Kentucky is the land of race horses, bluegrass, bourbon and beautiful scenery. A temperate climate statewide contributes to a state that actually sports four seasons. Nurses who seek education or employment in Kentucky can find both in urban areas such as Louisville, smaller towns like Lexington, or rural health care careers in the eastern section of this state near the mountains.

Becoming a Nurse in Kentucky

Kentucky offers numerous on-campus resources statewide for nursing students to climb that career ladder. The University of Kentucky in Lexington provides courses in specialties such as acute care, clinical nursing, neonatal and newborn care, pediatrics, psychiatric and mental health. Degrees offered by UK include the BSN and MSN in nursing, and a doctoral in NP (Nurse Practitioner). Another opportunity includes the University of Louisville, where nurses can study adult and family care, women’s health and psychiatric and mental health nursing. Degrees offered by this university include the BSN and MSN, and studies to license as an RN (Registered Nurse). If a smaller college appeals to you, you can study anatomy and physiology, or earn your LPN/LVN or RN license at Southeast Community College in Cumberland.

Nursing Jobs in Kentucky

Some of the largest health care employers in the Bluegrass State include Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, with a workforces of more than 3,100; Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, with locations in Lexington, Louisville, Fort Thomas, Florence and Carrollton; and, Jewish Hosptial and St. Mary’s HealthCare, also located in Louisville. Jewish Hospital has received the Consumer Choice Award as the most preferred hospital in Louisville by the National Research Corporation, an independent health care data research company, more than any other hospital in Kentucky. Salaries for Kentucky health care workers are based upon experience, degree earned and the job description and location. For instance, an LPN in Louisville earns, on average, $32,000 per year, whereas an RN in the same city can earn about $55,000 per year. LPNs in Lexington, however, can earn about $39,000 per year, and RNs in Lexington can earn, on average, $66,000 per year.