Nursing Programs
Northwestern State University was the first public institution in Louisiana to establish a baccalaureate program in nursing, welcoming its first students in 1949. The College of Nursing was also the first in the state to offer a master’s degree in nursing. NSU offers an Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, LPN to ASN, LPN to BSN, RN to BSN program, Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Classes are available on Northwestern State campuses in Shreveport, Alexandria, Leesville/Fort Johnson and Natchitoches. NSU’s College of Nursing is known throughout the state for graduating highly qualified nurses.
The nursing faculty consists of experienced health care professionals who are dedicated to preparing students to achieve their professional goals as responsible and contributing members of their profession and society. Members of the faculty regularly volunteer their time sharing their expertise and knowledge with organizations and individuals in the community, with many serving as consultants, leaders, and board members as part of their professional responsibilities in the local, state and national arenas.
Undergraduate Studies in Nursing
The undergraduate clinical application deadline for Fall is April 15th
The undergraduate clinical application deadline for Spring is August 15th
The clinical application deadline for the Bachelor’s to BSN Program Summer Session is a preferred deadline of October 15th with a final deadline of January 15th.
Undergraduate Studies Clinical Applications
Graduate Studies in Nursing
| Full Time Faculty | Adjunct Faculty |
|---|---|
| Dr. Cheryl Adair – Associate Professor Phone: (318) 677-3075 Nursing Education Center–Shreveport – 217C adairc@nsula.edu Faculty ProfileDr. Aimee L. Badeaux –Interim Dean, Associate Professor, Nurse Anesthesia Program Coordinator Phone: (318) 677-3100 College of Nursing badeauxa@nsula.edu Faculty ProfileDr. Alice Blue – Associate Professor Phone: (318)677-3085 Nursing Education Center – Shreveport – 239C bluea@nsula.edu Faculty Profile Dr. Geneva Caldwell — Associate Professor, MSN Administration Coordinator Krystyna Tabor – Director of Assessment, Evaluation, & Planning, Associate Professor Dr. Dana Clawson – Interim Director of Doctoral Studies, Professor Meredith Eastin – Assistant Professor, Primary Care Pediatric NP Coordinator Dr. Michelle DeBose – Associate Professor, MSN Education Coordinator Dr. Donald Johnston – Associate Professor Lisa Lee – Assistant Professor Dr. Katrina O’Con – BSN-DNP NA Asst. Coordinator, Assistant Professor Dr. Robyn Ray – Associate Professor Donald Stafford – Assistant Professor Dr. Susan Steel-Moses – Associate Professor Dr. Aaron Stigers – Interim Director of MSN and PMC Programs, Assistant Professor, AGPCNP Coordinator Dr. Tiffany Williams – Associate Professor, FNP Coordinator Dr. Mary Zapczynski – Associate Professor |
Dr. Donna Atobejeun atobajeund@nsula.edu Faculty ProfileDr. Wendy Bailes bailesw@nsula.edu Faculty ProfileJaschandria Bell baileyj@nsula.edu Faculty Profile Dr. Meridith Bergeron Boteler, Anne LeKidra Brown Dr. Winde Chambers Dr. Tonye Cox-Miller Dr. Gayle Elliott Sarah Girlinghouse Dr. Yoshika Croute Alysha Hinson Dr. Katie Hooven Dr. Kristi Hylan Dr. Charla Johnson Dr. Beatrice Launius Dr. Melissa Lucas Dr. Meryn Olivier Dr. Courtney Owens Michelle Phelan Dr. Danita Potter Dr. Rachel Shelby Dr. Allyson Spence Brooke Stokes Dr. Ruzanna Topchyan Dr. Rebecca Weston Joshua White |
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Northwestern State University (NSU), College of Nursing and School of Allied Health provides learning opportunities for registered nurses to build upon baccalaureate nursing education, as well as experiential professional knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The MSN program at NSU prepares registered nurses to function and excel in various advanced nursing roles.
ADVISING
- You can now book and manage appointments using our Booking Page
The graduate nursing program provides the student who has earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge, intellectual skills, and clinical competence necessary for the role of the advanced practice nurse. Areas of concentration include:
Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP),
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PCPNP),
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Education
- Adult-Gerontology Nursing
- Maternal, Child, and Family Nursing
Administration
- Adult-Gerontology Nursing
- Maternal, Child, and Family Nursing
* All students must register for NURG 5000: Orientation to Graduate Nursing during their first semester. NURG 5000 meets virtually on the first Friday of the Fall semester.
Accreditation
The master’s degree in nursing at Northwestern State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.
MSN Documents
- MSN and PMC Program Handbook
- NSU Non-Clinical Course Offerings by Semester
- NSU Clinical Course Offerings by Semester
- Online Graduate School MSN Application
- Request for an Affiliation Agreement
MSN Concentrations
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Nursing
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Maternal Child and Family Nursing
- Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PCPNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Concentration Curricula
- Administration Curriculum
- Education Curriculum
- AGACNP Curriculum
- AGPCNP Curriculum
- FNP Curriculum
- PCPNP Curriculum
- PMHNP curriculum
- WHNP Curriculum
The MSN and PMC nurse practitioner concentrations may require students to attend courses, labs, and/or simulation activities on the main campus or off-campus learning sites. Students must obtain direct care (in person) clinical hours as specified by the curriculum pattern. Presently, NP clinical hours are obtained in Louisiana.
