Nurse Licensing

 
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Governor Ricketts Ends Coronavirus State of Emergency

Governor Pete Ricketts announced the end of Nebraska's coronavirus state of emergency. The Governor issued the state of emergency declaration on March 13, 2020. It officially ended at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.  The Governor issued Executive Order (EO) 21-09 to rescind pandemic-related executive orders.  With a few exceptions, the coronavirus executive orders will expire on July 30, 2021, which is thirty days after the state of emergency ends. Full text of EO 21-09 is available by clicking here.

Renewal Update as of 6/28/21: The governor of the State of Nebraska has announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency expires on 6/30/21 (11:59 p.m.).

License types (click here for list) that were deferred per Executive Order 20-10 will have their expiration dates extended to 10/31/21 and must be renewed by that date.

NOTE: If the license has already been renewed, this deferral and extension does not apply.

Within the next 30 days, the Licensure Unit will send a postcard to those licensees who have not renewed, advising that they will have until 10/31/21 to renew. 

To renew, click here​. After the renewal processing is complete, the license will reflect the next regularly scheduled expiration date. Click here to print a wallet card ​to verify the renewed license.

For information regarding Continuing Competency Waivers, click here.



Nursing Education (click here for education information)

PROGRAM APPROVAL

The Nebraska Board of Nursing approves pre-licensure nursing programs located in Nebraska.

The Nebraska Board of Nursing does not approve on-line or post-licensure programs, therefore, approval from the BON is not required.

FACULTY

Nebraska follows the recommendation set forth by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Practice is where the student is located. Therefore, if the student is located in a state different from the home state of the nursing program, faculty require licensure in the state where the student is located.

Just as nurses who work in clinical settings and care for patients in another state via telehealth, faculty who teach online students located in another state require additional nurse licensure. 
See page 3 in March 2017 Leader to Leader.

Faculty teaching APRN students require APRN licensure in Nebraska.

PRECEPTORS

Nursing Programs are responsible for working directly with clinical facilities to arrange preceptors for students. Preceptor qualifications for on-line programs and post-licensure programs are established by the nursing programs.

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LPN law

LPNs and IV Therapy - article from Nursing News Winter 2018 newsletter

Locations for IV Therapy class

Nurse License Types Issued by Nebraska:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensure follows nine months to one year of education and successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN).  The LPN provides direct patient care services.

Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered Nurses have completed two to four years of education at a college or university, and passed the NCLEX-RN in order to qualify for licensure.  The RN plans and directs the plan of nursing care for patients.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)                                            
An APRN is a registered nurse (RN) with a master's or doctoral degree and national board certification to qualify for licensure. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses apply advanced nursing principals in the provision of patient care services to specific patient populations.

  • Certified Nurse Midwife (APRN-CNM): Practice occurs under the provisions of a practice agreement with a physician including attendance at childbirth; prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care; normal obstetrical and gynecological services for women; and care for the newborn immediately following birth.
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (APRN-CNS): Practice includes health promotion, health supervision, illness prevention, and disease management, including assessing patients, synthesizing and analyzing data.  The CNS conducts and applies research, advocates, serves as an agent of change, engages in systems management, and assesses and intervenes in complex health care problems most commonly for chronically ill and acute care patient populations. 
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (APRN-CRNA): Practice is the performance and assistance with any act involving the administration of medication and monitoring of the patient for anesthesia and alleviation of pain.
  • Nurse Practitioner (APRN-NP): Practice means health promotion, health supervision illness prevention and diagnosis, treatment, and management of common health problems and acute and chronic conditions. Nurse practitioners assess patients and prescribe diagnostic tests, medication and treatments in primary care or specialty practice.

 

Nurse Licensing Contact Information
Department of Health & Human Services/Division of Public Health/Licensure Unit 
Phone Number
(402) 471-4376
 
Fax Number
(402) 742-1163
Mailing & Physical Addresses

Licensure Unit
Attn: Nursing
PO Box 94986
Lincoln NE 68509-5026

 

Nebraska State Office Building
301 Centennial Mall South, 1st floor
14th & M Streets
Lincoln NE 68508
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed federal holidays.