Earn a PN diploma in Nashville and become possible
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Transfer credit | Up to 27 approved credits |
| Format | Online general education classes + core on-campus courses at our Nashville, Tennessee campus |
| Pathways | Pathways to further your nursing education (ASN, BSN, MSN) |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
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Practical Nursing Diploma Program - Nashville, TN
The Diploma in Practical Nursing is a 37-credit career diploma program which prepares you to begin your nursing career as a practical nurse.
The Nashville campus program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in pharmacology for nurses, growth and development, medical-surgical nursing, introductory specialties, and practical hands-on experience.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
What you'll learn in the Herzing University PN diploma program
The practical nursing program at Herzing University in Nashville, Tennessee provides theoretical, academic and clinical instruction in many different types of nursing to bridge the patient lifespan: including surgical, obstetric, pediatric, geriatric, and mental health.
Over the course of the program, you will learn the basics of nursing procedures, measuring vital signs, administering medication, and develop communication skills necessary to easily collaborate with other healthcare providers.
Most courses are delivered on-campus in Nashville; you may complete general education courses online.
| Program | Months i | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Practical Nursing | 12 | 37 |
Average number of months for students to complete program
Required Courses in Nursing
A minimum of 28.00 semester credit hours is required.
Required Courses in General Education
Students enrolled in this practical nursing program must complete a minimum of 8.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines.
Personal and Professional Development Courses
1.00 semester credit hours are required.
Resuming students should refer to the section on re-entering for additional requirements.
Distribution of Contact Hours by Course
Distribution of Contact Hours by Course Course or Category Lecture Lab Clinical Total Contact Hours Credits NP 100 Growth and Development 15.00 0.00 0.00 15.00 1.00 NP 110 Pharmacology for Nurses with Lab 22.50 15.00 0.00 37.50 2.00 NP 120 Fundamentals of Nursing with Lab and Clinical 45.00 45.00 22.50 112.50 5.00 NP 125 Medical Surgical Nursing I for LPNs 45.00 0.00 90.00 135.00 5.00 NP 231 Nursing Specialty 45.00 0.00 95.00 140.00 4.00 NP 236 Medical Surgical Nursing II for LPNs 45.00 0.00 135.00 180.00 5.00 NP 275 LPN Practical Experience 0.00 0.00 135.00 135.00 3.00 NP 280 Preparation for NCLEX-PN 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 SC 144 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology 45.00 30.00 0.00 75.00 4.00 HC 101 Medical Terminology 15.00 0.00 0.00 15.00 1.00 EN 104 English Composition I 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 PD 202 Professional Development II 15.00 0.00 0.00 15.00 1.00 Totals 382.50 90.00 477.50 950.00 37.00
Enrollment requirements
To be considered for admission into the Practical Nursing program at Herzing University - Nashville, you must meet the following requirements:
- Completed high school diploma, GED or equivalent
- Minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA
- Meet a minimum composite score of 48 on the most current version of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
- Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
Enrolling in a PN program is step #1 to starting your new career
Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse happens in 4 steps:
- Enroll in the Herzing University practical nursing program
- Graduate and get your PN diploma
- Take and pass the NCLEX-PN to get licensed
- Find your first job!
How long does it take to become an LPN?
The Herzing University PN program can take as little as 12 months to complete. After your training and earning your PN diploma, all that’s left for you is passing the NCLEX-PN exam to become a Licensed Practical Nurse in the state of Tennessee.
I want to become a registered nurse (RN). Do I need more than a diploma in practical nursing?
Yes—you’ll need at least an associate’s degree in nursing to become a registered nurse, although we encourage you to pursue a bachelor's degree if you’re serious about becoming an RN. Hospitals and medical facilities are more often recommending or outright requiring nurses to earn their BSN degree.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!
Quite simply, yes! A PN diploma and a job as a LPN is a great way to quickly get involved in the nursing profession and get a better feel for what it means to be a nurse. Earning your diploma helps get you into a career with above average pay, and can springboard you into the next level of nursing education should you choose to continue advancing your education and career.
We can help you come to a better determination. Send us a request for more information and we can answer any questions you have about the PN program, and discuss how beneficial it can be for you to become a LPN.
While practical nurses (LPN) and medical assistants often perform similar tasks, there are a few key differences to be aware of, including:
- Educational requirements
- Average salary
- Scope of practice
- Ongoing career opportunities
- Future outlook for jobs
Learn more about the difference between practical nursing and medical assisting and how to go from MA to LPN.
While Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) often work together in collaboration in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, their roles and responsibilities are very different. Learn more about the biggest differences between practical nurses (LPN/LVN) and registered nurses (RN).
No, there are no accredited PN programs that are 100% online. LPN programs describing themselves as “online” will offer a hybrid option where you can take some classes online to supplement your primary classroom coursework.
Students enrolled in the Herzing PN program may complete general education courses online—but the bulk of the coursework must be completed on campus.
Ultimately there is no replacement for real hands-on clinical experience, practice in simulation labs and direct in-person support from nursing instructors with real healthcare experience. Learning the skills required to become an LPN requires the live educational experience to become an excellent Licensed Practical Nurse.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn an average salary of $64,150 per year ($30.84 per hour).* Discover the average salary for a licensed practical nurse broken down by state.
You may find some programs offering 6 month or 9 month paths to a PN diploma to become an LPN. Be mindful that accelerated diploma/degree programs aren’t for everyone and such a fast track can be overwhelming. If you’re considering a few months’ difference in time as a tipping point in your decision, remember the quality of your education is most important!
Herzing University’s 1-year PN diploma program gets you an excellent hands-on education in a short amount of time. You’ll learn the foundational concepts and skills in nursing needed to excel in your new career as an LPN.
Although the majority of LPNs work in nursing homes, retirement communities or assisted living facilities, many LPNs work in:
- Physician's offices
- Hospitals
- Colleges
- Insurance carriers
- Home care
- Community food and housing
You can see a full industry profile for Licensed Practical Nurses from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Because many hospitals are upping their educational requirements for nurses in general, the demand for LPNs in hospitals is falling relative to registered nurses with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
However, any claim they are being “phased out” isn’t accurate. LPNs remain in demand in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home care and many other environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job opportunities for LPNs will rise approximately 3% from 2023-2033.*
The landscape is changing, but LPNs remain a vital contributor in the nursing community.
Considering a career as an LPN?
Your first step is to get a hands-on education to learn the fundamentals of nursing in a career-focused program. Herzing University's practical nursing program combines classwork with clinical experiences to help you earn your diploma and prepare you to become an LPN in as few as 12 months. Our program is available at several of our ground campuses:
PN program coursework is meant to be challenging, but not impossible. As a Herzing student you’ll find support every step of the way, from faculty, staff, instructors and other students enrolled in the program. You’re never alone—and never be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
Learn more about how hard nursing school is at Herzing University, and read some testimonials from former students describing their experience.
Potential employers may prefer a candidate with experience as a CNA, but it’s not necessarily a requirement for getting a job as an LPN (same goes for going from CNA to RN).
You aren't required to go from CNA to LPN and there is no prerequisite to be a CNA before enrolling in the Herzing University PN program.
The Student Experience at Herzing
My wife is a nurse and she is my hero that inspired me to become one. Nurses have a chance to make a real difference in someone's life, and I wanted to be a part of that.
John Santurri
Nursing Student | Orlando CampusI’m amazed at how quickly things went by – I’m already done!
Eileen Saint-fleur
Nursing Student | Orlando CampusHerzing pushed me to finish strong. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me!
Ernesha Carter
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusGreat things are on the horizon, and I’ll be returning for my BSN next
Rayisha Moore
Nursing Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusI’ve always had a passion for helping others, so nursing seemed like the right career choice for me.
Natalie Hassan
Nursing Student | Orlando CampusAccreditation & Disclosures
Effective May 7, 2024, the practical nursing program at Herzing University at the Nashville Campus located in Nashville, Tennessee is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on May 7, 2026.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this candidate program on the ACEN’s website.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
2023 Calendar Year
| Campus | NCLEX® Pass Ratei | Completion Rate | Completion Rate 150% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 85.71% | 30.51% | 32.20% |
| Birmingham | 100.00% | 15.97% | 18.49% |
| Brookfield | 82.81% | 29.46% | 32.14% |
| Kenosha | 84.44% | 29.31% | 31.90% |
| Madison | 100.00% | 36.11% | 38.89% |
| Nashvilleii | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Orlando | 85.71% | 23.08% | 28.21% |
| Tampa | 100.00% | 25.94% | 28.44% |
iNCLEX® pass rates reflect the rates as published by the respective board of nursing. iiThe Nashville Campus will not graduate their first cohort of PN students until 2024. | |||
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Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.