Best Nursing Schools in Louisiana in 2024

Known as the Pelican State, Louisiana offers excellent opportunities for aspiring nurses. With over 42,000 registered nurses currently employed and earning an average annual salary of $70,380, Louisiana will need to add 42,690 new RNs by 2030 to meet growing healthcare demands. 

Knowing the nursing shortage in the state, finishing a nursing degree is a great career move. To help you make your choice among the range of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs in the state, we compiled a list of the top 10 best nursing schools. By choosing one of Louisiana’s best colleges, you’ll be on track to join over 40,000 Registered Nurses who earn over $30 per hour helping people across the state.

• There are 27 nursing schools in Louisiana.
• The CCNE accredits 11 nursing school(s)
• The ACEN accredits 22 nursing school(s).
• The NCLEX passing rate for BSN students in Louisiana is between 64.80% and 98.74%.
• The NCLEX passing rate for ADN students in Louisiana is between 68.96% and 98.74%.
• RNs currently employed in Louisiana are 42,870.
• RNs in Louisiana earn an average of $70,380 per year or $33.84 per hour.
• Louisiana needs 42,690 new RNs by 2030 or 2,270 new nurses per year.

Overview of Nursing Programs in Louisiana

When researching nursing schools in Louisiana, you’ll find a range of nursing programs available depending on your career goals. Typical nursing degrees include:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) – Usually takes 2 years and prepares graduates to take the NCLEX-RN exam and become RNs. Offered at community colleges statewide.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Traditional 4-year degree for RNs, covers more advanced topics versus the ADN. Graduates still take the NCLEX-RN. Offered at universities and colleges.
• RN to BSN programs – For current RNs with an associate’s degree to bridge to the bachelor’s level. Expanding leadership skills and career options. Can often be completed online in 1-2 years.
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN) – Intensive 12-18 month bachelor’s degree for those who already have a bachelors in another field. Coursework plus hundreds of clinical hours prepare graduates to be RNs.
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Graduate-level degree for advanced specialty nursing careers like nurse practitioner or educator roles. Usually takes 2+ years.
• DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) – Designed for very high level nursing practice in a chosen specialty, with more clinical hours and residency components. Leads to titles like DNP or DrNP.
• PhD in Nursing – Focused on nursing research and academia. 4+ year program typically requires a dissertation and specializations are available.

Some key factors to weigh when researching the numerous nursing schools in Louisiana are each program’s cost, format, location, accreditation, focus areas available, flexibility, clinical opportunities, faculty qualifications, and student outcomes like graduation and NCLEX exam pass rates. Identifying programs that align both short- and long-term with your career aspirations and learning preferences can make for the best fit.

All approved nursing degree options will prepare you to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in Louisiana upon graduation and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Further education like an MSN or DNP can qualify you for advanced roles as a nurse practitioner (NP), certified nurse midwife (CNM), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), or nursing administrator.

The Louisiana State Board of Nursing oversees licensing, education standards, and complaint investigations for RNs and advanced practice nurses in the state. They approve Louisiana nursing schools and programs based on factors like curriculum, outcomes, resources, and policies.

What Are the Best Nursing Schools in Louisiana?

Online Nursing Programs for Louisiana Students

With the growth of distance learning, many discover online nursing programs align with responsibilities outside academics. The good news is students living in Louisiana can attend accredited online programs both within and outside the state.

Just ensure any out-of-state schools verify their specific online BSN or MSN programs allow students from your region to meet clinical requirements locally. Some even arrange clinical placements to make achieving a direct patient care experience more convenient.

Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Programs

For those with a prior bachelor’s degree in another field, Accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs provide the fastest route to become a registered nurse typically taking just 12-18 months. The accelerated nursing’s intensive curriculum meaningfully integrates classroom learning with labs and clinical training.

• Prerequisites and Admissions: Required criteria for admission into accelerated nursing generally include a previous bachelor’s degree with a competitive GPA (approximately 3.0+), completion of science prerequisites, letters of recommendation, and possibly a test like the GRE. Life experience in healthcare may also be preferred.
• Curriculum: Accelerated programs condense traditional BSN courses to cover nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, and mental health, while including clinical rotations.
• Clinicals: Nursing students should expect between 500-and 700 supervised clinical hours arranged at hospitals, clinics, and community settings to develop hands-on skills. Accommodating the required hours alongside classroom demands takes rigorous planning and perseverance!

