Nursing - Practical Nursing

Practical Nursing

Program Description

If you are passionate about health care and caring for others, then a Practical Nursing career is the perfect fit for you. As a Licensed Practical Nurse, you are a valued member of the health care team working with people across the lifespan from newborns to end-of-life care.

We work with you to complete your degree as either a part time or full time student. Our program will teach you the concepts, principles, skills and attitudes needed to function as a direct patient care provider and patient advocate.

Careers

You picked a career in a growing field as the Nebraska Department of Labor expects 25% growth during the next 10 years in nursing. Most graduates are hired into an acute care specialty at hospitals, clinics, offices and long-term care facilities. Career options as a Licensed Practical Nurse Include:

  • Acute Care Facilities, Hospital
  • Charge Nurse, Long Term Care Facility
  • Clinic Nurse
  • Home Health
  • Hospice
  • School Nurse

Request More Information

Awards Offered: Diploma
Locations: Beatrice, Lincoln, Milford, Falls City
Formats: In-Person
Start: Fall / Spring
Schedule: Full-Time / Part-time
Estimated Total Cost
$10,094 Diploma

Licensed practical nurses provide healthcare to patients who are sick, injured or just need routine health checkups. LPNs are supervised by registered nurses or doctors and perform their work with a team of healthcare providers.

START HERE: Please follow the steps on the Get Started Checklist (PDF) to complete the program application process.

  1. Determine program option best for you.
  2. Meet with health sciences advisor
    Are you currently an SCC student enrolled in classes at SCC?
    For students currently enrolled in a program at SCC and/or working on pre-requisite courses for a Health Sciences program please meet with your assigned College Advisor. If this is your first term at SCC you will be connected with your advisor after completing New Student Enrollment. If you are a returning student and are unsure who your advisor is contact advising@southeast.edu.
    Are you new to SCC or unsure where to start?
    If you are a new or prospective student, a student transferring from another college, or a student who are unsure where to start, please contact our admissions team at startSCC@southeast.edu.
  3. Complete placement testing.
  4. Complete program general education requirements.
  5. Complete program success plan.
  6. Complete and submit program application.
  7. Complete special program requirements.

If you are admitted into the Practical Nursing program, you are required to submit the following:

  • Criminal Background Check (PDF): A non-refundable fee of $45 will be assessed during your first term in the Practical Nursing program. Based on the outcome of the CBC, you may be prevented from taking certain courses, accessing certain laboratory experiences, or completing the program.
  • Drug and Alcohol Testing: You will be required to submit an initial drug and alcohol testing prior to your first clinical rotation at a contracted healthcare facility. This will be completed in the first term of the Practical Nursing program.


Admissions Resources:


Program Requirements & Student Responsibilities

As a Practical Nursing student, you are responsible for:

  1. All tuition, fees, books and related costs.
  2. If you are taking the part time track (online), you must attend clinical and lab in one of our locations in Lincoln, Beatrice, Geneva/Milford or Falls City.

At the end of the program, you will be prepared to:

  1. Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the plan of care using the nursing process to meet the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of the individual.
  2. Communicate (oral and written) effectively to establish relationships with the patient, families, significant others, health care team members and the community.
  3. Practice entry level nursing under the direction of a registered nurse or a licensed practitioner.
  4. Assess the health status and culture of individuals throughout the lifespan, identifying their needs and contributing to formation of the nursing diagnosis/patient problems.
  5. Provide safe, evidence based care by creating a caring environment conducive to safety and health.
  6. Direct and assign nursing interventions that may be performed by others.
  7. Accept accountability for nursing actions by functioning within one’s educational preparation, the state’s scope of practice, and the nursing code of ethics.
  8. Accept responsibility for personal and professional growth integrating evidence based practice.


Diploma Programs with Reduced Financial Aid Eligibility

According to federal regulations [34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), and guidance from the Department of Education, if a non-degree program (diploma, certificate) does not fully transfer to an associate degree, that program is subject to a specific calculation that will establish how many credits within the program are eligible for federal financial aid. The amount of aid available to the student is determined based on those eligible credits, and the student’s enrollment status (full-time, ¾ time, half-time, less-than-half-time).

So, what does this mean?
If a student enrolls in one of the programs subject to the calculation, federal financial aid may be limited. You will be responsible for the tuition and fees for the number of credits not covered by financial aid.

Please refer to the SCC catalog for current program requirements.

Accreditation

ACEN sealSCC’s Practical Nursing program is approved by the Nebraska State Board of Nursing and accredited by:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone 404-975-5000
www.acenursing.org.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing Program is Continuing Accreditation.

Program Outcomes

State Licensure or Certification Requirements

Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-PN exam. Nebraska belongs to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) compact. Any student passing the NCLEX-PN exam in Nebraska also may practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in any of the other compact states without reapplying for a license in that state provided they meet the qualifications for holding a multi-state license.

Members of the compact are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

This program may not be offered in the following states and U.S. territories due to the state/territory has partially implemented NCSBN standards, has pending legislation regarding NCSBN or has not implemented: Alaska, American Samoa, California, Connecticut, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virgin Islands, Washington D.C.

As states/territories join the NCSBN compact, this information will be updated accordingly. You also may access the NCSBN participant map at www.nursecompact.com.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution

Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

For more information about the post-graduation achievements of SCC Graduates as well as average starting salaries, refer to the annual Graduate Report (PDF).

For information about the methodologies used to gather the post-graduation student achievement data contained in the annual Graduate Report, refer to the Institutional Research page or contact ir@southeast.edu.