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Louisiana Nursing Overview

The United States has seen a nursing shortage for the last decade as older nurses retire and senior citizens increase. The Hurricane Katrina disaster has only exacerbated this shortage of young, qualified Louisiana nurses. The result has been a Louisiana nursing shortage that could last decades. Before Hurricane Katrina there were already nursing vacancies in Louisiana. Hurricane Katrina decimated the Louisiana health care system. Some major hospitals have been shut down. Qualified health care professionals have left the state for more inviting career options. Hurricane Katrina has also damaged the educational system. Louisiana universities and colleges are struggling to fill Louisiana nursing needs. They have a limited number of instructors and classrooms. Schools are not graduating enough nurses to fill the job vacancies.

Online colleges offering nursing programs in Louisiana


Louisiana nursing careers are regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, under the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Louisiana requires degrees and licenses for its registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). There are many nursing positions to choose from: certified nurse midwife (CNM), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and nurse practitioner (NP).

"Future Louisiana nursing needs"

The Bureau of Labor Statistics sees a favorable career outlook for nurses. The healthcare system is rapidly expanding, making nursing one of the most rapidly growing fields in the country. Louisiana nursing careers should benefit from older nurses retiring; some experts estimate that 50% could retire immediately. More people need hospitals due to contaminated conditions in the environment.

The average annual starting salary for a Louisiana registered nurse is $32,000; many nursing graduates are leaving Louisiana for higher paying jobs in other states - Texas registered nurses receive average annual starting salaries of about $45,000. The average CRNA salary in New Orleans is about $140,000 per year. It is estimated that New Orleans lost about 25% of her CRNAs due to Hurricane Katrina.

Increasingly, online nursing programs are filling the void in Louisiana nursing, maximizing limited nursing school resources. Louisiana nursing careers offer many options: hospitals, government facilities and private doctor clinics. Many nurses prefer to work in private clinics rather than hospitals. Hospitals and health care facilities are desperately looking for nurses in Louisiana, offering bonuses to attract nurses.

Online nursing programs can get you a degree quickly so you can benefit from the many Louisiana nursing opportunities available. Federal and state governments are working with nursing organizations to increase nursing graduation rates, providing grants to prospective students.

Online Colleges Offering Nursing Degrees

Accreditation  

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Accreditation  

Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Accreditation  

Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation  

Western Governors University is the only university to have received simultaneous accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions. Currently, WGU’s "home" accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the same organization that accredits such leading institutions as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and other public and private colleges. WGU is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU is the first online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU’s Health Informatics program is now accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). WGU’s Nursing programs are CCNE accredited.

Accreditation  

Gonzaga University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges/Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges.

Campus Colleges Offering Nursing Degrees

Accreditation  

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Accreditation  

Kaplan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation  

Keiser University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097) to award certificates and degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.

Programs Offered  
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    Nursing Salaries
    Certified Nursing Assistant
    $23,000
    Registered Nursing
    $53,000
    Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
    $73,000
    Licensed Practical Nurse
    $40,000
     * Based on 5 years experience