Despite the availability of many short-term pathways to address the demand for more nurses, a four-year bachelor’s in registered nursing (BSN) remains the preferred type of education required by many healthcare institutions in the country.
A BSN is a comprehensive academic program that prepares nurses for a wide range of professional roles and postgraduate studies. The curriculum includes not just medical and nursing subjects but also liberal arts courses that prepare graduates for leadership roles in society, which is why forward-looking registered nurses without a BSN aspire to earn one.
A BSN degree also allows registered nurses to pursue postgraduate studies that further expand their career options and salary grades. Nurses with postgraduate degrees are in-demand at large hospitals like Saint Luke’s and Minidoka Memorial Hospital, because they have the education necessary to take on jobs normally reserved for physicians.
Below is a list of the best four-year colleges and universities in Idaho offering students from high school graduates to experienced RNs an opportunity to further their nursing careers.