Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions

Applications:

When can I apply for the Nursing Program?

The Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and BS Completion program applications are both available and submitted during the spring semester for admission in the following fall semester and during the fall semester for admission into the following spring semester. The Accelerated BSN program application is available and submitted during the spring semester for admittance in the following summer semester. For more details, please see the individual program web pages on School of Nursing website at isu.edu/nursing.

Where can I find the Nursing Program application?

For the BSN program application, you need to meet with an Academic Advisor to determine your eligibility for the nursing application. If you are eligible to apply, the Advisor will give you access to the application and the application can be found in ISU Community Moodle.

What are the application requirements for the BSN program?

For the complete list of application requirements, please reference the instructions in the Nursing Program Application.

General application requirements for the Nursing Program are listed below as well as specific details for each individual BSN program:

Acceptance to Idaho State University
Official transcripts submitted to ISU Office of Admissions
School of Nursing Academic Advising Appointment
Completed School of Nursing online application
Unofficial transcripts submitted to the School of Nursing with the application to verify completion of and enrollment in prerequisite courses
School of Nursing Course Petitions for the School of Nursing to consider courses that do not transfer into ISU as equivalent credits

For the Traditional BSN Program, the School of Nursing requires:

Prerequisite GPA: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 among the Set A courses for the application; cumulative GPA of 3.0 among the Set A and Set B courses for admission
Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS, 6^th edition): ATI TEAS BSN Percentile Rank score

For the Accelerated BSN Program, the College of Nursing requires:

Earned Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from a regionally accredited college or university before applying.
Prerequisite GPA: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 among the Set A courses; cumulative GPA of 3.0 among the Set A and Set B courses for admission
Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS, 6^th edition): ATI TEAS BSN Percentile Rank score

For the BS Completion Program application, the College of Nursing requires:

Enrollment in or Completion of an Associate’s Degree in Registered Nursing Program
2.0 GPA – the cumulative GPA among the completed ADN courses combined with any completed requisite courses

For the Accelerated program, does it matter what field my current baccalaureate degree is in?

No, any Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school is acceptable.

Is an appointment with an adviser required?

Yes, an appointment with a nursing adviser is required as part of the application process. Talking with an advisor to review your prior coursework and evaluate your status regarding meeting the prerequisite course requirements eliminates uncertainties on your part.

What do I need to know about the Test of Essential Academic Skills?

The computerized ATI TEAS (6^th edition) exam is required for Traditional and Accelerated applicants and includes four parts: Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English Language Usage. A study guide for the ATI TEAS is available if desired at www.atitesting.com or 1-800-667-7531. The exam takes approximately 4 hours and your score is available upon completion. You will submit a copy of your score with your program application for the Traditional and/or Accelerated program application. The ATI TEAS exam may be taken more than once per application cycle; we allow students to complete the ATI TEAS up to 3 times per calendar year with at least 30 days between each exam.

Applicants must select “BSN” as the “Program Type” when logging in for the ATI TEAS. “ADN” scores are not accepted for the Traditional or Accelerated Nursing Programs.

A check or cash in the amount of $58.00 (plus the cost of the proctoring site) and a photo ID are required at the time the exam is taken. Please contact an ISU Testing Center or another TEAS testing location for more details on the dates and times the exam will be administered.

How competitive is the application process?

The process is highly competitive. The Accelerated program accepts up to 50 applicants each year, and the Traditional program only accepts 40 applicants each application cycle.

What other admission requirements are there besides the 3.0 GPA for admission into the Nursing Program?

Please refer to the application instructions for detailed application and admission information.

If you are accepted to the Nursing Program, you can reference the list below for additional admission requirements:

Physical Exam
Current Immunization Status
CPR Certification through the American Heart Association
Criminal History Evaluation

Where do I send my transcript for the BSN application process?

It depends on the institution(s) you attended. If you attended Idaho State University (ISU), you DO NOT need to send an official transcript, as ISU already has access to your records. If you attended a different institution(s), you should have already sent official copies of your transcript(s) to the Admissions Office for the ISU institution application. You should NOT send official transcripts to Admissions for the undergraduate Nursing Program application, as the Nursing Program application is entirely processed within the School of Nursing. You will need to meet with an Academic Advisor in the School of Nursing to go through your transcript and eligibility details as part of the application process, and you should bring to that meeting a copy of all of your college transcripts with your nursing prerequisite courses highlighted. If you meet via phone with the advisor, you should send a copy of your transcript(s) to the advisor prior to your phone meeting for the advisor to review with you during your phone meeting.

Prerequisites

Do prerequisite courses need to be taken at ISU?

No, courses that that transfer into ISU as equivalent credit as well as courses that have been approved by ISU School of Nursing can be taken and credits transferred from other accredited colleges and universities. You may be required to submit a School of Nursing Course Petition or an Undergraduate Student Petition for consideration of some transfer credits. See the School of Nursing Course Petitions and Transfer Credits sections below.

