadline for applying is March 1 for a fall start and/or October 1 for a spring start. We encourage you to meet with an advisor throughout the process to ensure you are meeting all prerequisite requirements.
   
   
9. Are there international opportunities for Study Abroad?
   Yes! You can find more information by visiting the BSU International Programs website. We were privileged to host two faculty from China in spring 2008 for three months. The mutual learning from this experience was indescribable! Dr. Cindy Clark, Barbara Allerton, Nancy Otterness, and Mikal Black (Team China) are currently completing a manuscript on a joint research project on student/faculty incivility in China and a comparative study with the US. Nursing faculty Mikal Black and Molly Prengaman took a second trip to Ecuador in the summer of 2008 to make plans for a short-term study abroad. In addition, we will be hosting a student from the Netherlands here in the US for a study abroad during the spring 2009 semester and a travel abroad trip to Ecuador will be taking place.
   
   
10. When can I apply for admission to the graduate nursing program?
    While applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, the formal deadline is March 31 (or the first previous business day if March 31 is a week-end date) for the next academic year. Available spaces, pending funding allocations, are first filled from qualified applicants in the pool who met the March 31 deadline. After the spaces are filled, any remaining qualified candidates will be placed on an alternate list. If all spaces are not filled from the pool who met the March 31 deadline, then qualified candidates will be accepted in the order of the date of their application until all spaces are filled. Qualified candidates in all instances are subject to the admission processes indicated in the policy entitled Admission to the Graduate Nursing Program approved 2007. Qualification does not ensure acceptance. Applicants must apply to the Graduate College at Boise State University. Additional information is available from the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in the Nursing Department.
    
    
11. Is there a waiting list for the undergraduate nursing program?
    No, there is no waiting list for our program. Applicants are invited to submit a new application March 1 and October 1.

12. How many students will be admitted into the nursing program each year?
    For our undergraduate program, the number of applicants accepted into the nursing program is dependent on Idaho State funding and is subject to change depending on funding levels each year. Our graduate program accepts 10 students annually.

13. What will a nursing education cost?
    Nursing fees will include: tuition, books, lab fees, a uniform, online fees and equipment fees. Books per semester will average approximately $500. Visit the Boise State University undergraduate tuition and graduate tuition websites for additional information. Tuition information for the RN to BS Online/Distance Option can be found online as well.

14. Are scholarships and financial aid available?
    Financial aid and general scholarships are available through the financial aid office. Once a student has been accepted and enrolled in the nursing program, students are eligible to apply for additional nursing scholarships. With the support of Friends of Nursing, 140 nursing students received scholarship awards that exceeded $370,000 this past year. Several of our students received multiple scholarships for their outstanding academic achievement.

15. Are nursing courses offered in the summer?
    Many of the general support courses and core courses (English, Math, Anatomy and Physiology, etc.) are offered during the summer but nursing classes are not offered during the summer.

16. Where is the Department of Nursing located?
    The Department of Nursing is located on the Boise State University campus in the Science/Nursing Building (room SN107), next to the Morrison Performing Arts Center. Our phone number is: (208) 426-4143. (MAP)

17. Are there any student organizations that I can join?
    Yes, you will have the opportunity to join the Student Nurses Association as well as many other student organizations available at Boise State University.

18. How can I find out more about the professors who teach in the Department of Nursing??
    We have over 50 faculty members who teach in the Department of Nursing at Boise State.  Visit the faculty and staff website for additional information. 

19. What other heath care programs are available at Boise State University?
    The College of Health Science has a variety of different programs for you to choose from.