Nursing Schools in Kentucky

NCSBN Welcomes Kentucky as the 22nd State to Join the Nurse Licensure Compact

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), is pleased to announce that Kentucky recently passed legislation to join the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The state will begin the rule writing process to work toward implementation of the NLC in 2007.

The concept of the mutual recognition of nurse licensure is what the NLC model is based upon, and the NLC seeks to simplify government processes and remove regulatory barriers in order to increase access to safe nursing care. NCSBN and its member boards of nursing arrived at this model in response to the rapidly evolving health care environment, which includes emerging practice modalities and technology (e.g. telenursing) for nurses who practice across state lines both physically and electronically in a variety of health care settings.

Charlotte F. Beason, Ed.D, RN, CNAA, Executive Director of the Kentucky Board of Nursing remarks, "Participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact will afford KY nurses increased mobility and greater work flexibility. It will also enable employers to hire safe, competent licensed nurses from compact states more easily - assuring the Board of Nursing mission to protect the public through the provision of quality nursing care." Read more about the NLC.

Nursing Schools in Kentucky

Choose nursing if you desire attractive employment opportunities, look forward to assist with healing people and don't mind being intellectually challenged. The nursing profession has opportunities for individuals with many abilities and talents. Kentucky State Board of Nursing requires that students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass the NCLEX exam in order to become a PN or RN.

At Kentucky Nursing Schools our mission is to help you find up to date information regarding nursing degree programs, challenging work opportunities, and career options in the demanding sector of healthcare. It is possible the time has come to contemplate moving from your existing job to a much better career and you could benefit from advice about what the first step is or maybe you are being faced with choosing the best nursing school to suit your requirements. It is natural to want to know what to expect in nursing school or search for details regarding the NCLEX-PN test and how to prepare for this essential licensing exam.

Here one will find out about the education and training required to be a LPN, RN or a CNA in Kentucky including available nursing degree programs, employment duties for practical and registered nurses as well as possible nursing career benefits and opportunities. To see if a nursing job is right for you we have also included information about work environment, job prospects and nurse salaries. If this is not the right time to become a LPN or a registered nurse you might want to try becoming a nurse aide to better understand this field.

You need to select a nursing school carefully because this is the first step in getting the good education necessary to be a successful practical or registered nurse. Kentucky Nursing Schools can be used as a guide to learn about many avenues to become a practical or registered nurse and the location of nursing schools in Kentucky.

The comprehensive list of nursing schools in Kentucky is separated by category of nursing programs like the following groups: licensed practical nurse programs, associate degree programs, BSN programs, and master degree nursing programs. When considering a career in nursing your initial action is to decide on the type of nursing degree program you wish to attend.

There is more than one way to obtain a practical nurse or registered nurse license, taking into account the duration and previous educational requirements required for each type of nursing degree. Immediately after you have decided on a nursing program, you should consider the nursing schools in Kentucky offering the nursing degree you are seeking.

The next task should be to request admission details, such as criteria for choosing nursing students, application deadlines for the nursing program you chose, as well as cost and scholarship opportunities at that nursing school.

You will become a graduate nurse at the completion of any of the following nursing program types: LPN program - one year of education plus clinical practice, this type of degree takes the least amount of time to be a nurse; associate degree nursing program - most nursing schools in Kentucky provide this type of program, which takes 2 years to complete but each nursing school requires the student to have completed specific courses before enrolling in the ADN program; BSN programs - most nursing schools in Kentucky offer a traditional nursing program which takes four years to graduate from and some universities now have an alternative, fast-paced second-degree nursing program to obtain a bachelor's in nursing degree for individuals with a bachelor degree in a different field.

Second-degree BSN nursing programs are an increasingly popular choice for a lot of adult students due to the fact that such a program takes from one to 2 years to graduate from. Graduate level programs prepare the student nurse for advanced nursing practice. Universities and nursing schools in Kentucky may require one or 2 years of nursing employment before graduate admission.

How long it takes to graduate from a program including LPN to RN (ADN), LPN to RN (BSN), RN to BSN, RN to MSN or BSN to PhD is affected by part time or full time status and requirements of the chosen nursing program in Kentucky. To find out about the details of a nursing program you can contact the nursing school admission office.

Joining the nursing workforce will be the best career path for men and women who are committed to helping others. To become a nurse you need to study specialized subjects and practice the skills and knowledge obtained throughout nursing school in order to give a high quality of patient care. There are several nursing schools throughout Kentucky, and every one of them is offering the education and training to prepare you for this healthcare career.

Nursing Resources

For a list of accredited clinical nurse specialist programs, visit the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. For information on nurse practitioners, including a list of accredited programs, visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Information about employment opportunities may be obtained from local hospitals, nursing care facilities, home health care agencies, psychiatric facilities, the Kentucky State Board of Nursing, and local offices of the State employment service.

For information about accredited programs in other states visit one of the following websites: Massachusetts Nursing Schools, Maine Nursing Programs, RN Schools in Ohio, and Nursing Programs in Illinois.