Northwest Nazarene University Nursing School Review

Northwest Nazarene University (NNU), a Christian college affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, is located in Nampa, Idaho, in the southwest region of the state. In addition to its main campus in Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University offers classes in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Boise. The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Over 2000 students are enrolled in the university’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and more than 6000 other students take advantage of the available continuing education classes. Some of the degree-seeking students at Northwest Nazarene University are prospective nurses, as well as nurses pursuing higher education and career advancement. Here is a review of the available nursing options at Northwest Nazarene University:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program was one of Northwest Nazarene University’s first programs. It started in 1920, in partnership with the Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing. Now it is an independent program, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The BSN program is a traditional, four-year course of study. Prospective nurses enroll at Northwest Nazarene University and spend a year completing general education requirements and nursing prerequisites. In the spring of their first year, they apply to the BSN program.

The BSN program, while fully training students in the skills of nursing, has a strong liberal arts core. If accepted, students spend the next three years simultaneously taking liberal arts classes and nursing classes. In addition to expanding students’ horizons through liberal arts classes, the BSN program provides students with the opportunity to broaden their worldview through mission trips to medically underserved countries such as Nicaragua, Ukraine, and Peru. At the end of the four-year program, students sit for the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN), and if they pass, begin working as Registered Nurses (RN).

Master of Science in Nursing

Northwest Nazarene University offers a Master of Science (MSN) degree which prepares nurses for certification as Nurse Educators. The program is designed with working RNs in mind; all classes are online and may be completed at the student’s convenience. Typically, an MSN student takes six to nine credits per semester; the total number of credits required is thirty-six.

The MSN course of study is open to both nurses with a BSN and nurses with an associate degree. Nurses with an associate degree, however, must take prerequisite classes in nursing and science. The prerequisite nursing classes are offered in both the fall and the spring; the actual MSN program starts in the fall. As part of the nursing education program, students complete a teaching internship and an evidence-based research project.

An RN who enters the MSN program with a BSN can expect to complete the program in two years, while an RN who holds an associate degree can complete the MSN program in three years. Like the BSN program, Northwest Nazarene University’s MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Contact:
Northwest Nazarene University
623 South University Boulevard
Nampa, ID 83686

[wpgmza id=”300″]