The Student Nurses Association (SNA) at College of Western Idaho aims to bring together nursing students preparing for initial licensure as registered nurses. SNA promotes development of the skills students will need as responsible and...
Professional Nursing Program at College of Western Idaho
Overview
Regardless of specialty or work setting, professional nurses (specifically RNs) provide patient care, educate patients and the public about various health issues, and provide advice and emotional support to patients' family members. RNs record patients' health histories and symptoms, help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate equipment that supports patient health care, administer patient medications and treatments, and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.
Professional nurses teach patients and their families how to manage their health care during health or illness. This includes explaining post-treatment home care needs; diet, nutrition, and exercise programs; and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. Professional nurses work to promote general health by educating the public on warning signs and symptoms of disease.
Read about the Nursing Program Receives Reaccreditation.
Healthcare Information Sessions
Want to learn more about this program and other healthcare programs at CWI? Join a Healthcare Information Session to learn about the programs, what you can do to prepare for the programs, meet advisors and instructors, and ask questions.
Application Process and Requirements
Classes beginning Aug. 2023 - Application period opens February 13, 2023, and closes, May 19, 2023, at 4 pm.
Application Process
It is recommended to attend a Healthcare Information Session and watch the Professional Nursing Program overview video.
- Complete CWI Associate Degree or Technical Certificate application and be accepted to CWI.
- If you have completed a bachelor's or master's degree, submit a Bachelor's Degree Transfer Credit Request form in advance of applying for the program.
- Verify your coursework by:
- Reviewing the program Plan of Study on the Requirements Tab
- View Your Progress on my.cwi.edu (Learn How)
- Schedule and complete the Kaplan Nursing Admissions Exam with a passing score at a CWI Testing Services in advance of submitting the program application.
- Complete the Professional Nursing Program Application and submit it with professional references by the due date.
- Completion of the math and science courses is not required to apply to the Professional Nursing program. However, program admission is competitive, so completion of these courses increases your ranking points. In-progress courses can be used. For in-progress courses, use your current grade for scoring. Final grades for in-progress courses will be verified after the spring semester concludes. Please see the Professional Nursing Application for more information.
Professional Nursing Program Application
Professional Nursing Reference Form
Application Help
For help or questions regarding the Professional Nursing Program Application, please contact your advisor, or the Professional Nursing Department Chair:
Allison Baker
allisonbaker2@cwi.edu
208.562.2307
Note for Future Applicants
Applications for the Fall 2024 Professional Nursing program start will no longer include points for the following courses, Pathophysiology, Fundamentals of Nutrition, or Medical Terminology.
Statement of Accreditation
The Associate of Science nursing program at the College of Western Idaho at the Canyon County Campus located in Nampa Idaho is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.975.5000
acenursing.org
Mission
The mission of the ASN program at CWI is to prepare graduates to practice safe, competent, patient-centered care in a complex and rapidly changing health care system; providing a foundation for individual advancement, developing nursing leaders, and contributing to Idaho’s prosperity.
Why This Program
This program will prepare you to become licensed to practice nursing by providing you with a combination of theory and laboratory instruction as well as clinical experience in the area’s healthcare facilities. This program is approved by the Idaho State Board of Nursing, and upon satisfactory completion of the program, you will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Upon passing this exam, you will be licensed to practice nursing as a registered nurse.
May 2022 graduates: 89.00% pass rate
May 2021 graduates: 86.35% pass rate
May 2020 graduates: 89.50% pass rate
May 2019 graduates: 96.55% pass rate
May 2018 graduates: 96.55% pass rate
May 2017 graduates: 95.00% pass rate
May 2016 graduates: 97.50% pass rate
May 2015 graduates: 92.50% pass rate
What You Will Learn to Do
- Human flourishing is difficult to define, but can loosely be expressed as an effort to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment within the context of a larger community of individuals, each with a right to pursue his or her own such efforts.
- Nursing judgment encompasses three processes: namely critical thinking, clinical judgment and integration of best evidence into practice.
