LC State launches master’s in nursing

Lewis-Clark State College is offering ts first full master's degree this fall with the launch of an online Master of Science in Nursing program.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities recently approved the graduate program, which is the only one of its kind in Idaho. The state Board of Education approved it in February.

LC State President Cynthia Pemberton called it "a proud day in the history of Lewis-Clark State College."

The master's degree became possible after a 2020 bill amended Idaho Code to allow LC State to offer graduate-level coursework. Former state Sen. Dan Johnson, now Lewiston mayor, and former Rep. Paul Amador sponsored the bill, which Gov. Brad Little signed into law.

The program aims to fulfill a need for more nurse leaders and managers expressed by local and regional industry partners. It will include coursework in leadership, management and business processes, adhering to American Association of Colleges of Nursing standards.

LC State's nursing program has gained national recognition. In 2023, nurse.org ranked it the top nursing school in Idaho, and BestAccreditedCollege.org ranked its LPN to BSN program No. 5 nationally.

The college, which has offered nursing and allied health professions degrees for 60 years, is the only public four-year institution providing such programs in Idaho Regions 1 and 2.

Krista Harwick, associate dean of the School of Professional Studies, said, "As healthcare evolves, nurses are integral to contributing to evidence-based practice, and leading in the development of new delivery care models."

The program will be fully online and open to registered nurses from industry partners, LC State BSN graduates and other nurses seeking career advancement.