RN to BSN Programs

ADN– or ASN-prepared registered nurses can expand competence and career mobility with an RN-to-BSN program. Often pursued for enhanced leadership scope, patient care knowledge, and culturally competent practice, BSN nurses gain an edge in securing jobs or advancing professionally.

Best RN to BSN Schools in Louisiana

• Best RN to BSN Programs in Louisiana

• Program Formats: Build on prior nursing coursework through convenient online, hybrid, or in-person RN to BSN programs with flexible schedules compatible with working nurses.
• Course Highlights: ​The curriculum emphasizes nursing theory, community health principles, research, nursing leadership, and evidence-based practice.
• Length and Cost: Typically 3-4 full-time semesters, but allows longer for part-time. Explore all financial aid options to limit debt, and research schools offering generous transfer credits minimizing duplication.

Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Programs

Those wanting to accelerate their expertise in a nursing specialty at either the patient care or administrative level pursue a Master of Science in Nursing through one of two typical pathways:

NP Track: Become a family nurse practitioner, pediatric NP, psychiatric mental health NP, adult-gerontology NP, or other advanced clinical specialization prepared to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications.

Nursing Leadership/Management Track: Gain executive skills to lead nurses, healthcare teams, hospital units, or larger systems while moving policy and transformations forward.

Competitive applicants demonstrate strong critical thinking, ambition, plus clinical and academic records. Required MSN admission materials commonly include:

• Bachelor’s degree transcripts indicating prerequisites like statistics and research courses
• Letters of recommendation highlighting nursing leadership experience
• Written goals statement conveying alignment with the program specialization
• Competitive GRE test scores

Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

Nurse practitioners deliver advanced medical care in various healthcare settings like private practices, urgent care centers, retail clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. Common primary care and specialty pathways Louisiana students can take to earn NP credentials include:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): Holistic continuing care for patients across life stages
• Adult-Gerontology NP (AGNP): Care focused on adults, elders, and aging-related illness
• Pediatric NP (PNP): Healthcare for infants, children, adolescents, and their families
• Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (PMHNP): Diagnosis, therapy, and prescribing medications for complex mental health disorders and addiction
• Women’s Health NP (WHNP): Prenatal and gynecological care

NP programs blend master ‘s-level coursework and 500–1,000 supervised clinical practicum hours. Students deliver advanced assessments, order and interpret diagnostic tests, make differential diagnoses, initiate treatments like medications, and skillfully apply clinical reasoning in managing cases. Classroom instruction aligned with challenging patient experiences develops this specialized knowledge.

Best NP Schools in Louisiana

• Best NP Programs in Louisiana

Earning an MSN with a concentration can take approximately 2–3 years full-time depending on prior nursing education. Programs may also offer part-time or accelerated options. The average nurse practitioner program tuition cost ranges from $35,000-$75,000 nationally.

Post-master’s certificates or DNP pathways allow nurses who hold a graduate degree to gain NP education more expediently, including those from alternative specializations looking to expand scope.

Following state education and licensure protocols, NPs can achieve expanded autonomy caring for patients. However, legislation in Louisiana still necessitates formal collaboration with a licensed physician even when prepared as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).

Doctoral Nursing Programs

For RNs looking to achieve the highest level of nursing practice authority and expertise, the terminal degree options are:

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The doctor of nursing practice program is geared for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives and other advanced practice nurses who want to excel delivering direct patient care, translating evidence into practice at an expert level. Louisiana schools offering the online DNP include Loyola University New Orleans and the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

PhD in Nursing

Primarily aimed at those interested in senior level practice leadership, executive decision-making, research, and training future nurses. The PhD in nursing is the typical requirement for academic faculty positions and emphasizes nursing science methodology, statistics, and producing original studies. Schools like LSU Alexandria offer both DNP and online nursing PhD options.

