There are many reasons to pursue a nursing career in Kentucky. In addition to being a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, the Bluegrass State is home to some of the best hospitals in the nation.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly 60,000 nurses of all practice levels employed in Kentucky. Here’s a breakdown:
Practice Level
Employment
Registered Nurses
43,840
Nurse Anesthetists
N/A
Nurse Midwives
70
Nurse Practitioners
3,620
LPNs and LVNs
9,790
Read on to learn everything you need to know about being a nurse in Kentucky!
Part One Kentucky Board Of Nursing
The Kentucky Board of Nursing issues and regulates all licenses and educational programs for nurses in the state. It is the responsibility of the board to ensure that anyone holding a license is competent to practice safely.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address:
Kentucky Board Of Nursing 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 300 Louisville, KY 40222-5172
Phone: 502-429-3300 or 1-800-305-2052 | Fax:502-429-3311
Hours of Operation: 8AM-4:30 PM Mon-Fri except for state holidays.
For information on Kentucky nurse licensing including forms and application instructions, see Part Four.
Part Two Nursing Salaries In Kentucky
When adjusted for the cost of living, nursing salaries in Kentucky rank 39th highest in the nation. Find out how much you could or should be making.
HOURLY WAGES FOR KENTUCKY NURSES
Practice Level
Average
Annula Mean Wage
LPNs and LVNs
$20.55
$42,740
Registered Nurses
$30.65
$63,750
Nurse Anesthetists
$80.48
$167,400
Nurse Midwives
$50.91
$105,890
Nurse Practitioners
$47.87
$99,560
HIGHEST PAYING CITIES IN KY
Metropolitan areas tend to pay higher salaries to nurses. Some of the highest paying cities include:
1. Louisville
# of nurses in Louisville: 14,750 Average Hourly Wage: $31.11 Average Annual Salary: $64,700
2. Lexington
# of nurses in Lexington: 7,400 Average Hourly Wage: $30.12 Average Annual Salary: $62,660
3. Elizabethtown/Fort Knox
# of nurses in Elizabethtown/Ft. Knox: 1,210 Average Hourly Wage: $29.87 Average Annual Salary: $62,130
4. Bowling Green
# of nurses in Bowling Green: 1,620 Average Hourly Wage: $28.48 Average Annual Salary: $59,240
Part Three Demand For Nurses
Despite studies projecting a surplus of registered nurses in Kentucky over the next decade, many Kentucky hospitals are struggling to hire enough nurses to care for patients.
According to Susan Ellis, the VP of Patient Care Services at Highlands Regional Medical Center, “larger Kentucky hospitals may have between a 10 and 40 percent vacancy rate.”
Some hospitals have been so desperate for qualified applicants that they’ve had to start offering exorbitant signing bonuses. Pikeville Medical Center in east Kentucky offered a $25k signing bonus to compete with other hospitals. This allowed them to recruit over 300 nurses at a time while other hospitals were experiencing dire shortages.
Part Four KY Nursing Licenses
As a Nursing Compact state, Kentucky recognizes licenses from 24 other states. These include:
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Idaho
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin
For the most part, nurse licensure in Kentucky is processed online. In fact, the Kentucky board of nursing does not even issue license cards. Licenses are now sent in the form of an email which includes your license number and expiration date.
We’ve included the links you’ll need to apply for and maintain your Kentucky Nursing License. Throughout the process, you’ll be able to check your application status on KBN’s online portal.
General License Forms And Links
All applicants for nursing licensure by endorsement, examination, and reinstatement of a KY license that has been lapsed for over a year are required to complete the following:
All nurses in Kentucky must complete 14 contact hours of continuing education from an approved provider each year from November 1st - October 31st.
There are a few mandatory courses which will count towards the total 14 contact hours required.
MANDATORY CE FOR ALL NURSES
Required CE
Contact Hours
Frequency
Domestic Violence
3 Contact Hours
Once within first 3 yrs
Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)
1.5 Contact Hours
Once within first 3 yrs
Note: The Domestic Violence course has been integrated into all Kentucky nursing schools’ curriculum since May 1998 and the Shaken Baby Syndrome course has been integrated since December 2011.
MANDATORY CE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS (SANE)
Required CE
Contact Hours
Frequency
Sexual Assault, Forensic Medicine, or Domestic Violence
5 Contact Hours
Once a year
MANDATORY CE FOR APRNS
Required CE
Contact Hours
Frequency
APRN Pharmacology
5 Contact Hours
Once a year
Sexual Assault, Forensic Medicine, or Domestic Violence
5 Contact Hours
Once a year
Note: APRNs may use their national nursing certification to satisfy the fourteen (14) contact hours (CH) needed for RN license renewal as long as the certification was initially attained during the licensure period, has been in effect during the entire licensure period, or the certification has been renewed or recertified during the licensure period.
Part Six Magnet Hospitals
As of September 2017, there are 6 Magnet-recognized hospitals in the state of Kentucky. Below is a comprehensive list:
Considering furthering your nursing education in Kentucky? Our panel of registered nurses reviewed nursing programs across the state based on their reputation, NCLEX pass rate, tuition, and accreditation status. See the top 10 listed below, and get additional details in our Top 10 Best Nursing Schools in Kentucky guide.
Western Kentucky University
Lindsey Wilson College
Northern Kentucky University
University of Kentucky
Spalding University
University of Louisville
Morehead State University
Murray State University
Eastern Kentucky University
Bellarmine University
Part Eight Best Hospitals For Nurses
Nurse.org analyzed 1,075 surveys of nurses from 87 hospitals in Kentucky to rank the best hospitals to work for in the state of Kentucky.
1. Baptist Health Lexington
Lexington, KY
4.4 Average Rating 97% Recommended
Magnet Hospital
“Baptist Health Lexington takes care of their employees. We have an open and friendly administration. All the nurses and techs help each other out and it’s very team oriented!”
“The best job I’ve ever had with the best group of people I’ve ever worked with!”
“This is a great facility. The staff are caring and respectful of each other. Patient needs come first.”
“The atmosphere among staff is friendly and very helpful for new employees. Management can be quite understanding and sympathetic when scheduling staffing shifts.”
Nurse.org surveyed 1,075 nurses from 87 hospitals in the state of Kentucky from 2015-2017 for this report. Hospitals with less than ten reviews were excluded from our list. The ranking order is based on the average rating and the percent of nurses who would recommend their hospital.
Part Nine Kentucky Nursing Organizations
Many nurses join professional nursing organizations as a way to stay current on what’s going on their field or specialty. They offer many opportunities for education and networking. Here is a list of professional nursing organizations in Kentucky.
KENTUCKY NURSING ORGANIZATIONS
Organization
Website
Kentucky - Association of Women’s Health, OB, & Neo
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