What Kind of Career Can You Expect?
Graduates are eligible to sit for the licensure exam. As a licensed practical nurse (LPN), you will provide direct patient care to persons with common medical and surgical conditions in a variety of health care setting, under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. Most LPNs in hospitals and nursing care facilities work a 40-hour week, but because patients need around-the clock care, some work nights, weekends, and holidays. With compassionate attention, LPNs influence and enhance the quality of patient care.

What is the Outlook for Job Opportunities and Pay?
As medical technology evolves, Americans are living longer than ever. The population over 85 is growing four times as fast as the total population, resulting in more health care needs than ever before. Employment opportunities are expanding in the area of home health, rehabilitation, and geriatrics.

As demand for nurses increases, salaries and benefits increase as well. Currently LPNs are receiving $11-12 per hour.

What Skills, Traits, or Prep Classes Would be Helpful?
- Caring, sympathetic nature
- A desire to serve others
- Keen observational, decision-making and communication skills
- Ability to function safely, effectively and calmly under stress
- Excellent hearing and sight
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. frequently
- Ability to bend, kneel, and reach
- Basic science and math skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to distinguish between the colors red and green

What Will You Learn to Do?
Provide basic bedside care
- Take vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration
- Prepare and give medications and injections
- Report adverse reactions to medications and treatments
- Monitor catheters
- Assess bedsores and apply dressings
- Collect samples
- Perform routine laboratory tests
- Record food and fluid intake and output
- Assist patients with eating, bathing, dressing and personal hygiene
- Enhance patient comfort

How to Apply
1) Complete a Boise State application and pay the $30 application fee.  Note: If you are currently enrolled as a student at Boise State University you must submit a new application for admission, however you will not be charged an additional application fee.  Important: When you complete the application please check "professional/technical program" and indicate intended major as "Practical Nursing".
2) Submit official transcripts
3) Complete the COMPASS Assessment with minimum scores of:
   - 74 in reading
   - 68 in writing
   - 45 in math
   - if you have taken an ACT or SAT test or have earned college credits in English and Math courses and a total of 14 academic credits or more you may not have to take a COMPASS test.  Call us to talk with an enrollment specialist about your particular situation.
4) Submit three letters of recommendation with the applicant permission statement form attached. Note that the writers of your letters should mail them in.
5) Submit your essay.
6) Submit Health Care Experience Verification.
7) Background check - details
8) Health Assessment and Immunization Requirements (upon acceptance)

Note: Application Deadline is October 1st of each year for the next January start. A class of 44 students and alternates will be chosen based on the point system from all completed applications. Applicants must be 16 at time of admission.

This training is 15 months (4 consecutive semesters, including 1 summer). The program includes both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (patient care). Study includes basic nursing concepts and patient-care-related subjects, including anatomy, physiology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric nursing, medication administration, nutrition, and first aid.

Applicant Point System

            The basic requirements for application have not changed.  These requirements, which all applicants must have, include HS diploma or GED (1 point), appropriate COMPASS scores or comparable ACT/SAT scores (1 point), and three (3) letters of recommendation (3 points).   To acknowledge each student’s unique abilities and personality, a short essay has been included (1 point).  These six (6) points are the minimum required for application to the program.

                Previous coursework increases a student’s chance for success in our very fast-paced program.  To enhance student success, the Applicant Point System will utilize optional points for previous coursework.  The coursework most valuable to student success include any combination of anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, nutrition, and basic communication.  All of these classes are currently available through BSU and some of the local high schools.  These are not prerequisites.  Up to a total of five (5) additional points will be awarded for previous coursework.

                Experience in the field of healthcare also supports student success.  For these optional points, a broad set of healthcare experiences will be considered including CNA, EMT, MA, paramedic, unit clerk, medical office clerk, hospital volunteer, meals on wheels volunteer, High School health occupations internships, and military medical service.  Other experience not listed may apply as approved by program head.  An applicant will be awarded one (1) point for every 6 months of healthcare experience, up to a total of three (3) points.  Healthcare experience will be verified by a specific form.  Again, experience is not a prerequisite to apply for the program.

Applicant Point Review

PLEASE NOTE: to receive points, courses must be completed within 5 years of application date with a “C” or above. If student is enrolled in a course at application deadline, ½ point awarded. All courses must be on an academic level and be transferable to BSU to receive points. Courses from non-accredited, technical programs may not be accepted.