The Nebraska medical community recognizes nursing as a vital service. Nurses enjoy competitive salaries, numerous job openings, and outstanding opportunities for advancement. Fortunately, nursing programs are abundant in Nebraska, especially for students interested in becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or registered nurse (RN).
Certified nursing assistant
Nebraska
We've organized a comprehensive list of Nebraska nursing schools. Below you'll find information on specific nursing programs such as LPN certificates and ADN, BSN, and MSN degrees. You'll also find a profile of nursing education and careers in each major Nebraska city.
Nebraska school overviews
Nebraska nursing programs and careers
City-specific information
Omaha, Nebraska, has the largest nursing workforce in the state. Almost 20,000 nurses work in the Omaha metropolitan area, and this population is expected to increase at a faster-than-average pace for the next decade. Omaha’s new nursing graduates can expect plenty of job opportunities.
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs)
There are numerous opportunities for aspiring nurses in the Nebraska healthcare system. The Lincoln metropolitan area has 7,000 licensed nursing professionals who fill three critical roles: certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and registered nurse (RN). Nursing employment is expected to grow at a faster pace than average over the next decade.
CNA programs and career overview
In Nebraska’s competitive nursing industry, a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree is a critical differentiator. Employers often favor nurses with an MSN degree in their hiring and promotion decisions, particularly for senior positions. Several Nebraska colleges offer MSN programs, including Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Creighton University in Omaha, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus in both cities.
Registered nurses (RNs) that hold an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) often discover that further education is required to remain competitive. In today’s increasingly complex healthcare system, not holding a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree can hold an RN back from higher pay and advancement opportunities. Fortunately, there are many schools in Nebraska that offer a solution: the RN-to-BSN degree completion program.
Description of the RN-to-BSN program
Registered nurses (RNs) are an important part of America’s healthcare system, and they are therefore in high demand nationwide. Students who wish to enter this gratifying field often pursue a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Indeed, many healthcare employers prefer to hire nurses with a BSN degree, particularly for administrative and managerial positions. BSN graduates earn higher salaries and enjoy more opportunities for career advancement than their counterparts with an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN).
Overview of BSN pathways
An associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) can prepare aspiring registered nurses (RNs) for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and for many positons in the medical arena. A typical ADN program requires two years of study; alternative programs with night or weekend classes may take a bit longer to complete. Coursework includes the liberal arts, nursing practice, anatomy, chemistry, physiology, psychology, nutrition, and contemporary ethical dilemmas. The state of Nebraska has approximately ten accredited ADN programs.
Registered nurses (RNs) play a critical role in Nebraska’s healthcare system. The profession is in such demand, in fact, that registered nursing is one of the ten fastest-growing occupations in the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 19 percent increase in RN employment over the coming decade. This is great news for aspiring healthcare professionals who want a growing career field. To be successful in nursing, however, it is important to start with a top-tier training program.
Overview of RN pathways
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) perform a number of important tasks in Nebraska’s medical community. Under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians, they provide essential patient care like taking vital signs, changing bandages, updating patient health records, and helping patients to bathe and dress. LPNs are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, private homes, doctors’ offices, and extended care facilities. Practical nursing offers a promising and rewarding career, with the opportunity to pursue RN licensure at a later date.
Nebraska’s training programs for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) often take just several weeks to complete. Although short in duration, these programs prepare aspiring CNAs to handle delicate and necessary patient care tasks in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and private homes. CNAs clean and bathe patients, reposition and transfer them, measure their vital signs, listen to their health concerns, and even serve them meals.
Nebraska’s nursing industry is large and growing rapidly, which creates opportunities for new entrants to the field. The state is home to over 40,000 nurses in total. These nursing professionals fill four critical roles: certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).