- Critical thinking means identifying, evaluating, and using evidence to guide decision-making by means of logic and reasoning.
- Professional Identity involves the internalization of core values and perspectives recognized as integral to the art and science of nursing. These core values become self-evident as the nurse learns, gains experience, and grows in the profession.
- A Spirit of Inquiry is the persistent sense of curiosity that informs both learning and practice. A nurse infused by a spirit of inquiry will raise questions, challenge traditional and existing practices, and seek creative approaches to problems.
Additional Opportunities
Start your nursing pathway at CWI, then earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) fully-online at Lewis Clark State College (LCSC).
- Begin your bachelor's degree while still pursuing your associate degree,
- or transfer once you have completed your Professional Nursing degree at CWI.
For more information, visit LCSC's Bachelor of Science in Nursing page and select the CC to BSN track, or contact Brian Parker at LCSC or 208.292.1405.
Requirements and Costs
Degrees and Certificates
Explore the resources below for information, dates, and deadlines related to admissions, financial aid, registration, and next steps.
Dates & Deadlines for Credit Programs | Summer 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
Priority Registration Begins 1 | N/A | Apr 10 | Nov 13 (2023) |
Open Registration Begins | Feb 27 | Apr 17 | Nov 20 (2023) |
Financial Aid Priority Deadline | May 13 | Jul 29 | Dec 16 (2023) |
Admission Deadline 2 | May 27 | Aug 12 | Jan 6 |
Last Day to Register for Classes | Jun 2 | Aug 18 | Jan 12 |
Tuition and Fees Due | Jun 2 | Aug 18 | Jan 12 |
Classes Begin 3 | Jun 5 | Aug 21 | Jan 16 |
1 Priority registration is limited to continuing students. Students are assigned a registration time based on their cumulative credits earned. Students should check myCWI and their CWI email to learn their assigned registration time. Students may register online anytime on or after their assigned registration time.
2 The Admission Deadline for international students is earlier than the deadline for non-international students and is only available during the fall and spring semesters. Please consult the Academic Calendar for the international student admission deadlines.
3 Classes in shorter sessions (including 4-, 5-, and 8-week sessions) may begin before or after this date. Please refer to the specific class session sections beneath the full Academic Calendar for more information.
Skills, Traits, and Prep Classes
- Caring and compassionate nature
- Desire to serve others
- Keen observation and decision-making skills
- The ability to function well under stress
- Finely tuned verbal and written communication skills
- Nurses often lift up to 50 lbs, bend, reach, and kneel, and are required to have and use science and math skills in thinking critically
Advising
Navigating your way through college can be confusing, especially if you try to go it alone. CWI offers advising assistance to help in deciding which courses you need to take to reach your education and career goals. Visit Advising or contact One Stop Student Services for more information.
How do I apply to the CWI Nursing Associate of Science program?
- Complete the Admission Requirements to College of Western Idaho.
- Complete the Associate of Science Nursing Program Application
* Skip to the Pointers listed below for advice on how to submit a quality application.
Pointers:
Pointer #1: HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SESSIONS
Attend a Healthcare Information Session! They are offered twice a month!! The schedule is conveniently located on the main CWI Nursing page (under "Resources" on the left-hand side of the page). This is a great venue for getting answers to your questions and finding out what CWI has to offer in regards to our fantastic health programs!
Pointer #2: TRANSFER CREDITS
After transfer credits are evaluated, you will receive by mail, a Transcript Evaluation Report (TRER). It is recommended that you carefully examine your TRER to ensure that CWI has received and evaluated all of your transfer credits. Prior to submitting your AS in Nursing Application, it is strongly suggested that you run a Progress Report in the Nursing - Associate of Science (Professional) program (completed using the Student Planning tool in myCWI) to see exactly which courses are complete and which courses are still needed in order to submit a competitive application.
If you are transferring to CWI with a bachelor's degree and/or master’s degree, you must complete a Bachelor’s Degree Evaluation Request Form with any prerequisite and corequisite courses if you expect to receive transfer credit towards the AS degree. Submit the completed form to the One Stop Student Services Office. Please allow up to two weeks for processing. This form will generate a Transcript Evaluation Report (TRER) to be sent to you via mail. If this step is not completed, and your AS in Nursing application is processed, it will appear as if you do not have any transfer credits in your records.
Connecting With Ideas
