The current nursing shortage isn’t a new topic. For many years, organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) have elevated the call for more skilled nurses in the field on a global level.
According to Registered Nursing, Louisiana is ranked No. 14 for states with the largest nursing shortage. While the situation has likely changed since the more dire days of the pandemic, staffing issues continue to exist despite the lessened demand placed on healthcare organizations.
The nursing shortage in Louisiana is not new, either. Rather, it has existed for the last two-plus decades. “Nurses are aging out of the system faster than they can be replaced. It was made worse by the pandemic,” explains PBS.
Registered Nursing adds, “As the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep across the country in early 2020, nurses who were already stretched thin saw their roles and responsibilities expand even further.” For example, “nurses found themselves in the stressful position of providing care as hospitals struggled to provide enough equipment and necessary [personal protective equipment] PPE.”
Challenges for Nurses Working in Louisiana
While there are nursing jobs in Louisiana, many nurses in Louisiana are finding it difficult to secure professional work that pays well and provides appropriate benefits. Certain positions do not offer the wages nurses want for their daily work.
Nurses are also reaching levels of burnout without appropriate coping strategies and work-life balance. There are not enough nurses to cover all the priorities within an organization, leading many individuals to be tasked with work meant for three people.
Yet, there is a solution within reach. While many factors can be improved to address the issue (like hiring more nursing educators and implementing better employee well-being strategies), training a new generation of nurses is a great place to start. If more nursing students enter nursing programs, Louisiana can improve the scope of the shortage. This wider pool of nursing professionals will allow new nurses to put their talents to work and provide much-needed care assistance.
How Nursing Students Can Help
Graduates of Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs who choose to work in Louisiana will be addressing a pressing demand. Those who wish to continue their education in nursing have access to a plethora of resources from the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners. Students can help spread the knowledge about these resources to other nursing students to ensure no one is left behind.
Additionally, nursing students can help mitigate the need for nursing professionals by keeping up with all required state licenses. Nurses within the state of Louisiana can research the state nursing certification requirements through the Lippincott NursingCenter website.
This resource ensures all students can identify the specific requirements needed to receive a certification or renew a license through the state. Without certification, they will not be able to provide the help needed to accelerate change in Louisiana.
Change Is Awaiting With a BSN Degree
Nursing students passionate about change and who wish to address the need for nurses in Louisiana can help the cause by earning their BSN degree. Those who enroll in the RN to BSN online program at the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) will prepare for new career opportunities and be equipped to fill statewide nursing management positions.
Students will study basic techniques for health status assessment and evidence-based healthcare that respects patient and family preferences. Depending on one’s individual schedule, students can complete the coursework in as few as 14 months.
ULM’s program allows students to enhance their clinical skills and join the workforce with the knowledge they need to succeed. For example, the Professional Nursing Concepts course covers the basics of how to advance into the professional role of an RN. In the Health Assessment for RN to BSN course, students explore the theoretical concepts of holistic health and the role physical assessment plays in evaluating patient care.
Each future graduate will obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to enter roles such as critical care nurse, public health nurse, pediatric nurse and much more.
Learn more about ULM’s RN to BSN online program.