Nebraska happens to be state that many historic trails have crossed, including the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, California National Historic Trail, Pony Express, and Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. If you are looking to trail-blaze a path for yourself to being an LPN in Nebraska and have questions about licensing requirements and LPN schooling in Nebraska, you may find the information presented on this page is a helpful guide. Sections follow that contain information on what programs for practical nurses look like, what typical job tasks are for LPNs, licensing requirements in Nebraska for LPNs, and Nebraska schools that might have different Practical Nursing programs.
LPN (License Practical Nurse) Educational Programs: General Information
Programs for practical nurses in Nebraska prepare students by educating them through classroom and practical work. General education classes may be required of LPN students on topics such as English and psychology. Nursing classes will make up the bulk of the course load, though. To help students learn practical skills, labs may be offered with some of the nursing classes. In the labs, students can practice what they have learned on with an instructor watching over them. Many students may receive guidance from an instructor present in the lab, as well. To cement the practical skills and theoretical nursing knowledge, students may also be required to participate in clinicals, which take place in a medical setting and offer students a glimpse of the day-to-day life of an LPN in the real world. Students may attend clinicals once a week (or more or less, depending on the school) and perform some of the job duties required of LPNs. Usually, they will take on easier tasks in the beginning and more difficult tasks as time time goes on.
Common LPN Job Tasks in Nebraska
LPNs may work in a wide range places, from hospitals to nursing homes to children’s homes, and doctors’ offices to medical clinics. As a result, the actual job duties of LPNs tend to vary widely, sometimes overlapping, and sometimes unique to the LPN’s place of employment. For instance, Licensed Practical Nurses who work in a NICU may give infants bottles to drink, while LPNs who work in a nursing home will likely not touch an infant bottle. LPNs may perform bedside care duties, as other tasks that requires special education and skills.
Licensed Practical Nurses may be seen changing bandages and cleaning wounds for patients, bathing and dressing patients, and assisting patients with their personal hygiene. When monitoring the health status of patients, LPNs may be seen taking and recording blood sugar, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, oxygen rate, weight, and other vital signs. Being a communications liaison between patient and doctor, communicating medical information about the patient and also concerns a patient might have about their health care to the doctor, can also be considered part of this category. LPNs may also be required to do can include billing insurance or completing other paperwork, supervising assistants and aides, and also giving patients their medication. Finally, LPNs may be able to complete further tasks with special schooling or licensing, such as helping with IV therapy or assisting with dialysis.
Information about Requirements for Nebraska LPN Licensing
Nebraska is a Nursing License Compact member. Being a member of the NCL means that out-of-state nurses who reside in a Compact state can work in Nebraska without needing to apply for a Nebraska license. The opposite is also true; if an LPN with a Nebraska license wants to move to and work in a different Compact state, he or she may do so for a certain amount of time.
To be licensed as a Practical Nurse by the state of Nebraska, students need to graduate from an Nebraska-approved Practical Nursing program (it’s important to check and find out if a school you have in mind is approved before taking classes there, and the best place to check is with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services). Prospective LPNs must also fill out an application and send in the appropriate fee (the fee changes depending on which month and year it is sent). A recent, wallet-sized photo of the person applying for an Practical Nursing license must also be sent in. Besides the application and fee, the student needs to provide proof that he or she is at least 19 years old and has lawful presence in the U.S.A. (for example, a birth certificate will show age and U.S. citizenship, or lawful presence in the U.S.A.). A transcript must also be sent from the school the applicant graduated from directly to the Nebraska Department of Health and Family Services. If the applicant has had any disciplinary action taken against him or her from an educational institution, or if the applicant has a criminal history with convictions of any kind other than traffic misdemeanors, some extra documents may be required to be included with the application. The applicant must also take National Council Licensure Exam (often referred to simply as the NCLEX) for practical nursing and receive a passing score.
For more information on licensing, special situations, and NCLEX, visit the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Service’s website. Due to the changing nature of laws, information presented on this page may not be entirely current or comprehensive. Comprehensive, current information can also be found at the link above.
Colleges & Schools – Nebraska
Schools that may have practical nursing programs are listed below. If you have questions about a school, their address and phone number are also listed after their name to make contacting them easier.
Central Community College
4500 63rd St, Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 564-7132
College of St. Mary
7000 Mercy Rd, Omaha, NE 68106
(402) 399-2400
Metropolitan Community College
5300 N 30th St, Omaha, NE 68111
(402) 457-2400
Mid-Plains Community College
601 W State Farm Road, North Platte, NE 69101
(308) 535-3701
Midland University
900 N Clarkson St, Fremont, NE 68025
(800) 642-8382
Northeast Nebraska Community College
801 E Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701
(402) 371-2020
Southeast Community College
8800 O St, Lincoln, NE 68520
(402) 471-3333
Western Nebraska Community College
1601 E 27th St, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
(308) 635-3606
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