Renewal
License Renewal Information
All RN licenses issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services expire on October 31st of each even-numbered year and all LPN licenses expire on October 31st of each odd-numbered year. To renew a license, the licensee must submit the renewal notice, attest to having met the requirements of continued competency and pay the renewal fee. All RN or LPN licenses expire October 31st of the renewal years if not renewed. If a nurse does not renew their nursing license, they will be required to reinstate their license. They will be required to submit a reinstatement application, pay the reinstatement fee, submit proof of continuing competency, and the Affidavit of Practice/Non-Practice. Nurses who continue to practice after their license has expired (November 1st) will be required to pay a fee for every day practiced up to a maximum of $1000. In order to renew, all nurses must meet one of the continued competence requirements:
- Have practiced nursing for at least 500 hours during the past 5 years AND have completed at least 20 contact hours of acceptable continuing education/inservice education within the past 2 years. Of the 20 hours attested to, no more than 4 hours may be from CPR or BLS, and at least 10 hours must be peer reviewed. All of the required contact hours can be taken via home study or Internet courses
- Have graduated from a nursing program within the last 2 years
- Have graduated from a nursing program in more than 2, but less than 5 years AND have completed at least 20 contact hours of acceptable continuing education/inservice within the past 2 years. Of the 20 hours, no more than 4 hours may be from CPR or BLS and at least 10 hours must be peer reviewed. All of the required contact hours can be taken via home study or Internet courses
- Have completed an approved refresher course within the last 5 years
- Have obtained or maintained current certification in a nursing specialty granted by a nationally recognized certifying organization
- Have developed and maintained a portfolio that includes the licensee's current continuing competency goals and evidence/verification of professional activities to meet those goals.
Along with the continued competence information, each applicant for renewal is required to report any conviction for a misdemeanor or felony since the last renewal. Applicants are also required to report any discipline against any health care professional license in this state (other than nursing) or any health care professional license in any other state since the last renewal period. If Nebraska took a disciplinary action against your nursing license, you do not need to report it.
Practice
Unprofessional Conduct for Nurses
Professional conduct for nurses is nursing behavior (acts, decisions and practices) which through professional experience, have become established by the consensus of the expert opinion of practicing nurses as conduct which is reasonably necessary for the protection of the public interest. RNs and LPNs are expected to provide safe and effective care for the patients they serve. Examples of behavior that would be grounds for discipline against a nurse's license include the following:
- Failure to safeguard the patient's dignity or right to privacy
- Violating the confidentiality of information or knowledge concerning the patient
- Verbally or physically abusing patients
- Falsification or intentional unauthorized destruction of patient records
- Failure to maintain an accurate patient record
- Misappropriating medications, supplies or personal items of a patient or agency
- Failure to utilize appropriate judgment in administering safe nursing practice
- Failure to exercise technical competence
- Failure to follow policies or procedures implemented in the practice situation to safeguard patient care
- Accepting an assignment when he or she does not have the competence to safely perform the intervention required by the assignment
- Practice of the profession without a current active license or temporary permit
- Failure of a licensee, who is the subject of a disciplinary investigation, to furnish the Board or its investigator with requested information or requested documents
- Falsification or misrepresentation of material facts in attempting to procure nursing employment
- Committing any act which endangers patient safety or welfare
- Delegating or assigning nursing interventions contrary to standards
- Failure to exercise supervision over persons who are authorized to practice only under the direction of the licensed professional
- Leaving a patient care nursing assignment without notifying personnel so that reasonable arrangements for continuation of care can be made
- Failure to seek consultation, collaboration, or direction from another licensed health care provider when warranted by patient condition
- Altering a license or temporary permit by changing the expiration date, certificate number or any other information appearing on the license
- Intentional falsification of material facts in a material document connected with the practice of nursing
- Violating any term of probation, condition, or limitation imposed on the licensee by the Board or Department
- Failure to meet the repayment provisions for a loan received pursuant to the Nursing Student Loan Act.
All disciplinary actions taken against a nursing license are in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Law.
Licensure
RN and LPN Requirements for Licensure by Endorsement
To qualify for license by endorsement you must:
- Be of good moral character
- Have completed the basic curriculum and graduated from an approved program of practical or registered nursing for LPN licensure or registered nursing for RN licensure
- Provide proof of age and citizenship
- Be currently or previously licensed in another state or jurisdiction
- Meet one of the following practice requirements for continued competence:
- Graduated from an approved nursing program within the previous 2 years
- Practiced nursing for a minimum of 500 hours within the previous 5 years
- Completed a review course of study within the previous 5 years
- Have taken and passed the NCLEX or the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE).
Exam
Is the NCLEX pass rate history of a nursing program important?
The NCLEX pass rate is just one important factor in determining what nursing program you choose. A program which consistently shows NCLEX pass rates of at least 85% does indicate that students have been prepared well and that the program is successful in educating competent nursing graduates. Many states require that nursing programs maintain a certain minimum NCLEX pass rate annually in order to remain in good standing with the board of nursing. This rate may be different from state to state, but in general a pass rate of at least 85% is required. A program's licensing exam pass rate is influenced greatly by the number of students who take the exam that year. One or two individuals who do not pass the licensing exam can greatly influence the passing rate of a small graduating class. In order to accurately understand a nursing program's success, always look at how many individuals took the exam each year and then look at the pass rate.
Education
LPN Training Program Structure
Most year-long practical nursing programs include both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (patient care). Classroom study covers basic nursing concepts and subjects related to patient care, including anatomy, physiology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics nursing, pharmacology, nutrition, and first aid. Clinical practice usually takes place in a hospital but sometimes includes other settings.
Career
What is the projected demand for LPNs?
Demand for LPNs will be driven by the increase in the share of the older population. Older persons have an increased incidence of injury and illness, which will increase their demand for healthcare services. In addition, with better medical technology, people are living longer, increasing the demand for long-term healthcare. In addition to projected job growth, job openings will result from replacement needs, as many workers leave the occupation permanently. Very good job opportunities are expected and rapid employment growth is projected in most healthcare industries, with the best job opportunities occurring in nursing care facilities and in home healthcare services. There is a perceived inadequacy of available healthcare in many rural areas, and as a result LPNs willing to locate in rural areas should have good job prospects.
Organizations
American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
As the voice of the Nurse Practitioner, AANP represents the interests of the approximately 192,000 NPs around the country, advocating for the active role of NPs as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare. The mission of AANP, a full-service national professional membership organization for NPs of all specialties, is to lead NPs in transforming patient centered health care.