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Navigating the Nursing Profession in Nebraska

Updated: Oct 6, 2022



Let us help you land on your dream job here in Nebraska! Read on this article to know more about the licensing process in Nebraska, and more!

 

Through this article, you will be able to know the following:

  • Fees for the licensing

  • Licensing renewal process (step-by-step)

  • Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing

  • Licensing and certification

  • Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Nebraska

  • Popular hospitals in Nebraska

  • Nursing associations in Nebraska

  • Contact details


 

Fees for the Licensing

The table below shows the required payments for the licensing, whether you are a first-time nurse, applying by endorsement, or renewing your license. For more information, visit the Nebraska licensing page.


As a nursing compact state, Nebraska lets nurses obtain multi-state licenses.

 

Licensing Renewal Process

  1. Check when your license expires by visiting the Nebraska Board of Nursing website. Nebraska has a Verification page for you to verify your license.

  2. Complete all your continuing education requirements BEFORE your license expires.

  3. Apply for your renewal process by going to the Nebraska Board of Nursing. You may check on the Renewal Information page for more specific information. Be reminded that if your Primary State of Residency is not Nebraska, you can not apply for a licensure in Nebraska because it is a compact state. You must declare that Nebraska is your Primary State of Residency to be able to do so.

 

Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing

The following are the Continuing Education Requirements for nurses in Nebraska.

  • For RN/LPN, you are required to have 20 contact hours every 2 years and have a minimum of 500 hours practiced nursing for within the past five years

  • For APRN, you should complete 40 contact hours every 2 years in a given specialty. Check the Nebraska Board of Nursing CE page for specific requirements for each specialization. An additional 10 hours in pharmacology is also a requirement if you are a prescriber.

The Nebraska Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.

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Licensing and Certification


Step 1: Education

To earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you must attend an accredited institution that offers ADN for 18-24 months. You can also take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree in an accredited institution. These programs typically take 4 to 5 years to complete. If you have an ADN but you wanna pursue your bachelor’s, there are certain programs that let you earn your BSN in 12 to 18 months. There is also an RN to BSN program that will take one year for you to earn the degree. Said programs let you save on time and money as you work towards advancing your career.


Step 2: Licensing

Six weeks before your graduation, you can start the process of your application for the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam is composed of 75-265 items and you will be given a limit of 5 hours to finish all of it. Failing the exam does not necessarily mean that you do not have the chance anymore. After your first try, you just have to wait for 45 days and you can apply again.

The scope of NCLEX includes questions about: (1) health promotion and maintenance; (2) safe and effective care environment; (3) physiology and integrity; and (4) psychology and integrity.


Step 3: Experience

This time, you must learn how to take the opportunities in gaining first-hand experiences in dealing with patients, with colleagues and superiors, and with the different situations that you might face. These invaluable experiences will make you more attractive to bigger employers in the future.

Step 4: Certification

Your last step is to obtain certifications for your chosen career. There are different requirements for earning a certification, depending on your preferences so it is important to check with the governing provider for information. You can attend several trainings, seminars or workshops in varied institutions for this purpose.

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Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Nebraska

Shortage of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, has been a perennial issue in the country. This makes nurses highly in demand during this period of time. This profession will increase by about 9% from 2020 to 2030. The average annual salary is $69,480.

Let us help you check out average wages of nurses to help determine if Nebraska is the right place for you.


 

Popular Hospitals in Nebraska

Still not decided on whether to work as a nurse in Nebraska or not? This list of the best hospitals in the state will surely help you make that decision to go in the right direction. U.S. News and World Report made a list of the best and popular hospitals in Nebraska. Here are some of them:

  • Nebraska Medicine-Nebraska Medical Center – (Omaha, NE):

    • Regionally ranked #1 in Nebraska and in Omaha

    • Rated high performing in 5 adult specialties and 10 procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital

    • Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®

    • Specialties include Cancer, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, and Orthopedics

  • Bryan Medical Center – (Lincoln, NE):

    • Regionally ranked #2 in Nebraska

    • Rated high performing in 14 adult procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility

    • Specialties include Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Procedures and conditions related to Orthopedics, and Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion)

  • Nebraska Methodist Hospital – (Omaha, NE):

    • Regionally ranked #3 in Nebraska and #2 in Omaha

    • Rated high performing in 8 adult procedures and conditions

    • General medical and surgical facility

    • Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®

    • Specialties include Nephrology, Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy), and Colon Cancer Surgery

  • Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center – (Beatrice, NE):

    • Rated high performing in 1 adult procedure or condition

    • General medical and surgical facility

    • Specialties include Hip Fracture, among other fields.

  • CHI Health Good Samaritan – (Kearney, NE):

    • rated high performing in 4 adult procedures and conditions

    • general medical and surgical facility

    • Specialties include Heart Failure, Kidney Failure, and Hip Replacement.

*The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards Magnet Status to Hospitals that apply and meet certain criteria. This award is also considered as the “gold standard” for excellence in nursing practice and care.

 

Nursing Associations in Nebraska

Becoming a member of a nursing association opens a lot of opportunities to your career growth. It gives you the advantages of varied job offers and networking, and a bunch of information and experiences shared between you and your fellow nurses. Through these organizations, learning and professional growth never stop. Listed below are just a few of the nursing organizations that you can find and join once you are in Nebraska.

Nebraska Health Care Association “This institution provides quality service to the people of Nebraska by supporting its members when it comes to their advocacies, education and facilities.”

Nebraska Nurses Association “This organization made Collaboration, Advocacy, Recognition, and Education as the center of their policies.”

Nebraska Association for Home Healthcare & Hospice “This collaboration of nurses gives a huge effect to laws and policies about homecare providers and patients at the state and federal levels.”

For more information about the nursing associations, you may visit the comprehensive list of national organizations as well.


 

Contact Details

Nebraska Board of Nursing

Phone: (402) 471-3121 or (402) 471-4376

Email: DHHS.NursingOffice@nebraska.gov

Nebraska State Office Building

301 Centennial Mall South

Lincoln, NE 68509


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