About the College of Nursing

History
Northwestern State University admitted their first baccalaureate Nursing students in 1949. Over the past six decades, more than seven thousand students have received degrees from the NSU College of Nursing, making it the oldest state supported nursing program in Louisiana.

In the mid 1940’s the visionary nursing community in Shreveport recognized the need for a collegiate-based nursing program. Following the recommendations of a national consultant, five hospitals agreed to phase out their diploma programs opening the door for Northwestern State University to create a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

During the early years of the NSU College of Nursing, students were given two options. They could exit the program at the end of three years of study with a diploma, or complete a fourth year and earn a baccalaureate degree. The diploma option was phased out in the late 1950’s.

Dedicated to fulfilling a statewide need for academic opportunities in nursing, NSU established major clinical nursing campus sites in Alexandria-Pineville, Baton Rouge, Monroe and Shreveport. Beginning in the late 1950’s, Northwestern also offered registered nurses the chance to earn a baccalaureate degree through a special program (RN to BSN).

Following many successful years of offering nursing courses over a large geographic area, the College of Nursing consolidated its clinical campuses to Shreveport in 1970. Two years later the College of Nursing initiated two new programs, the Associate Degree and the Master’s of Science in Nursing.

In 1968, the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology (BSRT) program was implemented in the Department of Life Sciences. This program was placed in the College of Nursing in 1994 and is one of only twenty-seven programs in the country.

The RN to BSN and master’s programs continue course offerings in the Alexandria area. Recently, the NSU College of Nursing established learning sites in Bunkie, Ferriday, Leesville and Winnfield through compressed video technology. In fall 1999, RN to BSN course offerings were initiated via the Internet for those diploma and associate degree graduates who are interested in seeking a baccalaureate degree.

Beta Chi, the first chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International in Louisiana, was chartered in 1976 at Northwestern State University.

The Vision and Mission

Vision
An innovator and pacesetter in the educational preparation of individuals in nursing and radiologic Sciences professions.

Mission
NSU College of Nursing improves the health of people in Louisiana and advances the mission of NSU through excellence in accessible undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs designed to assist individuals in achieving their professional goal as responsible and contributing members of a chosen profession and of society.

College of Nursing Campuses

Shreveport Campus
The Nursing Education Center, located at 1800 Line Avenue in Shreveport, Louisiana, provides the educational environment for Nursing and Radiological Sciences majors enrolled in general academic or clinical courses.

The Center consists of the Line Avenue School (listed in the National Register of Historic places), the Library Building, the Faculty Tower, and the Warrington Building. The Library Building houses the library, computer center, multimedia center, nursing skills lab, classrooms and a large lecture hall which can be divided into two rooms and used for workshops, seminars, and conferences. The Faculty Tower has four stories and contains the nursing administrative and faculty offices, as well as several offices for student organizations. One block west, at 1800 Warrington, is the site of a two-story building that houses the Radiologic Sciences classes and labs, computer labs, and the Northwestern State University Child and Family Network offices.

The Nursing Center is a no smoking complex. No children or visitors are allowed in class and unaccompanied children are not allowed in the Nursing Education Center at any time.

There is student, faculty and staff parking located around the Nursing Education Center Complex and the Warrington Building. Handicapped parking and faculty/staff parking are designated.

Clinical facilities utilized in the Shreveport include various hospitals, medical centers, clinics, nursing homes, public health agencies, home health agencies and other community based agencies.

Approximately 1200 students are currently enrolled in the College of Nursing on the Shreveport Campus in general education and clinical courses. The telephone numbers and address for general information is (318) 677-3100, (800) 454-9567, 1800 Line Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101.

Natchitoches Campus
The Natchitoches College of Nursing Office is located on the second floor of South Hall on the NSU Campus. Also located in the South Hall complex are a classroom and five-bed clinical lab. Two faculty members are available at that site for student advising and instruction, as well as a full-time secretary to assist faculty and students.

Faculty from the Shreveport Campus travel to Natchitoches to help students with advising and registration. Pre-nursing and Radiologic Sciences majors on the Natchitoches Campus are enrolled in general education courses along with students in approximately 100 other majors.

The Watson Library provides extensive resources for students, who also have access to approximately 200 computers located across the campus. The Associate of Science in Nursing clinical courses are offered to a limited number of students in the Natchitoches area primarily through upward mobility for Licensed Practical Nurses. The first semester clinical course is also offered to a limited number of students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. Clinical facility and laboratory experiences are completed at Natchitoches and Pineville healthcare agencies.

The telephone numbers for the Natchitoches Nursing office are (318) 357-6776 or 1 (800) 730-8973. The address is College of Nursing, NSU, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71497.

CENLA Regional Learning Center & Rapides Medical Center
The Central Louisiana (CENLA) Regional Learning Center, located at England Industrial AirPark in Alexandria, Louisiana, and The NSU College of Nursing at Rapides Medical Center is located in the Medical Arts Building at Rapides Medical Center, 211 Fourth Street, Alexandria  has four full-time Bachelor of Science in Nursing faculty and two full-time Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences. Master of Science in Nursing Faculty commute from Shreveport to the CENLA Regional Learning Center and Rapides Medical Center  to teach classes. In addition, distance learning courses are available for the graduate program in nursing. An extensive computer lab is also available to students.

Registered nurses, who reside in Central and Southern Louisiana, may complete course requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and Master of Science Degree in Nursing at the CENLA Regional Learning Center. Flexible classes and schedules are provided to assist the students in achieving their professional goals.

The Rapides Medical Center houses a clinical laboratory, compressed video classrooms, and faculty offices. The NSU College of Nursing at Rapides Medical Center is located in the Medical Arts Building at 211 Fourth Street in Alexandria.  An extensive computer lab will be  available in the near future to students at the Medical Center.  Computer aided instruction (CAI) from other campuses, as well as, the library in Shreveport  will also  be available  through this equipment. Library resources are available on site and through cooperative agreements with local health care agencies. Audiovisual materials such as videotapes maybe obtained through the Shreveport Campus.

The telephone numbers for the CENLA Regional Learning Center are  (318) 484-2184 ext. 109 and (318) 357-4550.   The fax number for the NSU office is (318) 487-5953. The address is 1410 Neel Kearby Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana 71303. The telephone number for the NSU College of Nursing at Rapides Medical Center is 318-449-7991 and the center is located in the Medical Arts Building at Rapides Medical Center, 211 Fourth Street, Alexandria, Louisiana.

Leesville Campus
The Leesville Campus is located on University Parkway midway between Leesville and Fort Polk. This campus serves the military personnel at Fort Polk and the civilian communities of Vernon, Sabine, and Beauregard Parishes. Nursing classes for the Associate of Science in Nursing Program on the Leesville Campus began in the fall of 1995. There are two full-time nursing faculty who advise, teach and assist students. An extensive computer lab is available to students. CAI from other campuses may be accessed through the computers.

Nursing resources are continually being added to the library based on identified needs of faculty and students. The nursing laboratory is equipped to provide simulated learning experiences for clinical students. Clinical facilities include hospitals and nursing homes in Leesville and DeRidder. The telephone number and address for the Leesville Campus is (337) 238-5058, 3329 University Parkway, Leesville, Louisiana 71446.