Ochsner Lafayette General Partners With U. of Louisiana for New Accelerated Nursing Program

UL Lafayette is one of the largest producers of healthcare professionals in Louisiana.

A new accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program will help address the urgent need for RNs in Louisiana’s Acadiana region in the south and southwest part of the state. 

The new program, created through a partnership between the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, will enable students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing in less time, resulting in more qualified and skilled nurses entering a workforce that is facing a severe shortage.

More than 1.1 million new nurses will be needed in the United States by 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.

“The UL Lafayette · Ochsner Accelerated BSN Program answers a nationwide challenge that’s certainly being felt in our region,” said Lisa Broussard, DNS, RN, CNE, interim dean of the university’s College of Nursing & Health Sciences.

“For more than 70 years, our college has been the primary creator of Acadiana’s healthcare workforce, and our graduates can be found in clinics, doctors’ offices, and in major hospital systems throughout the area and beyond,” she said. “Partnerships such as this one with Ochsner Lafayette General strengthen the strategic commitment the university has made to ensure that patients who turn to our region’s medical providers in times of need receive high-quality care from exceptionally skilled, deeply compassionate health professionals.”

UL Lafayette is one of the largest producers of healthcare professionals in Louisiana; indeed, nearly one-fourth of its students enter a healthcare or social assistance field after graduation and 75% of alumni remain in the state five years after completing a bachelor's degree, said Joseph Savoie, university president.

“This accelerated BSN program helps us produce more nurses who are overwhelmingly likely to remain in the state,” Savoie said. “As a result, the university is enhancing the commitment we share with Ochsner to create a healthier Louisiana.”

In this partnership, Ochsner Lafayette General will offer nursing students critical training with clinical faculty and clinical placements—eliminating a barrier commonly found by nursing programs seeking experience for their students.

Ochsner Lafayette General also will invest $2.8 million in the accelerated BSN program for operational expenses and faculty and staff support. The investment also covers student tuition for nursing courses, though students will cover costs for prerequisites. In exchange, program students must commit to work for Ochsner Lafayette General for three years after graduation.

“It’s an honor to partner with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and build on our legacy of excellence in training the healthcare workforce of the future,” said Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for Ochsner Health. “Investing and growing our workforce is vital to our long-term success, and it’s also critical to meeting the needs of our communities.”