University of Idaho advances nursing and medical education plans
U of I’s School of Health and Medical Professions signs nursing partnership with North Idaho College, secures design approval for Boise undergraduate medical education facility
April 16, 2026
MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho’s School of Health and Medical Professions took two significant steps this week toward expanding Idaho’s health care workforce, securing Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) approval for a proposed Boise undergraduate medical education facility and formalizing a nursing partnership with North Idaho College (NIC).
Nursing partnership with North Idaho College
U of I and NIC signed a memorandum of understanding to collaboratively develop and deliver a new Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) program. U of I President Scott Green and NIC President Nick Swayne signed the agreement April 15 in Moscow.
“This MOU builds on a strong and growing relationship between our two institutions,” Green said. “By combining U of I’s graduate-level academic programs with North Idaho College’s deep roots in nursing education and the Coeur d’Alene region, we are creating a pathway that will benefit students and patients alike for generations to come.”
“North Idaho College has been training nurses for this region for decades, and we're excited to take the next step with the University of Idaho,” Swayne said. “I also want to recognize the NIC board of trustees, whose support and vision made this partnership possible. Together, we will help address the nursing shortage and improve access to care across northern Idaho and beyond.”
The DEMSN program approved by the State Board of Education in August 2025 is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and wish to enter the nursing profession at the graduate level. The two-year, full-time program provides the foundational education required for RN licensure while preparing graduates at the master’s level — equipping them not only for bedside nursing, but also for roles in leadership and research. Applications are anticipated to open in Fall 2026, with classes launching in Fall 2027 in Coeur d’Alene.
NIC is a natural partner for U of I, with a well-established nursing program offering an associate degree that has long served the Coeur d’Alene region. The DEMSN expands that continuum, offering a graduate-level pathway for those with a bachelor's degree in another field who are looking to enter nursing.
Idaho faces one of the most severe nursing shortages in the nation, with one of the lowest nurse-to-population ratios in the country. The Idaho Department of Labor projects more than 1,226 annual openings for registered nurses statewide through 2032, underscoring a demand the current workforce cannot meet.
Medical education facility design phase approved
The SBOE on April 15 approved U of I’s request to begin the design and planning phase for educational space at the Idaho Water Center in Boise. This is a key step toward a proposed undergraduate medical education program developed in collaboration with the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. The approval allows U of I to maintain the timeline for a targeted fall 2028 launch.
Planned facilities at the Idaho Water Center include classroom space, employee offices and dedicated student areas, which will complement anatomy facilities U of I will lease from Idaho State University in Meridian. U of I has committed $2 million to assist ISU developing this lab. The total estimated classroom project cost is $3.8 million, with $467,045 allocated for the design phase. The project will be supported by combining philanthropic commitments with SHAMP funds dedicated to capital improvements. No construction funding has been approved, and no project spending will occur unless the program receives approval from the State Board of Education and the Idaho Legislature.
“This approval allows us to keep pace with a very tight timeline while remaining fiscally responsible,” said Dr. Rayme Geidl, interim co-director of U of I’s School of Health and Medical Professions. “Beginning the design process now ensures we are prepared to move forward if the program receives full approval and funding.”
A growing vision for Idaho health care
Together, the actions reflect U of I’s broader commitment to build Idaho’s health care workforce across multiple disciplines in communities across the state.
“The DEMSN program and the Water Center approval reflect exactly what the School of Health and Medical Professions was built to do — identify where Idaho’s health care workforce gaps are greatest and develop programs to fill them,” said Russell “Rusty” Baker, interim co-director of U of I’s School of Health and Medical Professions. “Nursing is just a piece of the larger puzzle. Our vision is a school that prepares Idahoans for careers across the full spectrum of in-demand health care professions.
Media contact
Caiti Bobbitt, director of marketing and strategic communications
University of Idaho School of Health and Medical Professions
ccbobbitt@uidaho.edu