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Everyone operating in a certain industry has to follow some rules, for their own safety and for the safety of others.
Generally, a supervising board makes sure these rules are implemented and everyone knows them.
In Nebraska, nurses are under the supervision of the Board of Nursing.
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What Does the Board Do?
In this state, the Board of Nursing is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Board establishes the rules followed by nurses and offers a variety of services.
These include:
- Ensuring the integrity of the public health, safety, and welfare
- Issuing licenses
- Approving nursing training programs
- Renewing the credentials
- Ensuring the candidates meet the requirements
- Imposing disciplinary actions
- Promulgating the rules and regulations
- Maintaining accurate records
- Registering advanced practice nurses
- Offering APRN Nursing Practice Information
In Nebraska, you’ll obtain a nurse license for the following professions:
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Getting Approval to Take the NCLEX
Future nurses know that NCLEX means “National Council Licensure Examination.”
They have to take this exam if they want to become nurses.
Candidates will become either RNs or LPNs.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing is the body governing this licensing test.
This exam is available in these countries as well:
- Australia
- Canada
Across the US, you’ll have to register with a Pearson Vue testing center near you, to take the exam.
If you get accepted, you’ll receive a number through the Approval To Test (ATT) letter.
It usually takes some 7 days for this letter to be sent out.
As you can imagine, you’ll also have to pay a fee that you cannot have refunded.
Make sure to send your application for licensure at the same time as signing up with Pearson Vue.
Applying for a license involves:
- An application form
- Paying some extra fees
- A clean criminal background
- Proof you completed an approved training course for nurses
- Some other documents
This application has a validity of a year.
But you must do so within 2 years after graduating from your training course.
It’s well known that some candidates may fail the exam.
They can retake this licensing test only after 45 days have passed.
Should you fail all the attempts at passing the exam in a year, you’ll have to start the process all over again.
Renewing Your License
Nurses in Nebraska can renew their licenses online every 2 years.
They first need to make an account at the following link:
- https://nebraska.mylicense.com/
Here you have the option to create an account as an individual or as a business.
You’ll be required to pay a renewal fee as well as to complete some hours of continuing education.
The hours are as follows:
- RNs and LPNs are required 20 contact hours
- CNAs are required 40 contact hours
- NPs are required 40 contact hours
- 10 of them must be in pharmacotherapeutics
NPs must also maintain their national certification.
APRNs must maintain their Nebraska RN licenses or their NLC multistate licenses.
How to do a Licence Lookup
When you need to look up a license in Nebraska, you can visit this link:
- https://www.nebraska.gov/LISSearch/search.cgi
Here you have 3 options:
- Individual search
- Business or service search
- Facility or service search
The information you’ll have to provide is:
- The name of the license holder
- The license number
- Address – just city, county, and zip code
- The status of the license
- Occupation or the type of service offered
You’re recommended to use an “*” after the first few letters of the name.
This applies to the first name of the individuals and the name of the business or facility.
Doing so will bring forth more results that could be useful in some instances.
You’ll have to also prove you’re a human after giving all the data.
Nebraska Board of Nursing Contact Information
You can find the Board of Nursing at 301 Centennial Mall South, 1st floor, 14th and M Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508.
Its URL is http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Nurse-Licensing.aspx.
By phone, the Board can be reached at (402) 471-4376.
These are the phone numbers of specific personnel within the Board:
- Program Manager: (402) 471-0317
- Nursing Education Consultant: (402) 471-4917
- Nursing Practice Consultant: (402) 471-6443
You can also call the Department at (402) 471-0469, should you have issues.
However, you have to keep in mind the working hours of the Board:
- From Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.
Conclusion
As a future nurse you might need extra resources:
- Nebraska Nurses Association
- Nebraska Board of Nursing
- Nebraska School Nurses Association
- Nursing and Frontline Staff (LeadingAge Nebraska)
- Nebraska Action Coalition
- Nebraska Organization of Nurse Leaders
- Licensed Practical Nurse Association of Nebraska