How do I determine if the classes I have already taken are equivalent to the prerequisite requirements for the Nursing Program?

Unofficial transcripts can be e-mailed, faxed, or mailed to the School of Nursing for evaluation by an adviser to help you determine what, if any, courses you may need to take to meet the prerequisites for the application and admission process. You may be required to petition the ISU School of Nursing for consideration of some transfer credits. Petitions are often required for courses with a title that is different from the ISU course title specified in the prerequisite list, occasionally required for out-of-state credits, and necessary if you have a combination of two or more courses that you believe meets one of the prerequisite courses. If necessary, advising appointments can be completed in person or over the phone. You may schedule an appointment with an adviser by calling 208-282-2132 or 208-373-1785 (for students who want to meet with an adviser on the ISU-Meridian campus).

Does it matter when I complete program prerequisite courses?

For the Traditional and Accelerated nursing programs:

All Set A prerequisites must be complete and on an official transcript prior to the application deadline, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Set A prerequisites is required.
All Set B prerequisites must be complete and on an official transcript prior to starting the NURS courses for the nursing program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the combined Set A and Set B prerequisites is required.

For the BS Completion nursing program:

A minimum of 20 credits of the 38 prerequisite credits must be completed and on an official transcript prior to the application deadline, and a minimum of 3.0 GPA in the completed prerequisites combined with the Associate Degree Registered Nurse (ADRN) courses is required.
Any remaining credits must be completed and on an official transcript prior to starting the NURS courses for the nursing program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisites combined with the ADRN courses is required.

ISU School of Nursing reserves the right to revise admission requirements at any time, without prior notice. Please check with the School of Nursing website and/or Academic Advisor for updates regarding restrictions on maturity of credits and other admission requirements. You are also welcome to call the School of Nursing with any questions at 208-282-2132 (Pocatello campus) or 208-373-1785 (Meridian campus).

Note: 12 credits are required for full-time student status at ISU. Full-time status is necessary for many ISU scholarships. If you plan to enroll part-time, please review the Tuition and Fees information on the Finance and Administration website at isu.edu/financialaid/how-financial-aid-works/cost-of-attendance-coa/ to familiarize yourself with the cost of attendance.

Do my prerequisite courses expire?

ISU will accept credits regardless of when they were taken. However, for the Traditional and BS Completion nursing programs:

Introduction to Pathobiology (ISU BIOL 3305) must be completed within 5 years prior to entrance into the nursing program.

For the Accelerated nursing program:

Introduction to Pathobiology (ISU BIOL 3305) and Pharmacology for Nursing (ISU PPRA 3315) must be completed within 5 years prior to entrance into the nursing program.
All other prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years prior to entrance into the nursing program.

If you have completed a course that falls outside the times listed above, you are welcome to submit a petition if you have been using and applying the content from that course(s) in your recent work and/or volunteer experience. Please include a written statement with your petition that details your experience.

Are straight A’s in the nursing prerequisites required to apply and be accepted into the Nursing Program?

No. For the Traditional and Accelerated BSN applications, the School of Nursing requires a minimum 3.0 GPA among the Set A list of courses for the given program, and these courses are the only ones we factor into the cumulative GPA for the application. While the minimum cumulative GPA for the application is a 3.0, your application will be more competitive if you have higher grades for a higher cumulative GPA among the Set A courses. The BSN Completion application requires a minimum of 2.0 in any completed requisite and ADN courses.

Clinicals:

If I want to work in a specific location, hospital, or with a specific nurse, can I contact the site or preceptor directly to request a clinical site placement?

For ALL Undergraduate Students (Accelerated, Traditional, & BS Completion): NO

The faculty and staff in the School of Nursing need to go through proper legal channels with each clinical site, and some of our clinical sites have threatened to not allow ISU to use them for nursing clinical rotations specifically because students have contacted them directly and have not used the appropriate channels in place. If you would like to request a clinical placement at a specific site, please talk with your School of Nursing faculty adviser and/or your faculty member for the course.

Are iPads required for clinicals?

No! The ISU School of Nursing does not require iPads or any technology for clinicals. Some students may use mini iPads or smartphones to look up medications as long as they are kept out of sight and used in a break room, but it depends on the individual clinical placement. Some hospitals may not allow iPads or even cell phones. Check with your individual clinical instructor for more details.

Are all of the clinical placements for the Traditional Program based in Pocatello, or can I be assigned a clinical placement in Idaho Falls?

Yes, you can request a clinical placement in the Idaho Falls area. We have over 400 affiliate agreements throughout Northern and Southeastern Idaho to provide our nursing students with diverse experiences to complement our nursing theory courses. We cannot guarantee you a clinical placement in a prime location for you, but we can work with you to see if the clinical placement can be a bit more conveniently located for you.

Financial:

Do you have nursing scholarships available?

