As they perform their duties of caring for injured or sick people, nurses may be in charge of anything from treating wounds to administering medicine to operating high-tech hospital equipment. Online nursing schools in Idaho can provide students with the necessary skills to work in a medical field of their choice.

Idaho nursing schools, online and on-campus

While some people think of Idaho as being a farming state and one of the least populous in the U.S., it offers a number of educational opportunities. Online nursing schools in Idaho typically provide different paths, such as a bachelor's degree, an associate degree or a diploma from a specific nursing program. To become a registered nurse, one must take a national licensing examination after graduation. Some traditional and online programs are designed for working RNs who wish to earn a bachelor's degree.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts more than 2.6 million RNs employed in the U.S., making this the most common health care occupation. Potential employers include home health care services and physicians' offices as well as hospitals. After graduating from Idaho nursing schools, online or campus-based, nurses can seek work with local employers such as Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene and St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.

The BLS reports that the mean annual wage for RNs in Idaho was $62,720 in 2010, even with the national average salary for these professionals. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earned $38,120, not far below the mean yearly wage for all occupations in the state, which was $38,600 in 2010. The Gem State boasts the 12th lowest cost of living of the 50 states, as shown by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center's 2nd quarter 2011 data.