College of Southern Idaho Nursing Program Review

Since 1964, the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) has been serving residents of Twin Falls County, in the very southernmost part of Idaho. The college, which is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has close to 10,000 enrolled students, and offers both liberal arts programs and work-training programs.

Included in its work-training programs are two nursing programs, offered through the College of Southern Idaho’s department of Health Sciences and Human Services. Both programs are approved by the Idaho Board of Nursing and the Idaho State Board of Professional-Technical Education and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Here is a review of the programs:

Practical Nursing Certificate

The Practical Nursing program at the College of Southern Idaho takes eleven months (three semesters) to complete. Approximately 80 percent of the enrolled students do complete the program within this timeframe. Students may begin the program in either the fall or the spring semester, but before beginning they must complete prerequisite courses in English and math (or demonstrate competency through exam scores) and complete a CPR class. The total number of credits required for graduation is forty-nine. At the conclusion of the program, students are prepared to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX_PN). If they are successful, they become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and may seek work. Within six months of graduation, the College of Southern Idaho reports, approximately 75 percent of graduates find work in the field.

Associate Degree Nursing

Students who wish to work as Registered Nurses (RN) should pursue the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) track at the College of Southern Idaho. Before beginning, applicants must complete a chemistry class (high school chemistry is acceptable), English 101, and two other general education classes. Admission to the program is competitive; applicants typically wait a year to a year and half before room opens up. The stronger the candidate’s test scores, GPA, recommendations, etc., the higher up on the waiting list the candidate is placed. Once accepted to the program, a student must complete 74 credits total, including the prerequisite general education classes. At the end of the program, ADN students are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN). They can then pursue work in the nursing field, or transfer into a full Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at another college or university.

Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nursing Completion Program (LPN to RN)

The College of Southern Idaho provides a special track for LPNs who wish to advance in the nursing profession to earn the full ADN degree. Before beginning the Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nursing Completion Program, the LPN must complete all the general education requirements as well as an LPN transition course. She then enters the upper-level nursing courses in the ADN program, and if she successfully completes the first one, she can receive sixteen credits for the lower-level courses. At the end of the ADN program, she is eligible to advance into an RN position, provided she successfully passes the NCLEX_RN.

Contact:
College of Southern Idaho
315 Falls Avenue
Twin Falls, ID 83303

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