LPN Programs in Tennessee

State Info

Subtropical Tennessee is a huge state with a fairly high population, all of whom need health care assistance form health care professionals. Consequently the health care industry is a great one to be involved in Tennessee. The best way to get your foot in the door of the health care industry is to qualify as an LPN nurse.

There are several schools in Tennessee where you will be able to do this, as well as several financial aid programs to get you started. Once you are an LPN you will also have the opportunity to broaden your horizons even further by becoming an RN or even getting your BSN degree.

Licensing Requirements

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

• Need to be older than 18
• Need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification
• Need to be able to pass the basic skills test that will be administered to you
• Need to pass a background check
• Need to pass a health 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.

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 licensure you will also have to pay an amount of money to the Tennessee Board of Nursing. This amount of money is $90. You will then also have to renew your license once every two years at a cost of $90.

Salaries

Financial Aid Available

There are several sources of financial aid available in Tennessee. If the only reason you have not studied to become an LPN is because you do not have the money to do so, then you should reconsider your position and have a look at the various financial aid options that are open to you.

The Graduate Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program

The Graduate Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program is a program whereby students can earn loan forgiveness by committing to 4 years working in a health care facility designated by the Tennessee State Board of Nursing.

FAFSA

A good place to start when looking for financial aid is with FAFSA. FAFSA will provide you with a list of all of the loans and grants that you are eligible for based on the answers that you fill out on the application form. This is the best source regarding information for financial aid that you can find. There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to deciding which of the loans and grants that FAFSA informs you of you are going to apply for.

Loans are monetary amounts that are given to you with the understanding that you will pay it back in full and with interest at some later stage. Interest accrued means that you will be paying back more money than you originally borrowed. In many cases you are not required to start paying the loan back until you are qualified and actually able to do so, but remember that the loan will most likely continue gaining interest during this period, which may make it difficult for you to repay it. There are two main sources for loans, namely federal and private sources. Federal loans are the best because they come with good interest rates, but they are not easy to qualify for. However, it is worth checking to see if you do qualify. If you qualify for a federal loan, take it, because when it comes to loans these are financially the best options. Private loans are a lot easier to get, which means that you should not have a problem funding your studies. Remember however that the interest rates are very high which may make things difficult for you.
Grants are also monetary amounts given to you to pay for your studies, but the key difference here is that you are not required to repay the money. In some cases however you will need to work in a designated heath care facility for a set period of time in return for the grant. Grants are often allocated on a needs basis to people who can demonstrate a genuine need for the money.

Scholarships

Scholarships, like grants, require no pay back in the form of money. However you will often find that scholarships come with certain requirements. You will probably have to maintain a certain standard in terms of the grades you achieve throughout your studies. You will also most likely be required to repay the scholarship by working in a state designated health care facility. Scholarships are usually given for three reasons, although the reasons carry different weight depending on the particular scholarship in question:

• You may qualify for a scholarship if you can prove a dire financial need for one
• You may qualify for a scholarship if you are a top academic performer (the most likely scenario)
• You may qualify for a scholarship if you commit to working for a certain number of years in an underserved facility designated by the state

Many nursing schools offer scholarships, so apply to them first. If you have no success, look into the many other sources of scholarships available.

Ask Your Employer

If you are already qualified as a CNA, or if you are working in a health care facility in some other capacity, then you may be able to apply to your employer for help. Employers are often more than happy to assist their staff in upgrading their qualification as this works in their favour as well as yours. They get a qualified LPN nurse on their staff who knows the ropes in that particular facility. You get to study, and on top of that you will be guaranteed of a job (as usually you will have to work for your employer for a set number of years in repayment), and you will get valuable experience.

List of Schools

If you are looking for LPN schools in Tennessee you will soon realise that there are a lot to choose form which may make your choice difficult. The main criterion that you should make your decision on is whether or not the school is accredited by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. If it is then it may be a good choice. Here is a list of schools in Tennessee that offer LPN programs along with the contact details you will need to make further enquiries.

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Appalachian Regional Practical
Nursing Program
Tennessee Technology Center at
Oneida/Huntsville
355 Scott High Drive
Huntsville, TN 37756
(423) 663-4900

Blount Memorial Hospital
Practical Nursing Program
907 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy.
Maryville, TN 37804
(865) 273-1544

Chattanooga State Technical
Community College
Practical Nursing Program
4501 Amnicola Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37406-1097
(423) 697-4447

Four Rivers Practical Nursing Program
Tennessee Technology Center at Ripley
127 Industrial Drive
Ripley, TN 38063
(731) 635-3368

Jackson Regional Practical Nursing
Program
Tennessee Technology Center at Jackson
2468 Technology Center Drive
Jackson, TN 38301
(731) 424-0691

South Central Regional Practical Nursing
Program
Tennessee Technology Center at Pulaski
1233 E. College Street, P. O. Box 614
Pulaski, TN 38478
(931) 424-4014

Tennessee Technology Center at Athens
Practical Nursing Program
1635 Vo-Tech Dr.
Athens, TN 37371-0848
(432) 744-2814

Tennessee Technology Center at Memphis
Practical Nursing Program
550 Alabama Ave.
Memphis, TN 38105
(901) 543-6100

Tennessee Technology Center at Morristown
Practical Nursing Program
821 W. Louise Ave
Morristown, TN 37813
(423) 586-5771

Tennessee Technology Center at Nashville
Practical Nursing Program
100 White Bridge Road
Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 425-5533

Tennessee Technology Center at Crossville
Practical Nursing Program
910 Miller Avenue
Crossville, TN 38555
(931) 484-7502

Tennessee Technology Center at Dickson
Practical Nursing Program
740 Highway 46 South
Dickson, TN 37055
(615) 441-6220

Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton
Practical Nursing Program
1500 Arney Street
Elizabethton, TN 37643
(423) 547-2590

Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman
Practical Nursing Program (I)
1745 Harriman Highway P.O. Box 1109
Harriman, TN 37748
(865) 882-6703

Tennessee Technology Center at Hartsville
Practical Nursing Program
716 McMurry Blvd
Hartsville, TN 37074
(615) 374-2147

Tennessee Technology Center at Hohenwald
Practical Nursing Program
813 West Main Street
Hohenwald, TN 38462
(931) 796-5351

Tennessee Technology Center at Knoxville
Practical Nursing Program
1100 Liberty Street
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 546-5567

Tennessee Technology Center at Livingston
Practical Nursing Program
740 High Tech Drive,
Livingston, TN 38570
(931) 823-5525

Tennessee Technology Center at Paris
Practical Nursing Program
312 South Wilson Street
Paris, TN 38242
(731) 644-7365

Tennessee Valley Regional Practical
Nursing Program
Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville
1405 Madison Street
Shelbyville, TN 37160
(931) 685-5013