You don’t need to restrict yourself to a diet of potatoes if you want to study nursing or work as a nurse in the “Spud Capital of America.” Instead, you can relish living and working in some of the more urban areas of the state, such as Boise, Coeur d’Alene or Sun Valley. These areas, along with rural delights such as skiing and fly-fishing, make Idaho popular with tourists and residents alike. As Idaho grows in popularity, so does the need for nurses to work in well-respected hospitals and as specialists in emergency care.

Becoming a Nurse in Idaho

Anyone who wants to study nursing in Idaho can find a number of nursing programs. One choice includes Boise State University, an institution that offers certifications, associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. Idaho State University, also located in Boise, offers adult care, anatomy, behavioral/mental health and psychiatry and family care along with the BSN or MSN. For nursing students who prefer smaller schools, the Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa provides specialties in adult care, anatomy and physiology along with a BSN.

Nursing Jobs in Idaho

Salaries for nurses in Idaho vary with level of experience and type of job desired. For instance, the LPN can find a job in pediatrics at about $28,000 per year, and the LPN who wishes to work as a traveling nurse can make up to $99,000 per year. RNs in Idaho average about $63,000 per year, with salaries that range from $47,000 to $132,000 per year (periopertive RN). Some of the largest employers within this state include Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene, Mercy Medical Center in Nampa, and St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, with locations in Boise, Eagle, Twin Falls, Meridian and Wood River.