Benefits of Becoming a Nurse in Louisiana

In the state nicknamed “Sportsman’s Paradise,” nursing graduates discover diverse opportunities to launch their careers along with advantages like:

• In-Demand Jobs: Louisiana continually experiences expanding demand for quality nurses across settings. According to state projections, an average of 1,260 openings for RNs are forecast each year.
• Salaries: High nursing pay reflects competitive hiring environments aiming to secure nurses. Average annual salaries for nurses statewide are: LPNs $39,980 / RNs $66,450 / NPs over $103,000.
• Variety: Nurses can choose focus areas matching interests from ICU, emergency, surgery, pediatrics, education, research, primary care, geriatrics, administration.
• Travel: Nationally-ranked cities for nurses wanting engaging locations near Louisiana offering great pay rates include Dallas and Houston, Texas or St. Louis, Missouri.

How to Earn Your Louisiana Nursing License

Follow these primary steps to become a licensed registered nurse in Louisiana:

• Graduate from an approved nursing diploma, associate’s degree, or bachelor of science in nursing program. You may refer to our list of the best nursing schools to know which offers great nursing and health sciences degrees.
• Submit fingerprints for a criminal background check
• Send application documentation like transcripts, photo, and fees to the LSBN
• Register and pass the NCLEX-RN exam through the NCSBN
• Renew Louisiana RN license every two years before expiration

Specialized licensure requirements apply for advanced practice nurses like nurse practitioners, certified nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNS).

Finding the Right Nursing School in Louisiana

With over 25 nursing programs statewide accredited by either the ACEN or CCNE, RNs have quality in-state options to launch careers they feel passionate about.

Assessing variables like outcomes, cost, location, teaching model, and program culture can aid prospective students identify their best fit.

• Accreditation & Reputation: Seek schools demonstrating investment in high nursing education standards. Confirm accreditation through either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). It must also be approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing. Graduating from such programs means meeting rigorous criteria correlated with positive student outcomes. Also research ratings, nursing school rankings, community impact, ethical conduct, achievements.
• Affordability: Compare tuition rates to locate most reasonable options for your situation and career phase. Constantly evolving federal, state, and nursing-specific financial aid can offset expenses at degree programs to ensure funding concerns don’t limit your professional goals. Also confirm if your preferred school offers nursing scholarships, local hospital agreements, repayment programs, or graduate teaching assistant roles.
• Program Outcomes: Key indicators to evaluate how well a nursing program prepares students for licensure and jobs include its graduation rates, graduate satisfaction levels, certification pass rates, and job placement success. You must also be able to provide the best nursing care to your patients. High outcome ratings reflect quality training. The top 10 nursing schools in Louisiana listed above have guaranteed excellent program outcomes.
• Learning Format: A school’s teaching model shapes the classroom and clinical training experience. Formats integrate online course delivery with campus labs, simulation environment usage, faculty interaction, self-directed study, and patient care exposure. Ensure your needs get met through a preferred balance of virtual, in-person and self-paced learning.

By weighing these aspects of nursing programs in Louisiana, finding where you can gain the competence, connections, care passion and opportunity to make an impact should point you towards the right fit!

Getting Licensed as an RN in Louisiana

After earning your ADN or BSN in the state, the final milestones prior to securing that rewarding registered nurse (RN) title include:

1. Graduate from an Approved Program: Finish your Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree at one of the 25+ ACEN or CCNE-accredited nursing diploma, ADN or BSN programs statewide.
2. Pass the NCLEX Exam and Become Licensed: With fresh nursing knowledge take and successfully pass the NCLEX-RN exam through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The Louisiana State Board of Nursing will award your RN license!
3. Maintain an Active License Through Renewal Every 2 Years: To uphold an active nursing license status, Louisiana RNs must complete continuing education units and renew their license before the expiration date every couple of years per state regulations.

Then you’re ready to start that meaningful nursing career! Trending RN specialization areas of high demand across the state’s hospitals currently include ICU/critical care, emergency, labor and delivery, operating room nurses plus evolving fields like cardiology, oncology, mental health and pediatrics.

By achieving licensure, you are now ready to enter the nursing profession!

