Northwestern State University of Louisiana

With its first nursing students in 1949, Northwestern State University (NSU) of Louisiana, is the state’s first public institution to offer a nursing program. Students benefit from the guidance of NSU’s faculty consisting of experienced health care professionals. Moreover, NSU entered an articulation agreement with 11 colleges for ease of credit hour transfer and education continuity.

Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) - With the inclusion of general education courses, didactic and clinical nursing courses, this program prepares students for their career as a registered nurse. Designed for academic and career mobility, this program can be taken in two-year sequence. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - This four-year program includes three and five semesters of academic courses and clinical courses, respectively. Designed for preparation in providing nursing care in various healthcare settings, clinical courses can be completed in the Alexandria Rapides Regional Medical Center Campus or the Shreveport Campus. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN and/or pursue advanced nursing studies. Another option is the BS to BSN program. In just 16 months, students who possess a Bachelor of Science degree can obtain their BSN degree. Prior to starting nursing courses, students must complete all general education classes required. Meanwhile, an RN to BSN option is also available. It is designed for registered nurses and is offered 100% online.

Master of Science in Nursing - This MSN program builds on the knowledge of RNs from their previous degrees. These knowledge and skills are then supplemented with experiential learning to prepare students to be significant contributors in healthcare improvement. Nurse Practitioner, Education, and Administration are the concentrations offered for this program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice - Northwestern’s highest-level nursing degree aims to develop student’s potential in transforming healthcare through evidence-based practice, advanced clinical skills utilization, and systems change implementation. This DNP program is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and accredited by CCNE.

The nursing school at Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public institution located in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Its nursing programs are accredited by ACEN, ACME, CCNE and COA.

Degree types you can earn at Northwestern State University of Louisiana include Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, and the school provides its offerings to students via campus, hybrid and online formats. The level of nursing programs offered to nursing students include Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, LPN to BSN, Master Degree, MSN to DNP, Post Master's NP Certificate and RN to BSN level degrees.

For nursing students in Louisiana, the state average NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is 87.28% and for BSN programs is 91.12%. The average national NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is N/A% and for BSN programs is N/A%.

Out of 27 nursing schools in Louisiana, the nursing program at Northwestern State University of Louisiana ranks #8 in the state, and out of more than 1,700 nursing programs nationally, it ranks #115. It's 3-year average NCLEX-RN passing rate is 95.30%, giving the Northwestern State University of Louisiana an overall grade of A.

Nursing Program Stats at a Glance for Northwestern State University of Louisiana

• Grade: A
• NCLEX-RN Passing Rate Average: 95.30%
• Louisiana State Rank: 8
• National Rank: 115

Best Online Nursing Programs for Louisiana Students

In-state nursing schools are preferable to out-of-state programs as your tuition and logistics for attending school will be considerably less than if you attended school out-of-state. Online nursing schools are also an option.

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