MSN AND PMC APPLICATIONS
Applications for the MSN and PMC programs are processed through the Graduate School at Northwestern State University. The application period is from January 1st to a priority deadline of March 31st for the Fall semester.
All students who are accepted into the program progress with a clinical cohort and are first enrolled in the Fall. The MSN program dose not have rolling admissions. Students may be accepted as late as June 1st pending space availability.
The MSN and PMC programs nurse practitioner concentrations may require students to attend courses, labs, and/or simulation activities on the main campus or off-campus learning sites. Students must obtain direct care (in person) clinical hours as specified by the curriculum pattern. Presently, NP clinical hours are obtained in Louisiana.
Accreditation
The post-graduate APRN certificate program at Northwestern State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.
MSN AND PMC APPLICATIONS
Applications for the MSN and PMC programs are processed through the Graduate School at Northwestern State University. The application period is from January 1st to a priority deadline of March 31st for the Fall semester.
All students who are accepted into the program progress with a clinical cohort and are first enrolled in the Fall. The PMC program does not have rolling admissions. Students may be accepted as late as June 1st pending space availability.
After acceptance into the PMC program, it is essential to arrange a faculty advising appointment to align a Gap Analysis that determines required curricula. An advising appointment can be scheduled through Bookings.
| Full-time Faculty | Adjunct Faculty |
|---|---|
| Dr. Aimee Badeaux Dr. Dana Clawson Dr. Katrina O’Con Dr. Houston Lacobee Dr. Robyn Ray Mr. Donald Stafford Dr. Susan Steele-Moses |
Dr. Meridith Bergeron Dr. Kristi Hylan Dr. Charla Johnson Dr. Stacey Joslin Dr. Meryn Olivier Dr. Armando Paladino Dr. Leah Pearce Dr. Allyson Spence Dr. Ruzanna Topchyan |
The DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program is a 36-month course of continuous study. The DNP Organizational Systems Leadership Program is a 24-month course of continuous study
The Goals (Purposes) of NSU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice are:
- Provide advanced nurse practice leaders with expertise, specialized competencies, and advanced knowledge required for evidence-based nursing practice and mastery in an area of specialization within the larger domain of nursing.
- Prepare advanced nurse practice leaders to influence, design, direct and implement change in healthcare practice, education, and policy through the development of collaborative alliances to improve healthcare outcomes and decrease morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations.
- Develop advanced nurse practice leaders who contribute to nursing’s body of knowledge through professional development and scholarly inquiry into practice, processes, or outcomes which affect morbidity and mortality in vulnerable.
The Program Objectives, or Student Learning Outcomes
The DNP Graduate student will:
- Integrate nursing science with knowledge from ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences as the foundation for the highest level of nursing practice.
- Critically analyze health care delivery models based on contemporary nursing science and organizational and systems perspectives to eliminate health disparities and promote patient safety and excellence in practice.
- Systematically appraise existing literature, outcomes of practice, practice patterns, systems of care, and health organizations to design and generate best practice evidence to improve practice and health care outcomes.
- Utilize information systems technology to implement and evaluate healthcare resources, quality improvement initiatives, and programs of care that support practice decisions.
- Advocate for health care policy which addresses social justice and equity in all health care settings.
- Employ consultative and leadership skills to function on inter-and intra-professional multidisciplinary teams that work collaboratively to improve vulnerable populations’ health outcomes.
- Synthesize data relevant to clinical prevention and health promotion for individuals, aggregates, and populations to guide implementation of the highest level of nursing practice.
- Demonstrate advanced practice expertise, specialized knowledge, and expanded responsibility and accountability in the care, management, and evaluation of individuals, families, and communities in a specialty practice area within the domain of nursing.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at Northwestern State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, nurse anesthesia role (Nurse Anesthesia Program) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) (http://coacrna.org, 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906 Rosemont, IL 60018-5603, and can be reached at 224-275-9130 or via email at accreditation@coacrna.org), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. The nurse anesthesia program received COA accreditation in May 2021 and the next accreditation review will be in 2026.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, 17373 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810, 225-755-7500.
DNP PROGRAM INFORMATION
DNP NURSE ANESTHESIA PROGRAM STATISTICS
| Cohort | # of Students Admitted | Average Undergraduate GPA | Average GRE | # of Students Graduated | NSU NCE Pass Rate % (1st Time) | National NCE Pass Rate % (1st Time) | Average # of Anesthesia Cases | % of Students Employed as CRNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 3.42 | 301 | 17 | 88.23% | Pending | 1032 | 100% |
DNP ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP APPLICATION
Applications for the DNP OSL program are being processed through NursingCAS, the centralized application for nursing. Visit www.nursingcas.org to start an application. The application period for the DNP OSL program is February 15-July 15 for the following Spring semester.
Visit www.nursingcas.org to start an application or log into your existing account. Visit the Add Program page to select our nursing program and complete the steps to fill out and submit your application. If you need help with NursingCAS, visit the applicant help center or contact applicant support with questions.
DNP NURSE ANESTHESIA APPLICATION
Applications for the DNP NA program are being processed through NursingCAS, the centralized application for nursing. Visit www.nursingcas.org to start an application. The application period for the DNP NA program is February 15-July 15 for the following Spring semester.
Visit www.nursingcas.org to start an application or log into your existing account. Visit the Add Program page to select our nursing program and complete the steps to fill out and submit your application. If you need help with NursingCAS, visit the applicant help center or contact applicant support with questions.