Connecting With Ideas (CWI 101) is the first semester student success course designed to help CWI students become engaged members of the academic community and cultivate habits for lifelong achievement and success. Each semester, students can select from a variety of themes. More information about next semesters CWI 101 themes
Transfer
Look beyond your degree at CWI and plan for continuing your education by working closely with CWI advising and representatives of your intended transfer school. Planning before you transfer can save you time and money. Visit Transfer Information for more information or contact One Stop Student Services.
CWI has an articulation agreement with Boise State University's RN-BS Online/Distance Completion Track which allows our graduates a seamless transition in obtaining their advanced degrees.
"Many registered nurses with an ASN or diploma choose to go back to school to earn a bachelor's degree through an RN-to-BSN program. There are also master's degree programs in nursing, combined bachelor's and master's programs, and programs for those who wish to enter the nursing profession but hold a bachelor's degree in another field. Some employers offer tuition reimbursement."
Financial Aid Available
Did you know that as a student in this program you may be eligible for financial aid? Through grants, scholarships, and loans, more than 60 percent of first-time, full-time CWI students receive some form of financial assistance. To learn more about financial aid options and whether you may be eligible, visit Financial Aid.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for a full-time CWI student averages half the cost of a state university and a third of the cost of a private college. Tuition and fees vary based on program and residence. Visit Tuition and Fees for more information.
Career Info
Professions
- Registered Nurse
Regardless of specialty or work setting, professional nurses (specifically RNs) provide patient care, educate patients and the public about various health issues, and provide advice and emotional support to patients' family members. RNs record patients' health histories and symptoms help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate equipment that supports patient health care, administer patient medications and treatments, and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.
Professional nurses teach patients and their families how to manage their health care during health or illness. This includes explaining post-treatment home care needs; diet, nutrition, and exercise programs; and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. Professional nurses work to promote general health by educating the public on warning signs and symptoms of disease.
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree recipients, upon passing the NCLEX-RN exam, are qualified to work as a registered nurse in any structured healthcare setting. Those opportunities include: hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, physician offices or clinics, home-health and/or any aspect of direct care for patients.
Job Placement
A survey is administered annually to Professional Nursing graduates six months after graduation. The job placement rate percentages listed below represent the number of respondents employed as a Registered Nurse at the time of the survey.
Graduating Class |
Job Placement Rate |
---|---|
2021 |
100% |
2020 |
69%* |
2019 |
93% |
*Job placement for the Professional Nursing program declined in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional Licensure & Online Program Disclosure
Requirements for professional licensure in fields, such as health care and other fields, vary from state to state. If you live outside Idaho and are considering enrolling in a College of Western Idaho program that leads to a professional license, we highly recommended you visit the appropriate state licensing agency website in your state, or the state where you intend to work, to find the most up-to-date information about state licensure requirements before beginning the program. Find more information regarding licensure for this program.
Locations
Instructors
Program Department Chair
Instructor(s)
Respectful Community
College of Western Idaho is committed to maintaining a Respectful Community by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate in services, benefits, or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. More on Title IX
News and Blogs

Applications are now being accepted for College of Western Idaho’s Health Science programs.

Saint Alphonsus Health System will be on College of Western Idaho campus to chat to Nursing students about career opportunities on Friday, Jan. 27.

Congratulations to Professional Nursing Instructor, Jolie Hultner, who was named College of Western Idaho’s Faculty of Distinction for October 2022.

College of Western Idaho’s Professional Nursing program recognized its 2022 graduating class during a pinning ceremony Wednesday, May 12, at the Nampa Civic Center.

Congratulations to Sean Muldoon, College of Western Idaho’s Staff of the Month for April 2021.

The celebrations continued this week at CWI with the Virtual Nurse Pinning Ceremony on May 13.
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