Practical Nursing Program

Program Description

The Practical Nursing (PNUR) program at Idaho State University College of Technology is designed to prepare graduates to take the practical nurse licensing exam and establish a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Upon successful completion of the coursework, students may sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

The practical nursing program recognizes and awards credit for previous healthcare knowledge and experience gained by military veterans, and offers a veteran-friendly bridge curriculum that will accelerate a veteran’s progress towards their Practical Nurse Advanced Technical Certificate.

The Practical Nursing program provides classroom, laboratory, and student nurse practicum instruction which prepares graduates for entry into practical nursing.

Program Overview

• Program accepts students in August
• Additional semester required to complete prerequisite courses
• Clinical hours vary and may require evening, weekend, or overnight rotations
• Program has a special application process for admission
• The program enables veterans with prior medical experience to acquire college credit towards their Practical Nurse Advanced Technical Certificate
• Upon successful completion of coursework, students may sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN)
• Program is located in Roy F. Christensen Complex (RFC), Building #48, 777 Memorial Dr

Degree Option

Practical Nursing Intermediate Technical Certificate (2 years)

• Course Sequence Intermediate Technical Certificate: Practical Nursing
• Program Costs

Completion of this certificate program entitles the student to pursue additional coursework to receive the Associate of Science Degree in Nursing. For special application procedures contact College of Technology Student Services at 208-282-2622.

Career Ladder Possibilities

Career Opportunities

• Medical offices
• Hospitals
• Nursing and hospice care facilities
• Home health care agencies
• Temporary worker agencies

Program Requirements for Practical Nurse Program

The following criteria must be complete or nearly complete prior to application for admission (Due in January) into the Practical Nursing program:

1. All students must first be admitted to the university. For information on university admissions, contact the College of Technology Student Services office at (208) 282-2622.
2. Completion of the following prerequisite courses, or equivalents, with a grade of "C" or better: ENGL 1101; LLIB 1115; HO 0111 OR BIOL 2227/2227L and BIOL 2228/2228L OR BIOL 3301/3301L and BIOL 3302/3302L.
3. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 is required. This includes all post- secondary course work.
4. On-line Dosage Calculation Math Course from Workforce Training.
5. Current certified nursing assistant card.
6. Current CPR certification (Healthcare provider) from the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
7. Current immunization and good health status (per program policy), upon conditional acceptance into the program.
8. Background check and drug screening per department policy, upon acceptance into the program.

Upon completion, or near completion of the above criteria, submit an application to the College of Technology Student Services Office (208) 282-2622. Once application is submitted and complete, and eligibility verified, the candidate will take a nationally normed admission test that determines the students overall academic readiness to perform effectively in a nursing program. This test includes reading, math, writing and science. These scores are combined with cumulative GPA earned (includes all post secondary coursework), years of work experience as a CNA as documented from previous or current employer to rank-order applicants for each admission class.

Minimum Test Scores