Earn a nursing diploma with Herzing University in Nashville
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Program length | As few as 12 months |
| Credits to graduate | 37 credits |
| Transfer credit | Up to 27 approved credits |
| Format | Online general education classes + core on-campus courses at our Nashville, TN campus |
| Pathways | Degree pathways to further your nursing education (BSN, MSN) |
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.
Experienced faculty
Get face-to-face instruction from experienced and credentialed faculty with real-world success in the field.
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.
Now Enrolling!
Curriculum
Nashville practical nursing program classes & curriculum details
Over the course of the PN program, you will learn the basics of nursing procedures, measuring vital signs, administering medication, and developing communication skills necessary to collaborate with other healthcare providers.
Online and on-campus: The curriculum includes general education courses you can complete online, with required nursing courses you will complete at our campus in Nashville, Tennessee.
| Program | Monthsi | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Practical Nursing | 12 | 37 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program
Required Courses in Nursing
A minimum of 28.00 semester credit hours is required.
Required General Education Courses
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.
Requirements
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
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Diploma in Practical Nursing program in Nashville is $495 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Now Enrolling!
Waived Enrollment Fee
Natalie Hassan Became Possible
Experienced PN program faculty helped Natalie both professionally and personally, changing her life for the better in many ways.
Job outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of licensed practical and vocational nurses (LPN/LVN) is expected to rise 6% from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average across all U.S. occupations.*
Now is an excellent time to pursue a degree qualifying you for jobs in a growing field with numerous opportunities for career advancement.
Discover career pathways in nursing
Licensed practical nurses provide basic nursing care under the direction of Registered Nurses (RN) and physicians in hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, and other types of healthcare facilities. Your duties include taking vital signs, changing bandages, updating patient records, keeping patients comfortable, and other tasks as permitted by the regulations in your state of practice.
LPN represents an excellent starting point for students looking to begin working as a nurse fast and build a strong foundation to pursue future career opportunities, including RN.
You can potentially transfer credit earned in the PN program into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn an average salary of $51,850 per year ($24.93 per hour).* Discover the average salary for a licensed practical nurse broken down by state.
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).
There is no prerequisite to be a CNA before enrolling in the Herzing University PN program.
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.
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 9% from 2020 to 2030.*
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:
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Come visit our campus in Nashville for a personalized look at our school and get a feel for our learning environment.
Herzing University - Nashville
100 Centerview Drive, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37214-3439
(615) 206-2858
View all Nashville nursing programs.
Disclosures & Accreditation
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2021. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
