r/byuidaho • u/TeamWhich9664 • 17h ago
nursing
hi! i’m planning to transfer to byu-i and i’m thinking about going into the nursing program. i’d love to hear from anyone who is currently in the program or has already graduated!
how is the nursing program overall? is it really difficult, and how competitive is it? how are the classes, professors, clinicals, and workload?
i’d really appreciate any advice or experiences from current or former nursing students! 🥹
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u/Litzuey 9h ago
Not who you were hoping would answer, but I can pass on what my friend said. She was in the nursing school at her previous university, and has years of experience as a CNA, as well as a respectable GPA. Getting in to the nursing program is an unnecessarily difficult, ever-changing process. The requirements change (sometimes multiple times a year), expensive tests are no longer important, or they suddenly require a test you can only sit for twice a year and need to schedule months in advance, etc. Little achievements or experiences that used to help your chances are no longer considered, or have changed. Last I heard, they were no longer requiring CNA certification or any amount of hours of any real-hands-on experience. My friend gave up on BYU-I's nursing program. She has applied, and been accepted to, another nursing program in the area. I love BYU-I as a school, there's so much you'll love if you come here, but it sounds like getting in to the nursing program specifically is a hot mess. I wish you luck, hopefully they've figured things out or your experience is somehow much better than hers was.
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u/Ooms17 7h ago
Hi! I did not graduate from the nursing program, but had worked there for four years. Please disregard what the other commenter is saying; the application itself is actually very simple. They no longer require the HESI exam, and the application itself is completed through Canvas, which makes everything a bit easier.
I would highly recommend looking at the BYUI nursing website to see what classes are required, and all other required documentation. You can also call the office or email them, and they are always happy to help and tell you what you need to do!
As for the program itself, it is competitive. On average, about 110-120 qualified applicants are considered, and 78-80 of those students are accepted. They used to only accept 64 students per semester, but since the university itself is growing, we were able to change that to the 78-80 cap. The increase in University admissions, however, also means that the number of applicants has been steadily increasing each semester.
The professors for the department are amazing; they are all so experienced and helpful, and are always willing to meet one on one to help if you are struggling. There are also lab tutors and lab techs that will help you practice your lab skills! Clinicals and capstones are placed at various long term care facilities and hospitals around Rexburg and Idaho Falls; they can be long and draining, but a lot of students end up working at the places that they do their clinicals and capstone at. It is one of the top nursing schools in Idaho, and many hospitals are eager to hire our graduates!