Yes, we have about 17 nursing scholarships and up to $42,000 available annually in addition to other scholarships available through the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences and larger ISU institution. Many of the nursing scholarships require the student to be admitted to the Nursing Program, though you will want to check the criteria for each scholarship to see if you are eligible. For most of the nursing scholarships, the application is available and submitted electronically during the spring semester with the scholarship funds awarded in the fall semester. For more information on nursing scholarships, please contact the School of Nursing Academic Advisor at 208-282-4481 or sonadvis@isu.edu. For more information on non-nursing scholarships, please see isu.edu/scholarships/ and/or contact the Scholarship Office at scholar@isu.edu.

How much does the Nursing Program cost?

ISU tuition costs are available on the Finance and Administration website at at isu.edu/financialaid/how-financial-aid-works/cost-of-attendance-coa/. In addition to tuition, you will need to factor in the professional nursing program fee, other miscellaneous fees, books, health insurance, annual background check, and the cost of keeping your immunizations and CPR certification up to date. You will also need to pay for your uniforms and any supplies or instruments for your clinical experiences prior to the start of your first semester.

Are there fees associated with online courses?

Yes, as part of the eISU program Idaho State University charges $35 per credit hour for all online courses offered through ISU (i.e. courses listed as “Web Course” in the ISU class schedule). This fee is applied to your account for any online course in which you are registered, whether it is a General Education objective, nursing prerequisite, or upper division NURS course. For more information about the eISU online programs and courses, please see isu.edu/eisu/.

School of Nursing Course Petitions:

What is the process for a School of Nursing (SON) Course Petition?

If you are interested in petitioning the SON to accept credit for a course you completed as a substitution for an undergraduate nursing program requirement, please see the process below:

Student completes the top portion of the Course Petition Form.
Student submits the form and accompanying supporting documents to the School of Nursing at sonadvis@isu.edu. Student must submit the petition and supporting documents in an electronic format via email to the Advisor. (See next question for what is considered a supporting document).
After the student submits the form, the Advisor will fill in their comments and submit your petition to the School of Nursing Admissions & Advancement Committee. The committee will review the petition and decide whether or not to allow the course substitution for the nursing program course.
Once the committee has reached a decision, the student will be notified by means of their ISU email, and for approved petitions the Advisor will update the student’s records in Degree Works.

What other documentation needs to be included with the SON Course Petition form?

Along with the petition form, please include:

A copy of the course description for the course you completed with the course circled or highlighted on the page.
A copy of the course syllabus, as this gives the committee a better grasp of the material covered in the course.
A copy of the course description for the similar ISU course, again with the course circled or highlighted on the page.
Your grade in the course if you had taken it previously. If the advisor does not already have access to your records, send a copy of your transcript to the Academic Advisor.

I have a course I would like to petition. When can I submit the SON Course Petition?

You have two options for when to submit the petition:

You can submit the petition before you register for the course to see if the course you want to take will count toward the nursing prerequisites.
You can submit the petition after you have taken the course. Often, this petition will be a part of your nursing application process.

The School of Nursing Course Petition form and supporting documentation can be submitted to sonadvis@isu.edu at any time. The student can expect to receive the decision or a request for more information within two to three weeks.

My CON Course Petition was approved, but my transcript does not show the equivalent ISU course completed. Why?

An approved CON Course Petition means that the College of Nursing approved your course as a substitution for a similar requirement in our program. The Adviser then submits the substitution to the Registrar to show your course as a substitution in the nursing requirements. The course you had taken will not show on your transcript as an equivalent ISU course unless you complete an Undergraduate Student Petition and that petition is approved. Please talk to the Academic Adviser if you would like more details on or to submit an Undergraduate Student Petition.

Does my approved CON Course Petition guarantee my success in future courses that contain similar material?

No, an approved CON Course Petition does not guarantee success in future courses. The committee evaluates your course based on the information provided in your petition to see if your course may satisfy the material you may learn in the similar ISU course. Please consider the committee approval of your petition neither as a guarantee that you have learned all of the material in the similar ISU course nor as a guarantee of your success in future courses.

Miscellaneous

If I am an international student and interested in the nursing program, how do I know what courses transfer into ISU?

For international students, please discuss your Idaho State University application and admissions information with the ISU International Programs Office. Their staff will have a better idea how international credits transfer into ISU and what other admissions requirements you may have to complete for Idaho State University. Once you are a student at ISU, the Academic Advisor for the School of Nursing can work with you to prepare you for the Nursing Program. For more details about the International Programs Office, please see their website at isu.edu/ipo/ and contact ipomail@isu.edu. For more information about the nursing program, please see isu.edu/nursing and contact the Academic Advisor.

What if I have other questions?

If you have other questions, please contact the School of Nursing and our staff can better assist you.

School of Nursing Website: www.isu.edu/nursing

School of Nursing Email for Advising: sonadvis@isu.edu

School of Nursing Email for Other Questions: profnurs@isu.edu