Top LPN Programs in Nebraska

Nebraska LPN Schools, License Requirements, Salary, and Job Outlook

The state strives to achieve good standards of health and takes the initiative to eradicate the health-related issues in the society. An LPN program can be completed in a short span of 12-18 months. Those who are engaged with other responsibilities can go for part-time courses or web-based classes. Before enrolling for the course, ensure that the program and college are approved by the state.

The candidates must have completed high school diploma, attained 18 years of age, and possess a clear criminal record. The LPNs should be emotionally balanced to cope up with the panic-stricken conditions. As practical nursing is not a desk job and involves standing for hours, strong physical stamina is a desirable trait for the aspirants. Those who are looking forward to becoming an LPN must complete a practical nursing program in Nebraska. Here is the list of accredited nursing schools in Nebraska that provide LPN courses to the aspiring students.

LPN Programs in Nebraska

OUR METHODOLOGY +

A nursing school ranks on the top according to the following criteria-

• Higher Passing Rate of Alumni in NCLEX
• Financial Aid that a school provides
• Higher number of students

The nursing schools were then included in the ranking on the basis of following factors-

• Well-developed Architecture
• Better Infrastructure
• Superior Technology
• Ranking in US News and World Report
• Teachings offered by world-class faculty
• Inclusion of world-class facilities
• World-class Opportunities

We hope that the list will help you to opt the best college as per your preferences in the state. The programs available in these colleges will give you an opportunity to begin your journey as a successful nurse.

Licensure Requirements

After getting through the LPN course, obtaining an LPN licensure is an essential condition to be fulfilled before start working as a professional. To attain the license, the candidate must pass the NCLEX-PN licensure test.
On the other hand, if you already have a license in another state, all you need to do is, apply for a license by endorsement in Nebraska. Verification and renewal of your license are also indispensable.

Licensure by Examination

The residents of Nebraska need to pass the NCLEX-PN examination to get an LPN license. For this, you have to complete your practical nursing program from a state-approved school, college, or institute. Once you have cleared the test, you can apply for the license.

If you couldn't pass the test, it can be retaken after 45 days of the last attempt.

Out-of-State LPNs

• Nebraska is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. It allows the nurses from other NLC states to practice nursing in Nebraska without any additional license or test.
• If the candidate possesses a multi-state license from another compact state and is relocating to Nebraska, it is mandatory for him/her to acquire the LPN license within 30 days of relocation.
• A temporary work permit is issued to the LPNs that is valid for 60 days.
• The applicants trying for an endorsement should have completed 500 hours of nursing practice or a refresher course approved by the Nebraska Board of Nursing, or should have graduated from an authorized nursing program in the past five years.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you need to submit the following documents to the Board for acquiring a license.

• Photocopy of any one of the following:
  • U.S. Passport (expired or unexpired)
  • American Indian Card (I-872)
  • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561)
  • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570)
  • Certificate of Report of Birth (DS-1350)
  • Northern Mariana Card (I-873)
  • United States Citizen Identification Card (I-179 or I-197)
  • Certification of Birth Abroad (FS-545 or DS-1350)
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (FS-240)

If you are not a citizen of the U.S., you are required to submit a photocopy of the following:

• Green Card (Permanent Resident Card)
• Form I-94 (Arrival Departure Record) and departure

1. An official transcript that shows the name of degree and date of graduation.
2. A set of fingerprints with a fee of $28.75 is required as that would be used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to make sure that the candidate does not hold a criminal history.
3. License fee
4. If the candidate has faced conviction, additional documents listed below need to be submitted.
   • A certified copy of the court record.
   • The candidate's written explanation regarding the events that lead to the incident.
   • If the reason for conviction is related to alcohol or drug related offense, the discharge summaries and the relevant documents should be submitted.
   • The candidate should submit a letter from the Probation Officer in case s/he is presently on probation.

If the nurse possesses a license that is valid in a state other than Nebraska, verification of the license needs to be submitted.

Nebraska Nursing License Renewal

The validity of LPN license is 2 years, and it expires on 31st October of every odd year. Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry maintains the record of all the licensed nurses. The status of the LPN license can be tracked via this registry. After the completion of 2 years, the candidate should get the license renewed, as working with an expired license is considered against the law. A necessary condition to be met for renewing the license is- the nurse should complete 20 continuing hours of education in the past two years.

License Reinstatement

To get the license reinstated, the candidates are required to fulfill the following criteria.

• The candidate must have practiced for 500 hours in the last five years.

AND

The candidate should turn up with an evidence of 20 contact hours completed within the last 2 years before applying for the reinstatement. At least 4 contact hours should be dedicated to the basic life support and a minimum of 10 contact hours must be approved by the state board of nursing or a credentialing organization like ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Commission). The certificates obtained after completion of the contact hours must also be submitted.

OR

• The candidate must have completed the course from an accredited college from the date of submission of reinstatement application.

OR

• If the time period has exceeded 24 months, but is less than five years, then the candidate must submit an evidence of 20 contact hours of course taken during the past two years.

OR

• Complete a refresher course approved by the Nursing Board. The refresher course must include a minimum of 75 contact hours within the past five years.

If you do not qualify any of the criteria mentioned above and are looking to pursue a refresher course, read below.
After selecting an appropriate refresher course, the LPNs must submit the following documents in order to attain a temporary permit before beginning the clinical part of the course.

• Reinstatement fee
• Application for reinstatement
• A statement of acceptance by the provider of the refresher course.
• A letter from the LPN school stating the beginning and ending dates of the course.

Once the course has been completed, a letter from the course provider depicting the completion of course also needs to be submitted.

Duplicate License

The license is an important document and should be kept carefully. But, if somehow, it gets lost, you can obtain a duplicate license by filling the following form:
http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Licensure/Documents/reissue.pdf

Printout of the completely filled form along with appropriate fees should be submitted to the following address:

The State of Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health, Licensure Unit
301 Centennial Mall South, PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Practical Nurses in Nebraska

According to indeed.com (as of January 6, 2017), the LPNs earned an average salary of $37,000, which was quite low as compared to the salaries of LPNs for job postings at the national level. As per the reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (as of May 2015), the mean hourly wages and annual salary of these professionals were $19.09 and $39,710, respectively.

Information Source: indeed.com

As stated by indeed.com, Psychiatric Nurses earned the maximum income, i.e., $42,000, while those working as the Patient Care Technician Students earned the least (i.e., $12,000).

Average Annual Salary of LPNs/LVNs in Different Cities of Nebraska

Name of the City	Salary
Bellevue	$42,346
Grand Island	$33,800
Lincoln	$40,570
North Platte	$31,748
Hastings	$33,800
Fremont	$36,753
Omaha	$42,346
Norfolk	$33,765
Kearney	$33,800

Information Source: salary.com

The LPNs received the highest salary in the cities of Bellevue and Omaha (i.e.,$42,346), whereas the city of North Platte paid the least (i.e., $31,748) to the practical nurses.

Job Outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses in Nebraska

Although the LPNs in the state of Nebraska earned the less annual salary as compared to those in other states of the U.S., the salary is expected to increase due to a shortage of these professionals. As per the predictions of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the LPNs hold a bright future ahead. You can excel in your career by pursuing an RN course.