RN to BSN Programs in Idaho

Prospects for a nursing career Idaho look very healthy in the next decade. According to a 2007 report by the Idaho Nursing Workforce Center, a full 18 percent of the current workforce of 10,540 nurses plans to retire by 2012, which includes 29 percent of nursing faculty and 25 percent of the registered nurses (RNs) currently working in long-term care facilities. This indicates a strong demand for nurses in Idaho in the coming years, particularly in Boise and other metro areas. Most of this demand is for nurses who have bachelor's degrees. Not only do 36.9 percent of working RNs in Idaho possess Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, but a full 23 percent of the teaching faculty at Idaho's 10 nursing schools has only BSNs. According to Indeed.com, the average annual 2010 RN salary in Idaho is $63,000, although a critical care nurse could earn over $90K.

Research suggests a correlation between high numbers of nurses with bachelor's degrees and lower mortality rates, which is why hospitals (by far the largest employer of nurses in Idaho) are increasingly hiring RNs with BSN degrees. The accelerated RN to BSN degree provides more in-depth clinical experience, and focuses heavily on communications, critical thinking skills, and leadership, which is why leadership and administrator roles require bachelor's degrees.