Home of Dollywood and Nashville, music and lots of caves (the state with the most caves – over 9,600 – to be exact), Tennessee has a lot of attractions to explore. If you come from Tennessee and have started exploring the idea of becoming an LPN and are trying to find basic information on LPN educational programs and licensing in Tennessee, continue reading. Information is provided on what LPN nursing education usually looks like, what the typical tasks of an LPN job are, what Tennessee LPN licensing requirements are, and some schools in Tennessee that may provide LPN courses.

Licensed Practical Nursing Programs: General Details & Information

LPN and RN schooling programs in Tennessee may be fairly similar, with a lot of things that overlap. For instance, both types of programs may require prospective nurses to take a variety of courses which include both fundamental classes (things like science or writing) as well as medical-specific courses such as basic anatomy, medical measurements/units, and classes that teach other techniques such as how to draw blood, transport patients who are immobile and other things that nurses may need to know. RN programs may be more in-depth and last longer than LPN programs, although this may depend on the specific school where the classes are taken. Typically, LPN programs also include classes that have a lab section where students have the chance to work on some of the specific techniques they’ve learned, as well as clinicals where students may get the chance to work out in the field under the supervision of other nurses so they can see what it will be like to actually work as a nurse, and also so they can gain some real world experience. Every school handles these types of things differently though, so there may be a wide range of variation among different schools.

Common Duties for Practical Nurses in Tennessee

Tennessee LPNs typically have a wide range of duties, and when you think about the things that a nurse commonly does, many of the things that come to mind may fall under the scope of an LPN’s duties. For example, an LPN who works with patients in a hospital may check on them periodically to monitor the state of their health, and also to take certain measurements (blood pressure or body temperature, etc.).

Sometimes LPNs may need special education to do certain things such as working with IVs or dispensing medication, although this varies from state-to-state and it’s often the local regulations that determine what LPNs are allowed to do. Some other common tasks that LPNs may perform may include things like wound care, helping patients move from their bed to another place or transporting them to a different room. LPNs may also report other things about patients and their condition to doctors or other medical staff members.

Tennessee LPN Licensing Requirements and Information

Tennessee happens to be a Compact state, which is a state that is a participant in the Nursing Licensure Compact. This means that someone who lives in Tennessee and already has a nursing license can be licensed in other states in the U.S. that are also part of the Compact (this does not apply to states that aren’t part of the Compact). Other Compact states’ residents may also practice in Tennessee through their own state’s nursing license, without being required to get a Tennessee nursing license. In order to get a Tennessee LPN license, applicants must meet some specific requirements. Some requirements are listed below, but the Tennessee Board of Nursing webpage contains more information on LPN licensing.

Tennessee applicants for LPN licensing must graduate from an approved LPN nursing program, fill out an application for licensing, and take the NCLEX (and receive a passing score). More information is usually provided to students when they graduate from a nursing program, although out-of-state applicants can request a packet of information from the Tennessee Board of Nursing. The NCLEX is a computerized exam that most states typically require for LPN applicants in order to become licensed. Again, for more information visit the Tennessee Board of Nursing webpage.

Tennessee Schools

Continue reading to see a list of various Tennessee schools potentially offering LPN schooling programs.

Southwest Tennessee Community College
5983 Macon Cove, Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 333-5000

Nashville State Community College
120 White Bridge Rd, Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 353-3333

Columbia State Community College
795 Main St, Clifton, TN 38425
(931) 676-6966

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (Nashville Branch)
100 White Bridge Pike, Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 425-5500

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (Knoxville Branch)
1100 Liberty St, Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 546-5567

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (Hohenwald Branch)
813 W Main St, Hohenwald, TN 38462
(931) 796-5351

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (Dickson Branch)
740 TN-46, Dickson, TN 37055
(615) 441-6220

Tennessee Technology Center
355 Scott High Dr, Huntsville, TN 37756
(423) 663-4900

Volunteer State Community College
1480 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 452-8600

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