In-Demand Specializations

Once establishing a strong nursing foundation and RN licensure, new nurses in Louisiana can grow their careers pursuing specialized certifications like:

• Critical Care: Treat vitally unstable patients using cutting-edge technology in fast-paced hospital ICUs and ERs. Schools like Northwestern State University prepare nurses for this intense yet rewarding field.
• Obstetrics: Compassionately care for mothers and babies during pregnancy, birth, postpartum stages either in hospitals or community settings.
• Oncology: Provide treatments, pain management, and emotional support for diverse cancer patients in clinics, infusion centers, hospices.
• Nurse Executive: Help lead complex care organizations through master’s degrees (MSN) via schools like the University of Louisiana Lafayette. Eventually pursue senior roles managing staff, budgets, policy.

By gaining RN experience then pursuing specialty credentials, Louisiana nurses build expertise improving community wellness.

Job Outlook and Salaries

Thanks to Louisiana’s expanding older population and insured residents now seeking more care, the job outlook for nurses remains extremely promising. State projections estimate over 5,420 average annual openings. Nurses can have rewarding opportunities spanning a spectrum – from Baton Rouge emergency rooms, to rural parish health clinics, thriving New Orleans cancer centers to Lafayette heart hospitals as nurses continue elevating care.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Schools in Louisiana

What are the top nursing schools in Louisiana?

The State of Louisiana offers over 25 accredited nursing programs to choose from. Consistently highly rated options include Louisiana State University Health School of Nursing, Loyola University New Orleans, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and McNeese State University. These provide excellent BSN and advanced degrees preparing nurses through quality curriculum, renowned faculty, and stellar graduate outcomes.

What is the difference between a two-year ADN and a four-year BSN degree in Louisiana?

While both pathways enable becoming a registered nurse, the four-year Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) offers more extensive training in care management, leadership, research, and public health nursing. Top schools in Louisiana like the University of Louisiana Lafayette offer both ADN and BSN options. Many nurses later build on an ADN with an RN to BSN program for expanded opportunities.

Do I have to attend nursing school in Louisiana to get licensed as a nurse in the state?

No, Louisiana allows nurses who graduated from accredited nursing schools in other states to still qualify for nursing licensure through endorsement. After passing the NCLEX-RN exam, you would apply and submit transcripts to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing to receive a multistate license. However attending an in-state program like at Nicholls State can provide extensive regional clinical experiences.

Which Louisiana nursing school is right for me?

Finding your best fit depends on preferred location, cost, campus or online options, teaching format, culture, focus areas, career aspirations, and learning style. For example, Louisiana Tech University offers a traditional BSN with simulation technology and service options. Schools like Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University have smaller cohorts for more personalized attention. Compare PROGRAM strengths as you envision the student experience.

How do I find the best nursing programs in Louisiana?

When looking for top Louisiana nursing programs, start by exploring schools accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This accreditation ensures quality standards are met. Also consider colleges like Louisiana Delta Community College, which offers an Associate Degree in Nursing.

You can also search rankings that list the best nursing programs in Louisiana. These often include Northwestern State University’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, Southern University’s College of Nursing and Allied Health, and Nicholls State University’s Department of Nursing. Look at factors like graduation rates, reputation, hands-on training opportunities, and student support services offered.

Overall the state has over 40 nursing programs to choose from, whether you want direct patient care roles or advanced practice positions. By researching Louisiana schools and comparing top nursing colleges, you can find nursing programs that fit your interests and career aspirations. Reach out to admissions counselors as well to learn why their Louisiana nursing and health programs may be a good fit.

What types of financial assistance are available for nursing school in Louisiana?

Institutions like McNeese State provide nursing scholarships and stipends. Federal/state loans and service repayment programs assist with affordability. Grants like PELL help offset costs at community colleges or public STATE universities offering accredited programs, for eligible applicants. Research all options extensively, as nursing curriculums involve significant expenses, and be strategic throughout your schooling.

More of the Best Nursing Schools in Louisiana

Ranking Methodology and Data Sources

• Ranking Methodology
• University Webpages
• Louisiana State Board of Nursing
• Department of Education’s College Scorecard
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Salary Data
• Department of Labor Projected Employment
• Bureau of Economic Analysis Cost of Living Data

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