Best LPN Programs in Lincoln 2026
Find Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs in Lincoln, Nebraska with details on schools, curriculum, tuition, and clinical training. Learn about licensing requirements and nursing career opportunities in the Lincoln area.
2026 Best LPN Programs in Lincoln, NE
Southeast Community College Area
Lincoln, NE - Public 2-Year - southeast.edu
Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Southeast Community College's hybrid Practical Nursing program offers flexible part-time and full-time tracks, preparing students for the NCLEX-PN exam with an estimated cost of $10,094. The curriculum covers comprehensive patient care across all life stages, emphasizing evidence-based practices, communication skills, and professional accountability. Accredited by ACEN, it features multiple campus locations and projects 25% job growth in Nebraska, enabling graduates to work in diverse healthcare settings under the nursing compact.
- Diploma program with flexible scheduling
- $10,094 total estimated cost
- Nebraska Department of Labor projects 25% growth
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- Multiple campus locations
- In-person and part-time tracks
- ACEN accredited program
- Career options in diverse settings
Lincoln LPN Program Overview
Lincoln serves as a regional healthcare hub for southeast Nebraska, with a concentration of hospitals, specialty rehabilitation centers, long-term care communities, home health agencies, and outpatient clinics. Licensed Practical Nurses play a frontline role across these settings by delivering direct patient care, administering medications, supporting chronic disease management, documenting in electronic health records, and collaborating with Registered Nurses and providers to maintain safe, high quality care.
Local employers in acute care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, physician offices, behavioral health, and home health regularly utilize LPNs to staff inpatient units, post-acute services, and primary care and specialty clinics. State and national workforce sources consistently highlight strong need for practical nurses in long-term care and community-based services, which aligns with Lincoln’s mix of hospitals and aging services.
LPN programs in the Lincoln area are typically structured as a certificate or diploma that can be completed in about 12 months of full-time study. Many schools also offer part-time or evening pathways that extend to roughly 18 to 24 months. Curricula blend classroom instruction, skills lab and simulation, and supervised clinical rotations in local hospitals, nursing facilities, and ambulatory care sites to ensure graduates are practice ready.
Nebraska requires graduation from a state-approved practical nursing program and successful completion of the NCLEX-PN for licensure. The Nebraska Board of Nursing oversees program approval and the licensure process, including application requirements and eligibility. Nebraska participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so eligible LPNs may obtain a multistate license that supports practice in other compact states. Lincoln-area programs prepare students for the NCLEX-PN through NCLEX-aligned coursework, clinical experiences that reflect current standards of care, and structured exam preparation resources.
Employment Opportunities for LPNs in Lincoln
The healthcare sector in Lincoln, Nebraska, offers a dynamic employment landscape for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), which is the predominant term used in the state. As of January 2024, there were 5,349 LPNs holding licenses across Nebraska, contributing significantly to the state’s healthcare workforce. The Lincoln Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), encompassing Lancaster County, demonstrates a sustained demand for healthcare professionals, with long-term projections from 2020-2030 indicating robust job growth in numerous healthcare occupations, reflecting recovery and expansion in the sector.
The average annual salary for a Licensed Practical Nurse in Lincoln is approximately $53,730, with an hourly rate of $25.83, as of May 2023. Experienced LPNs with over five years of practice can anticipate earning higher salaries, potentially exceeding $55,000 annually. For broader statistics on occupations and wages, refer to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
LPNs in Lincoln find employment across a diverse array of healthcare settings:
- Hospitals:Major hospitals in Lincoln actively recruit LPNs. Notable examples include Bryan Medical Center, Lincoln Surgical Hospital, and Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, which specifically hires LPNs for acute rehabilitation and long-term care units at its Lincoln campus. Monument Health also lists LPN positions for behavioral health and surgery services in Lincoln.
- Nursing Homes, Extended Care, and Assisted Living Facilities:This sector accounts for a significant portion of LPN employment in Nebraska, with approximately 52% of LPNs working in these settings. Facilities known to hire LPNs include Eastmont Towers, Tabitha Nursing Home, Holmes Lake Rehabilitation & Care Center, Southlake Village Rehabilitation & Care Center, Gateway Senior Living, Old Cheney Rehabilitation, Hillcrest Firethorn, and The Ambassador Lincoln. These facilities frequently seek LPNs for direct patient care, medication administration, and care planning, with Legacy Retirement Communities also hiring LPN Charge Nurses.
- Private Practices and Clinics:Many clinics and private practices in Lincoln employ LPNs. Bluestem Health, an integrated healthcare provider with multiple clinics, frequently seeks LPNs for primary care, often offering full-time floating positions without weekend or holiday shifts. CHI Health Clinic, part of CommonSpirit Health, hires LPNs for specialty areas such as ENT and general clinic support at locations like Antelope Creek Clinic. South Lincoln Family Physicians P.C. also employs LPNs.
- Rehabilitation Centers:Beyond hospitals with rehabilitation units, dedicated rehabilitation centers such as Holmes Lake Rehabilitation & Care Center and Southlake Village Rehabilitation & Care Center regularly hire LPNs for direct patient care, wound care, and resident assessments.
- Senior Living Facilities:In addition to nursing homes and assisted living, other senior living communities, such as The Harbor Senior Care, a residential assisted living provider, seek LPNs to offer individualized attention and care in smaller, family-style environments.
- Home Health Agencies:Home health represents a growing area for LPN employment in Lincoln. Agencies like Angels Care Home Health, Maxim Healthcare, CHI Health at Home, and Hillcrest Home Care frequently have openings for LPNs to provide skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, which may include catheter management, wound care, and IV therapy.
- Other Settings:LPNs are also needed in urgent care settings, such as Sagewell Urgent Care, and behavioral health facilities, including CenterPointe and ALIVATION HEALTH, LLC Integrated Health Center.
Major healthcare employers in Lincoln that are well-known for regularly hiring LPNs include Bryan Medical Center, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, CHI Health, Tabitha, Bluestem Health, Legacy Retirement Communities, Angels Care Home Health, Hillcrest Health Services (including Hillcrest Home Care), Holmes Lake Rehabilitation & Care Center, Southlake Village Rehabilitation & Care Center, Nebraska Heart Institute and Heart Hospital, and Monument Health. Smaller facilities and networks, such as The Harbor Senior Care and South Lincoln Family Physicians P.C., also play a vital role in LPN employment in the city. For information on nursing practice and licensure in the state, consult the Nebraska DHHS Office of Nursing Practice, and for long-term occupational projections for the state, visit the Nebraska Department of Labor.
List of LPN Programs in Lincoln, NE
Lincoln, NE
Southeast Community College Area
- Certificate/Diploma - Practical Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Website
- Diploma program with flexible scheduling
- $10,094 total estimated cost
- Nebraska Department of Labor projects 25% growth
- NCLEX-PN exam preparation
- Multiple campus locations
- In-person and part-time tracks
- ACEN accredited program
- Career options in diverse settings
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