This state college just launched a needed master’s degree program

As Idaho struggles to staff its health care workforce, many educational institutions are working to provide degree programs that will help students transition into a medical career while staying in state.

To that end, Lewis-Clark State College has recently introduced a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The program will kickoff this fall and is an online graduate program.

It is the first full master’s degree program the school has offered since being founded 131 years ago.

“As it has always done, LC State continues to thoughtfully, collaboratively and purposefully evolve and expand to meet the greatest needs in Idaho, especially in north Idaho,” said Cynthia Pemberton, president of the school. “This master’s degree is the perfect addition to our broad and vital menu of existing health care education programs.”

The degree program was made possible due to an amended state code which allowed LC State to offer graduate-level coursework, the school stated.

According to the school, “In 2023, the college was again ranked as the top nursing school in Idaho by nurse.org and its LPN to BSN program was ranked No. 5 in the nation by BestAccreditedCollege.org. LC State students consistently have the best licensure (NCLEX) pass rates among all public four-year institutions in Idaho.”

“LC State is excited about the approval of this new graduate degree in nursing,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Fred Chilson said. “A number of hours were spent collaborating with our sister institutions to ensure we were not duplicating efforts but addressing health care shortages in different areas. LC State is committed to help meet Idaho’s health care challenges head-on, leading to a healthier population, reduced health care costs and a stronger health care infrastructure.”

Chilson went on to say that the program was beneficial to nurses and the community at large.

More information about the program and other health care-related degree programs can be found at www.lcsc.edu/nursing.

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