LCMC Health and LSU Partner for Nursing Scholars Program
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Inaugural program educates future healthcare workers and addresses statewide nursing shortage
NEW ORLEANS – Today, LSU Health New Orleans, the LSU Foundation, and LCMC Health announced a partnership to launch the LSU-LCMC Health Scholars Program for nursing students. The nursing program, which provides tuition and fees assistance, is available for eligible LSU nursing students who intend to pursue employment at LCMC Health. The inaugural application period is open for eligible LSU students from Nov. 28 through Dec. 9. After the first cycle, the application process will open again twice a year for the next five years.
This LSU-LCMC Health Scholars program for nursing is part of a historic commitment LCMC Health made to LSU which supports academic medicine and healthcare investments. This program will also address the national nursing shortage by establishing sustainable and long-term healthcare solutions and supporting student success through targeted academic resources, faculty development, and dedicated nursing coordinators to lead the partnership between LSU’s pre-nursing program and the LSU Health School of Nursing.
“The LSU-LCMC Health Scholars Program is one of the most important and impactful initiatives we have to address the nursing shortage, hand in hand with LSU,” said Greg Feirn, CEO, LCMC Health. “By developing a nursing pipeline, providing financial support to nursing students, and supporting the expansion of the LSU School of Nursing, the entire community wins. Our investment in this effort will benefit nurses and patients for years to come.”
Earlier this year, LCMC Health partnered with LSU and LSU Health New Orleans for a transformative $75 million investment to elevate and advance cancer care and to create educational programs for nursing students, including a definitive commitment of $10 million to support and supplement healthcare training and education, ensuring sustainable talent for Louisianans’ evolving healthcare needs. As part of this historic investment, LCMC Health is dedicating $8.6 million for the School of Nursing at LSU Health New Orleans and $1.4 million for the pre-nursing program on LSU’s flagship campus in Baton Rouge, establishing a pathway program that supports future nurses at all stages of their education.
As communities begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing shortages have become even more prevalent in Louisiana and nationwide. According to the Louisiana Health Works Commission and Nursing Supply and Demand Council Report, Louisiana could face an expected shortage of 6,000 registered nurses by 2030 – a shortage of more than 40 percent.
The LSU-LCMC Health Scholars Program will help support nursing needs with plans to:
- Enroll more LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing students in the Baccalaureate programs while also enrolling students into the pre-nursing program at LSU in Baton Rouge
- Graduate more nurses from traditional and Career Alternative RN Education (CARE) programs
- Alleviate the financial burdens of nursing students
- Onboard scholars as LCMC Health employed nurses into high-need critical vacancy areas
“The support provided by the LSU-LCMC Health Nursing Scholars Program will enable more students to enroll in one of the nation’s top nursing schools,” notes LSU Health New Orleans Interim Chancellor Dr. Steve Nelson. “LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing is ranked the #10 nursing school in the US and the #5 public nursing school in the country. Addressing the nursing shortage with our graduates will bring nursing care of the highest quality to LCMC Health hospitals.”
The LSU-LCMC Health Scholars Program focuses on academic support which includes supplemental instruction, tutoring, bridge programs, and strengthening of learning techniques. Additional components involve faculty development through recruitment and retention along with training and support, and community outreach with LCMC Health nursing coordinators. The scholars’ program has specific criteria and expectations that will be reviewed by a selection committee including enrollment as a full-time student in the LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing, successful completion of at least one full-credit semester, and a minimum 2.0 GPA.
For more information about the scholars program and specific program criteria, click here.
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About LCMC Health:
Established in 2009, LCMC Health is a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system serving the healthcare needs of the Gulf Coast region. LCMC Health currently manages Children’s Hospital, East Jefferson General Hospital, Touro, New Orleans East Hospital, University Medical Center New Orleans, and West Jefferson Medical Center.
About LSU:
As the flagship institution of the state of Louisiana, the vision of LSU is to be a leading research-extensive university, challenging undergraduate and graduate students to achieve the highest levels of intellectual and personal development. Designated as a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution, the mission of LSU is the generation, preservation, dissemination, and application of knowledge and cultivation of the arts. For more information, visit LSU website.
Media Contacts:
LaDana Williams
LCMC Health
Director of Public Relations
P 504.896.2759
ladana.williams@LCMChealth.org
Leslie Capo
LSU Health
Director of Information Services
P 504.568.4806
Sara Whittaker
LSU Foundation
Associate Vice President of Communications and Marketing
P 225.578.8164
