RPSB, LSUA, Cabrini Hospital partner to advocate healthcare careers

ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) – As part of National Nurses Week, LSUA’s School of Nursing is partnering with the Rapides Parish School Board and CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital. The partnership provides an opportunity for high school students to learn more about the healthcare field and see what the nursing school has to offer.

“It’s a crisis. The shortage of nurses is clearly a crisis, and we’ve got to pull together,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, LSUA’s chancellor.

LSUA’s goal is to double the number of nurses they graduate to support this crisis.

“It’s really a great career for many of our students, so we’ve got to make sure they understand what it takes to be a nurse, but also the benefits of being a nurse to society, to our community, as well as financially. It’s a well-paying job, a well-paying career,” Coreil said.

An event held on May 7 highlighted the programs LSUA offers, including Cabrini Hospital’s Cohort Program, which details exclusive training sessions, certification preparation and access to specialized resources.

About 240 sophomores, juniors and seniors from Rapides Parish high schools gathered to get a glimpse at LSUA’s School of Nursing as well as gain an interest in their potential future.

“I was already considering LSUA for a college, but now being here, I realized that it’s actually a choice, because I want to be a labor and delivery nurse. So, I think that’s a good opportunity to know I have it in my back pocket,” said Makinsey Beck, a sophomore from Tioga High School.

Beck is a few years away from graduating high school, but with EMT and EMR classes added to her course schedule in the fall, one thing she looks forward to is furthering her career in something she wants to do.

Dr. Coreil said this partnership makes students aware of this career path and helps to close the shortage gap:

“We’ve intentionally increased our capacity significantly, and we’re getting ready to build a big downtown health education center. It’s so important to the quality of life in Central Louisiana.”

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