Nursing RN

Nursing is a discipline with its own unique body of knowledge and skills, which focuses on optimizing the health of individuals and their communities. The Associate’s Degree Nursing Program at North Idaho College is dedicated to educational excellence and preparing safe, caring, and competent graduates.

Faculty engage students as partners to achieve student learning outcomes that are relevant to the clinical practice environment. This partnership is exemplified by behaviors that demonstrate respect, equity and justice. Faculty embrace Knowles’s Theory of Adult Learning in which students are acknowledged to be self-directed and responsible for their decisions. Students are encouraged to connect and relate prior experiences and knowledge to current and future learning. Learning is optimal when students and faculty develop a dynamic professional partnership fostered on mutual respect and engagement in critical reflection.

Faculty model effective communication, ethical behavior, and respect for diversity. Research and best practice in modern pedagogy are utilized in both the academic and clinical environments to educate students regarding the art and science of nursing. Faculty recognize that students differ in abilities, learning preferences, educational and cultural backgrounds, and goals. The curriculum is structured to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes, which promote patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics.

Mission

The Associate’s Degree Nursing Program at North Idaho College commits to excellence in nursing education by developing distinguished graduate nurses who are prepared to meet the health care needs of the community and seek to advance the profession.

Vision

The Associate’s Degree Nursing Program at North Idaho College aspires to be a national leader in nursing education by promoting the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that cultivate exceptional and sought after nursing care providers in service to our community.

The graduate competencies of the Associate's Degree Nursing program are derived from the Quality and Safety for Nurses (QSEN) competencies. The intent of these principles is to arm the graduate nurse with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) necessary to provide optimal patient care. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will have demonstrated the ability to:

1. Recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient's preference, values, and needs.
2. Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
3. Integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.
4. Use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems.
5. Minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
6. Use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making.

Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Passing the examination qualifies the individual to apply for licensure as a registered nurse in any state. The program prepares the graduate for employment in entry-level positions in a variety of health care settings and areas of nursing practice. The program is designed as a transfer degree and will satisfy core requirements at Idaho public colleges and universities which offer RN to BSN programs.

The Associate's Degree Nursing program is approved by the Idaho Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. Inquiries can be made by contacting the above agencies at: Idaho Board of Nursing, P.O. Box 83702, Boise, ID 83720-0061, (208) 334-3110, https://ibn.idaho.gov, and/or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., 3390 Peachtree Road N.E. Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA, 30326 or https://www.acenursing.org/.

The Associate's Degree Nursing program has a competitive entry process requiring specific prerequisite courses. See below for details regarding specific requirements. It is highly recommended that potential applicants meet with an advisor as they begin planning their pre-nursing coursework. Licensed Practical Nurses (PNs) are eligible to apply for advanced placement. PNs must meet the same admission criteria as other program applicants. In order to be eligible for advanced placement into the ADN Program, students will need to successfully complete the PN fall and spring transition course (NURS-196).

In addition to the regular college admissions requirements, students applying for the Registered Nursing program need to complete a Nursing program application, which consists of:

1. Application for admission to NIC (if not already complete). New and former students must complete the formal admissions process as listed for Degree-Seeking (Matriculating) students.
2. Associate's Degree Nursing program application.
3. Official college transcripts.
4. Results from the entrance exam (see application packet for information on scheduling the exam).
5. Applicants who have attended any other nursing program must submit a recommendation from an instructor or administrator of that program.

Application forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office and on the NIC website two months prior to the application deadline.

1. If the HS program or GED is in progress, the completion of 12 or more college-level credits is required. Final HS transcript or GED must be received prior to starting the Nursing Program.
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on degree requirements.
3. Meet the Associate's Degree Nursing Program Essential Abilities Policy 7.01.01.
4. TEAS adjusted individual score ≥ 58.7%.
5. If degree requirements are not completed, must be eligible to enroll in ENGL-101 or higher.
6. If degree requirements are not completed, must be eligible to enroll in a GEM 3 Math.
7. ENGL-101, GEM 3 MATH (a math course that meets the current AA or AS degree requirements), BIOL-227, PSYC-101, and COMM-101 must be completed with a C/2.0 or higher prior to starting the NURS courses.

For more information and to see the point system used, please see our RN Admission Requirements.

Enrollment in the Nursing program is limited. Because of the number of applicants, completion of all admission requirements does not ensure acceptance into the program. Candidates for admission are selected from the pool of qualified applicants using a point-based process. Students with the highest point total will be accepted until the designated enrollment limit is reached. An alternate list will be developed using the same process.

Specific information on the selection process and point system are available two months prior to the application deadline and can be obtained from the NIC Admissions Office, (208) 769-3311, or from this web page.

1. The additional coursework required to meet the A.S. degree requirements that are not completed at the time of admission to the Nursing program must be completed no later than the sequence identified in the nursing curriculum in order to meet prerequisites for nursing courses. All required courses must be completed by the end of the program.
2. The Admissions Office will determine the transferability of courses from other colleges.
3. The Nursing Department will determine if previous nursing credits will be acceptable for transfer.
4. Advanced placement is available for Licensed Practical Nurses. Applicants must meet the same criteria and deadlines as other program applicants. For further information, view the Nursing (RN) homepage by going to the college website at www.nic.edu and clicking on Instructional Programs or contact the NIC Division of Nursing at (208) 769-3329 for specific guidelines and further information.
5. A criminal background check will be required upon acceptance into the nursing program. Violations that appear on the criminal background check may result in denied access to clinical sites and therefore inability to complete the program.
6. Students with visible body art may be denied access to clinical sites, which could result in the inability to complete the program.