Nursing Schools in Tennessee

Lincoln Memorial University Starts Nurse Practitioner Program

Harrogate, Tennessee - Lincoln Memorial University received unanimous Tennessee Board of Nursing approval to initiate a master's degree program in nursing on Wednesday. The TBN approval follows LMU Board of Trustees and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) approval and clears the way for the University to offer a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree beginning fall semester 2006

"The unanimous approval by the Tennessee Board of Nursing is a testament to this University's commitment to providing the highest quality medical education in the country," LMU President Nancy B. Moody said. "This is a very important advance in our nursing program and Dr. Modrcin and the entire nursing faculty should be congratulated on their efforts."

The program will offer a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration with an emphasis on preparing graduates to provide primary care to individuals in rural Appalachia. Founded in 1897 as a living memorial to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, the University's mission is to serve the Appalachian region by providing quality programs in higher education. LMU launched its nursing program in 1974, in part to fight the growing health care crisis across the region. The Appalachian region remains an underserved area today. Since the program's inception, 5,000 nursing graduates have joined the employment ranks and 68 percent of those graduates live and serve within 75 miles of the main campus

Dr. Mary Anne Modrcin, dean of the Caylor School of Nursing and Allied Health has already begun the process to secure candidacy status with the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). LMU currently offers degrees in two undergraduate nursing programs: the Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S.N.) and the Registered Nurse - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN - BSN) program. Additionally, the University also offers an ASN to RN-BSN degree completion program. Read more about the LMU nursing program

Nursing Schools in Tennessee

Are you wondering if a career as a healthcare professional might be the right choice for you? Many of us are willing to work hard and see this dream come true. You have come to the right place if you are searching for pertinent information about nursing education, diverse employment opportunities, and career choices in the expanding sector of healthcare.

If you are beginning to consider switching from your existing job to a more challenging career and you need information about what the first step is or maybe you are being faced with choosing the best nursing school to suit your needs. It is natural to want to know what to expect as a nursing student or search for information about the NCLEX test and how to get ready for this essential licensing examination.

Here you can find out about the education and training necessary to become a registered nurse or a nursing aide in Tennessee including available nursing degree programs, job duties for CNA, LPN, and RN, as well as possible nursing job benefits and opportunities. To see if a nursing career is a good choice in your case we have also offered information on topics such as places of employment, job outlook and nurse income. If this is not the right time to become a LPN or a RN you might want to try becoming a certified nursing aide and decide afterwards if a healthcare career is right for you.

You should select a nursing school wisely because this is an essential step in getting the quality education necessary to be a competent licensed practical or registered nurse. Tennessee Nursing Schools can be used as a guide to learn about different ways to become a licensed practical or registered nurse and where to find nursing programs in Tennessee.

Nursing schools are listed by the type of nursing programs offered and it presents the following groups: practical nursing programs, associate degree programs, bachelor degree programs, and master degree nursing programs. If your dream is to be a nurse, then your initial step is to choose the type of nursing program you will pursue. Tennessee Nursing Schools discusses the different ways to obtain a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse degree, taking into account the duration and prerequisite courses mandatory for every type of nursing program. As soon as you have decided on a nursing program, you should search for nursing schools in Tennessee offering the nursing degree you are interested in.

Another task can be to ask for admission information, like criteria for choosing nursing students, application deadlines for the registered or licensed practical nurse program you wish to attend, as well as tuition cost and scholarship opportunities at that nursing school.

Universities and nursing schools in Tennessee provide one or more of these nursing program types: licensed practical nurse program - a single year of classroom and hands-on practice, this type of program is a fast way to become a nurse; ADN program - many nursing schools in Tennessee provide this kind of program, which takes 2 years to complete but each nursing school requires the student to have completed specific educational prerequisites prior to being accepted in the associate degree nursing program; baccalaureate degree nursing programs - several nursing schools in Tennessee offer a traditional nursing program which takes 4 years to graduate from while some universities have created a non-traditional, fast-paced second-degree nursing program to obtain a bachelor's in nursing degree for students with a bachelor degree in a different discipline.

Second-degree bachelor degree nursing programs are an increasingly popular choice for many students because such a program takes from one to 2 years to graduate from. Graduate level programs prepare the student nurse for advanced professional practice. Universities and nursing schools in Tennessee may require one or 2 years of nursing employment prior to graduate admission. To inquire about the specific requirements of a nursing program you need to contact the nursing school admission person.

Nursing could be the best career path for men and women who are committed to helping others. To become a nurse you need to study a specific curriculum and use the skills and knowledge learned in nursing school in order to offer outstanding patient care. There are several nursing schools throughout Tennessee, and every one of them is offering the skills and clinical practice to get you ready for this healthcare career.

As an experienced nurse you have several opportunities to expand your skills by seeking advanced nursing degrees or certification programs. Along with useful information for students and nurses, Tennessee Nursing Schools lists licensed practical nursing programs, two and four-year nursing programs, and master's degree nursing programs in Tennessee.

A bachelor's degree often is necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and teaching, and all four advanced practice nursing specialties - clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. Tennessee individuals who complete a bachelor's receive more training in areas such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as nursing care becomes more complex. Additionally, bachelor's degree programs offer more clinical experience in nonhospital settings.

All four advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master's degree. Most programs last about 2 years and require a BSN degree and some programs require at least one to two years of clinical experience as a registered nurse for admission. Upon completion of a program, most advanced practice nurses become nationally certified in their area of specialty. In some States, certification in a specialty is required in order to practice that specialty.

All Tennessee nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. Coursework also includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students. Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A growing number of programs include clinical experience in nursing care facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics.

Nurses should be caring, sympathetic, responsible, and detail oriented. They must be able to direct or supervise others, correctly assess patients' conditions, and determine when consultation is required. They need emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.

Some Tennessee registered nurses start their careers as licensed practical nurses or nursing aides, and then go back to school to receive their RN degree. Most registered nurses begin as staff nurses, and with experience and good performance often are promoted to more responsible positions. Some Tennessee registered nurses move into the business side of health care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a health care team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care.

Employers - including hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations, among others - need registered nurses for health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work as college and university faculty or conduct research.

Nursing Resources

For information about 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.

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

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