LPN Programs in Nebraska

State Info:

There are few industries that are growing as quickly as the health care industry. If you can get your foot in the door of this industry you will have job security and peace of mind. There are a number of reasons why the industry is growing. One is that there is an increasing elderly population who need care. Another is that advanced medical technology means that more people who know how to use this technology are required.

Nebraska specifically is suffering from a shortage of qualified nurses, so the nursing filed is a great way to get involved with the nursing or medical industry. In Nebraska there are several options open to you if you want to train as an LPN. If you train as an LPN you will be guaranteed of employment and, on top of that, you will be able to advance your qualification and better your situation even further. If you are struggling financially there are a number of financial aid programs that you may be interested in. The bottom line is that Nebraska needs nurses. If you think that you have what it takes, read on to find out how to become an LPN nurse in the state of Nebraska and make a real difference in this world.

Licensing Requirements

The first step to being licensed as an LPN is enrolling in an accredited LPN program. In order to do this you will:

• Need to be older than 19
• Need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification
• Need to pass a background check

Once you have enrolled in the program you will then have to complete the theoretical and clinical sides of the course over a period of about 1 or 2 years. Then you will have to write the NCLEX-PN exam. On completion of the exam you will be licensed to practice as an LPN in Mississippi.

Exam Fee

In order to write the examination you will need to pay an amount of money to the company that administers the exam. This company is called Pearson Vue and the amount of money that you will have to pay is $200. To apply for the exam you will also have to pay an amount of money to the Nebraska Board of Nursing. This amount of money is $123. You will then also have o renew your license once every year at a cost of $123 and with proof of 24 hours of continuous training.

Salaries

Financial Aid Available

If you take the time to consider the options you will soon realize that there are a number of ways available to you to pay for your LPN studies. A lack of resources needn’t stand in your way. In the state of Nebraska there are several ways in which to fund your studies. You just have to spend the time necessary looking for the best option for you.

Grants and Scholarships

There are ways to study for your LPN qualification at absolutely no cost to you. If you want to achieve this hen you will have to apply for the many scholarships and grants that are available in Nebraska. A grant is a portion of money that is given to you to help you pay for your studies that you will never have to pay back. These grants are generally needs based. This means that the more severe your financial need is, the more likely you are to qualify for a grant. Scholarships are similar to grants in that you will never have to repay them in cash (although in some cases you may have to repay both grants and loans by working for a set number of years in a specified facility). Scholarships however tend to work more on a rewards basis. For most scholarships you will have to be a top academic achiever in order to qualify, so if you did well in high school then this route may be the answer for you.

Loans

If you are not eligible for a grant or scholarship, or if the grant or scholarship that you have achieved does not cover all of the costs of the LPN program you are interested in, then you may want to consider taking out a loan. Unlike grants and scholarships, loans need to be paid back in cash with interest. In most cases you will not be required to pay back the loan until after you have finished studying and found a job. However remember that the loan may well accrue a great deal of interest while you are studying, so be careful about leaving it for too long. If you can make regular but small repayments, then do so. There are a number of different sources for loans. Generally speaking federal loans come with the best interest rates, so you should check first to see if you qualify for one of these. However they are quite hard to qualify for as there are many stringent requirements, so don’t pin your hopes on getting a federal loan. There are also several private sources for loans. These loans tend to be a lot easier to qualify for, but they come with very high interest rates that you may struggle to repay.

Loan Forgiveness

If you have had to go the route of getting a loan then you may want to consider one of the many loan forgiveness programs available in Nebraska. With a loan forgiveness program a portion of your loan will be dealt with so that you don’t have to. Of course, this comes at a price. In exchange for his you will be required to work in a health care facility, usually one that is non profit or designated by the state, for a set period of time. However you may learn some valuable skills during this time.

Ask your employer

If you are already working in a healthcare facility then it is well worth your while to inquire with your employer about financial aid. Many employers are more than happy to help their employees out when it comes to improving their qualifications as this can be in the best interests of your employer as well as you.

Work and Study

Some colleges that offer LPN programs also offer work and study options whereby you can work while you study and generate the income you need to pay for your studies. These often cannot be given to all students so make sure that you apply well ahead of the rush.

List of Schools

There are a number of options open to students wanting to study for their LPN qualification in Nebraska. However it is very important that you ensure that the school you choose is the best option that you have. The list of schools that offer LPN qualifications in Nebraska is:

[edu-search]onlinelpn_state010101082691/ne[/edu-search]

Central Community College
Grand Island Campus
3134 West Highway 34
PO Box 4903
Grand Island, NE 68803-4903
(308) 398-7455 ext 7455
1-877-222-0780
(308) 389-6398 (fax)
www.cccneb.edu

Metropolitan Community College
PO Box 3777
Omaha, NE 68103-0777
(402) 457-2665
1-800-228-9553
(402) 457-2833 (fax)
www.mccneb.edu

Central Community College-Kearney Campus
3519 Second Avenue
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 338-4000
1-877-222-0720
www.cccneb.edu

Mid-Plains Community College
1101 Halligan Drive
North Platte, NE 69101
(308) 535-3623
1-800-658-4308
(308) 534-5467 (fax)
http://www.mpcca.cc.ne.us

Central Community College-Platte Campus
4500 63rd Street
PO Box 1027
Columbus, NE 68602-1027
(402) 562-1266
1-877-222-0720
(402) 561-1201 (fax)
www.cccneb.edu

Northeast Community College
801 East Benjamin Avenue
PO Box 469
Norfolk, NE 68702-0469
(402) 844-7330
1-800-348-9033
(402) 844-7390 (fax)
http://www.northeastcollege.com

Clarkson College
101 South 42nd Street
Omaha, NE 68131-2739
(402) 552-6118
1-800-647-5500
(308) 763-2000
1-800-559-9622
(308) 763-2012 (fax)
www.wncc.net

Tips for choosing a school

Now that you are aware of what schools are available to you, you have to choose from among the options. This may not be easy, but if you use the following as a guideline, you should be able to reach a sensible conclusion:

• Location of the school: This is an important consideration as you do not want to burden yourself financially by having to pay for transport costs to get to a school that is not near to you.
• Tuition fees
• Percentage of NCLEX-PN passed candidate from the school in last years
• Length of the program
• Courseware: The coursework may differ slightly from school to school. It is essential that you are aware of what coursework you will need to know for the qualifying examination and that the school you enroll at will adequately prepare you for this examination. If it does not then you may not pass the exam.
• Clinical facilities and exposure
• Reputation of the college
• Financial aids
• Guidance provided by the school for NCLEX-PN exam: This may be the most important consideration. The point of LPN training is to be prepared for the examination. If the school you are at is not properly preparing you than you are wasting your time and your money with your studies here.