Nic Nursing Gets Approval From Board One-Year Conditional Status Lifted After Instructors Hired

After hustling to hire more qualified instructors, the North Idaho College nursing program has won full approval from the state Board of Nursing.

The associate degree program was put on one-year conditional status last May. That meant it was at risk of losing accreditation, which would have kept its graduates from becoming licensed nurses.

“This was like a cloud hanging over our program for our students and faculty, and it is a relief to have it over,” said Joan Brogan, NIC director of nursing.

NIC appealed the conditional status in August. Brogan learned late Wednesday that full four-year approval had been granted.

The board’s major concern was that two of NIC’s 10 nursing instructors did not have master’s degrees. After those people resigned this summer, the school began looking for qualified people to replace them.

“With a lot of help from the administration, we beat the bushes … and have filled both positions,” Brogan said Thursday.

The College of Southern Idaho and Ricks College also were given conditional status for their nursing programs and also appealed the decision. However, they have not received full approval.

“They both still have at least one non-master’s-prepared faculty on board,” Brogan said.

, DataTimes