This Roman Catholic liberal-arts university, one of the largest private institutions of higher learning in the Louisville area, provides nursing programs at the undergraduate, master's and doctorate level. Undergraduate students can go for the regular four-year bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) track, speed it up with the one-year "accelerated" option if they already have a bachelor's or choose the RN-BSN path if they are already registered nurses. Graduate students can study to become family nurse practitioners, specialize in education or administration or combine the master of science degree in nursing (MSN) with an MBA program. The doctor of nursing practice is for those who wish to attain the highest level of nursing practice and knowledge en route to becoming clinical or administrative leaders in the field.
With campuses not only in Louisville, but also in Cincinnati, Ohio, San Antonio, Texas, and Tampa Bay, Florida, as well, the Galen College of Nursing is solely dedicated to providing training in the nursing field. It offers a diploma program for those interested in being licensed practicing nurses (LPNs) who are responsible for certain basic tasks in a nursing practice, as well as an associate degree for aspiring RNs, who supervise them. The LPN program takes 73 credits to complete while the RN track has an extra seven credits.
Jefferson Community & Technical College, the largest of 16 colleges forming the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, offers more than 70 programs. Two of them are dedicated to nursing: one for LPNs and the other for RNs. The former can take up to 56 credits to complete whereas the latter takes a little more than 40 credits.
Named after its founder, business educator Enos Spencer, Spencerian College has campuses in Louisville as well as Lexington, which is behind the former as the second-largest city in Kentucky. Its diploma and associate of applied science degree programs for LPNs and RNs, respectively, include core subjects such as clinical decision-making, professional behaviors and managing care.