Louisiana MSN Programs
Grambling State University: RN to MSN Program Review
Grambling State University, 403 Main Street, Grambling, Louisiana 71245
Grambling State University (GSU) is located at 403 Main Street, Grambling Louisiana 71245. The university is a historically black college that was established in 1901. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered with concentrations in Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator. Applicants must apply to the Grambling State University School of Graduate Studies as well as to the Graduate Program in Nursing. A grade point average on undergraduate studies of at least 3.0 is required. In addition, GRE scores of at least 1,000 combined Verbal and Quantitative sections and at least 450 on individual sections is required.
Registered Nurses interested in pursuing their masters degree in nursing at Grambling must have completed the prerequisite courses of health assessment and statistics. Two years of work experience as a Registered Nurse are required plus three recommendation letters, a graduate level writing course, and an interview with the MSN faculty. Other requirements are that the applicant must hold a current Registered Nurse license and must have current CPR certification. Current malpractice insurance is an additional requirement, along with the required immunizations and health examination reports.
The Family Nurse Practitioner option is a five semester, 21-month curriculum that requires 49 credits. Students must be on campus for classes and labs one day each week. Students complete clinical experiences in their geographic area. The Nurse Educator Program is a 21-month, full-time curriculum as well. Students also meet one day each week and complete their clinical experiences in their home area. A capstone experience is the Practicum in Nursing Education. Also, students must choose a clinical focus of either Maternal/Child or Adult/Geriatric.
Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing: RN to MSN Program Review
Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing
Southeastern Louisiana University
SLU Box 10448
Hammond, Louisiana 70402 and
McNeese State University
MSU Box 90415
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70609 and
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
P.O. Box 43810
Lafayette, Louisiana 70504
The Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing program is a combined effort of Southeastern Louisiana University, McNeese State University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The three universities work together to provide a program that prepares professional nurses for careers in advanced practice nursing. The goal is to meet the demands for the Registered Nurse (RN) with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, especially in South Louisiana where there is a demand for qualified nurses with advanced degrees. Areas of concentration that are available are the following:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Educator
Nursing Executive
Admission requirements must be met through one of the three universities in the consortium since each one has slightly different requirements. McNeese State University requires that applicants submit all college transcripts and copies of the GRE. A grade point average of at least 2.5 on all undergraduate work is required, or a grade point average of 2.75 on upper division coursework. Applicants must have written recommendations from former academic faculty and professional supervisor to be considered for admission. Most students in this program continue to work and complete classes part-time. Theory classes are online, and taking three to six credits at the same time is the way that most nurses complete their masters degree in nursing. In addition, students work with preceptors at clinical sites to complete practicum work. Nurse practitioner students work with doctors and nurse practitioners during their practicum. Students may choose to complete either a thesis or a Focused Scholarly Project.
Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center-New Orleans: RN to MSN Program Review
Louisiana State University
Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
1900 Gravier Street, 3rd Floor
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center New Orleans is the location of six schools, including one of the LSU medical schools. It is located at 1900 Gravier Street, 3rd Floor, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112. It was founded in 1931and has continued to grow until Hurricane Katrina forced both hospitals affiliated with the university to close down. Some healthcare programs are still affected by this natural disaster, but the School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program for those seeking advanced care nursing training. The university offers a Master of Nursing/Master of Science in Nursing with the following concentrations:
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Nurse Anesthesia Program
Nurse Practitioner Program
Nursing Administration
Nurse Educator
Public Health/Community Health Nursing
Admission criteria include a completed application and official transcripts from any colleges or university attended. A grade point average of 3.0 in this work is required, along with scores for the Miller Analogy Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Three reference letters are also required. Interested nurses must have Registered Nurse licensure in Louisiana and a minimum of at least a year’s experience in the area of interest that the student would like to enter. An essay/goal statement is also required. Nurses who are interested in the Nurse Anesthesia program must also complete the prerequisite course of statistics with a grade of B or better, and they must have one year of critical care experience. They must meet the minimum scores on the MAT or GRE and must have a successful interview as well.
Loyola University New Orleans: RN to MSN Program Review
Loyola University New Orleans
6363 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
Loyola University New Orleans is located at 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118. It is a Roman Catholic Jesuit university that was founded in 1904. U.S. News & World Report ranked the university 5th among Southern regional universities offering masters and undergraduate degrees, and it has been in the Top 10 for the last 20 years. It has also been named in The Best 371 Colleges by The Princeton Review. Loyola University new Orleans offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Health Care Systems Management (HCSM). The program is offered completely online.
