From Navy medic to nurse
Posted: Friday, May 1, 2026
After eight years in the Navy as a combat medic, including a deployment to Afghanistan, Spencer Taylor knew his future would remain in health care.
North Idaho College’s Registered Nursing Program provided the next step.
The 36-year-old from Rathdrum plans to graduate from NIC in December, transfer to Lewis-Clark State College to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing and then Gonzaga to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
“I love caring for people,” Taylor said. “I was molded for this.”
For Taylor and many nursing students, NIC provided a practical pathway for launching a career in health care.
“NIC has provided a clear path for me,” Taylor said. “It’s been amazing, close to home, a top-notch program and affordable.”
The NIC Associate Degree Nursing Program graduates two cohorts a year, containing more than 40 students each. Graduates have maintained greater than 90% NCLEX first-attempt pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam pass rate for over 20 years and often ranks as the best in the state and top 100 in the country. Most of the graduates from the RN program stay in the community, working at hospitals, clinics and surgery centers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“Most of the employers in our region, including Kootenai Health, and even the Spokane hospitals prefer students who have been through NIC’s nursing program,” Taylor said.
Before enrolling, Taylor built on his military medical experience by working as a certified nursing assistant and as a scribe in the emergency room at Kootenai Health. He said NIC stood out as the best option to advance his career.
“I was ready for a change, and North Idaho College was the best choice to make that happen,” Taylor said.
NIC Interim Nursing Program Coordinator Sharon Funkhouser said many nursing students accept job positions as nurse techs, interns or apprentices at local hospitals while in their second year of the two-year program, converting to full time work upon graduation. A large majority of students also interview for and are hired for their residency programs prior to graduation.
“There’s so much opportunity for nursing students in North Idaho,” Funkhouser said. “Our students can go out and carve out a great career right away or continue their education while staying close to home.”
Funkhouser said that many nursing students dual enroll with Lewis-Clark State College and graduate with their bachelor of science in nursing quickly after graduating, some as soon as three to six months after completing their degree at NIC.
“We’ve built an incredible program over here,” NIC President Nick Swayne said. “The nursing program at NIC is tough but our students are set up for success and have great career flexibility upon graduation.”
NIC and the University of Idaho signed an agreement on April 15 supporting the launch of a direct entry master of science in nursing program in Coeur d’Alene launching in fall 2027. The program is designed to increase access to nursing education through multiple entry points, allowing both traditional students and career changers to enter the profession, helping address critical shortages across North Idaho and the state.
The program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and are seeking to enter the nursing profession. The two-year, full-time program prepares graduates for RN licensure and awards a master’s degree.
“This partnership reflects the strength of what we can accomplish together,” Swayne said. “By continuing to build options with our partners, we are expanding access to nursing education while strengthening the health care workforce for North Idaho.”
For more information about NIC’s Registered Nursing Program, visit nic.edu/programs/nursing-rn/.
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