The HCSM masters program in nursing focuses on nursing administration and the concepts of leadership in health management. Graduates of the program have received training that prepares them for advanced practice nursing careers as case manager, care coordinator, or nurse manager and other roles. A total of 36 credits are required, and 12 of these are core courses. The remainder of the required courses prepares nurses for leadership roles in many different healthcare facilities.
Admission requirements include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or a bachelors degree in a related field. Applicants with bachelors degrees in other fields must complete the Loyola MSN Bridge program. Applicants must be currently licensed as Registered Nurses and must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on the last 60 hours of undergraduate studies. Three recommendations are required in addition to a goal statement and completion of a prerequisite statistics course. A formal interview is also required.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana: RN to MSN Program Review
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
1800 Line Avenue
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSU) is part of the University of Louisiana System with campuses in Natchitoches, Leesville/Fort Polk, and Alexandria. The nursing campus is located at 1800 Line Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101. The university was founded in 1884 as a normal school for teacher training. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered with areas of concentration in the following areas:
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Maternal Child Nursing
Adult Nursing
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Critical Care Nursing of an Adult
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
Registered Nurses interested in training for one of these advanced practice nursing careers must have a bachelors degree in nursing with a grade point average of at least 3.0. They must also have Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of at least 290 and current licensure as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana. Prerequisite courses include statistics and physical assessment courses and at least six months of clinical experience before enrolling in a clinical nursing course. Malpractice insurance is required, as well as two recommendation letters.
Our Lady of the Lake College: RN to MS Program Review
Our Lady of the Lake College
7500 Hennessy Boulevard
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808
Our Lady of the Lake College is located in in 7500 Hennessy Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808. It is a Catholic college sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, North American Province. The college was established in 1923 as Our Lady of the Lake School of Nursing. Today, a Master of Science (MS) Degree in Nurse Anesthesia is offered, as well as a Master of Science Degree in Nursing. The masters program in nursing has two tracks, which are the Administrator Track or Educator Track.
The masters degree program in nurse anesthesia is a 28 month continuous curriculum that is a full-time program. Those accepted into this program must have licensure as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana. They must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and at least one year of full-time recent adult critical care setting. Two years of critical care experience in an adult intensive care unit is preferred. Applicants must have taken the GRE within the last five years and must submit scores to the college. A graduate or undergraduate chemistry course is a prerequisite to the program.
The MS in nursing program that provides training for the advanced practice nursing positions of the Administrator or Educator Tracks can be completed in in four semesters of full-time study. To be eligible for this program, applicants must have a bachelors degree in nursing, current licensure as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana, and must complete prerequisite courses of statistics and a research courses with a grade of at least a C in each course.
Southern University and A&M College: RN to MSN Program Review
Southern University and A & M College
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70813
Southern University and A&M College is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and is a historically black college that was founded in 1880. The Southern University School of Nursing (SUSON) offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a web-enhanced curriculum. A Nurse Practitioner program is offered with both a full-time and part-time curriculum, and it offers students the choice of training for advanced nursing careers in either Family Nurse Practitioner or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner roles. The university also offers a Family Health Education or Administration masters in nursing program that is also available on a full-time or part-time basis.
Nurses interested in the program must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing with a grade point average of at least 3.0. Official GRE scores must be submitted, and a prerequisite graduate course in introductory statistics must be completed. Applicants must have their Registered Nurse license in one of the 50 states and must be eligible for licensure in Louisiana. In addition, three recommendations are required. Conditional admission may be granted to applicants who have at least a 3.0 grade point average on the last 60 hours of their undergraduate work.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette: RN to MSN Program Review
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette
P.O. Box 43810
Lafayette, Louisiana 70504-3810
The University of Louisiana (UL) at Lafayette is located in Lafayette, Louisiana. It is a research university that has nine campuses in the University of Louisiana System. Founded in 1898 as an industrial school, today a full range of degree programs are offered. The university has been named as one of the “Best 377 Colleges” by The Princeton Review and as one of the “Best Colleges 2013” out of 281 national universities in Tier 2 by U.S. News & World Report. The University of Louisiana received other rankings as well. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program in affiliation with the Intercollegiate consortium for an Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN) degree.
A Nurse Practitioner program is offered with the concentrations of Family Nurse practitioner or Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Executive. Admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree in nursing with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75. Applicants must also have a satisfactory GRE score and must meet the health requirements of the program. A prerequisite course of statistics is required, and applicants must have licensure as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana. Once accepted into the program, students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0. Before graduation, they must complete a Focused Scholarly Project or a thesis.
