McNeese State University (College of Nursing)

In 1953, political forces in nursing and the health care industry convinced the Louisiana State Board of Education to approve several regional state-supported colleges as sites for programs in nursing offering the bachelor degree. McNeese State College was one of the regional colleges considered. Approximately 10 students were admitted to the College of Liberal Arts in anticipation of the establishment of a nursing program in the immediate future. Initial approval by the Louisiana State Board of Nurse Examiners was given to the program on March 5, 1954. The first class of six graduated in May, 1957. For 47 years, the nursing program at McNeese has been the only program of nursing in an 80-mile radius, and the percentage of baccalaureate graduates for the University five-parish service area is 52%. The college has graduated approximately 1,976 professional nursing students as of the Fall 2005 commencement.

Other occurrences of historical significance for the nursing program include the initial accreditation by the National League for Nursing in 1981, and attainment of full college status on June 30, 1983. Also during 1983, the College and three other state-supported programs of nursing petitioned the Louisiana State Board of Regents to grant master's degrees in nursing. After evaluation, and with concurrence from the four universities, the Board of Regents directed that a consortium for a master's degree in nursing to be given by each university under the auspices of the Intercollegiate Master of Science in Nursing Consortium. In May of 1988, the College of Nursing chartered the Kappa Psi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. Enrollment in the College of Nursing increased over 500 percent from 1980-1994. At the same time that Louisiana was experiencing a nursing shortage, health care employers were increasing their budgets for registered nurses working in their agencies. In 1991, after meeting with health care agency representatives in the service area regarding the nursing shortage, the College agreed to implement two clinical admissions per year. Implementation began in fall of 1992, after which a second class was admitted in spring of 1993. Two classes continue to be admitted annually, one each in fall and spring semesters.

In 1992, a coalition of health care agencies agreed to fund an Associate Degree program in nursing. In August 1993, initial approval was granted by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. The program admitted the first class in April of 1995. The A.D.N. program has graduated 224 associate degree students as of 2005.

MISSION

The mission of the College of Nursing is to provide education that will enable graduates to improve the health care system and the quality of life in a multicultural community, value lifelong learning, and enhance the profession of nursing through a focus on:
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Therapeutic nursing interventions
- Role development
- Professionalism
- Service to the community

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College of Nursing Nursing School Location

College of Nursing Courses

BASIC CONCEPTS FOR NURSING PRACTICE
Introduces major concepts: person, health, nursing, environment, which serve as a foundation for health promotion, maintenance, restoration, or the provision of palliative care.

SKILLS BASIC TO NURSING PRACTICE
Nursing procedures necessary for implementation of therapeutic nursing interventions.

HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR NURSING PRACTICE
Basic assessment of the patient including health history, review of systems, and
physical examination.

NURSING INFORMATICS
Explores the nurse’s role in informatics and its application to research, practice,
education, and administration. Includes computer literacy components.

PHARMACOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
General principles of drug therapy and the role of the health professional in pharmacological therapy of patients. Focuses on major drug classifications.

HUMAN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Identifies alterations in the biological dimension of persons that result in changes in health status. Open to non-majors.

MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Utilizes knowledge, comprehension, and application of mental health concepts to the care of individuals who are experiencing a disruption in their mental health.

WELLNESS PROMOTION ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN
General components of wellness strategies across the life span.

NURSING RESEARCH
Basic knowledge of research process in nursing.

ADULT HEALTH I
Beginning adult health course designed to prepare students to care for individuals and families in a variety of structured and unstructured settings.

NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN WITH ACUTE AND CHRONIC ILLNESSES
Nursing care of children and their families experiencing acute and chronic illness.

BUSINESS OF HEALTH CARE
Introduction of business aspects of health care delivery including the philosophy of managed care, economics and financing of health care, administrative structures and quality improvement.

COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING
Basic community health theory.

ADULT HEALTH II
Designed to prepare students to care for individuals and families in a variety of structured and unstructured settings.

WOMEN’S GYNECOLOGICAL HEALTH NEEDS AND THE CHILDBEARING FAMILY
Gynecological and/or childbearing health needs of the woman and her family throughout life.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL ROLE
Capstone experience in which the student integrates leadership, and management concepts, research and group process during interactions with clients, peers, and other health professionals in the practice of nursing.

TRENDS AND ISSUES IN NURSING
Examines trends and issues influencing professional nursing. Analysis of nursing beliefs about self-regulation, accountability, and responsibility to society based on the American Nurses Association “Standards of Clinical Nursing Practice” and the state nurse practice act, life-long learning, and professional development.

COMPLEX SITUATIONS IN NURSING
Analysis of complex client situations of children and adults using case studies.

Other nursing schools in Louisiana

Louisiana College (Division of Nursing) The Division of Nursing, as an integral part of the college, is in concert with its mission and purpose. The primary purpose of Louisiana College is t... Address: LC Box 556 - Cavanaugh Hall, Second Floor

Louisiana State University (Health Sciences Center School of Nursing) MISSION The mission of LSUHSC School of Nursing is to provide local, national and international leadership in the education of professional nurses ... Address: 1900 Gravier Street, 4th Floor

Loyola University New Orleans (School of Nursing) Loyola University's School of Nursing has been educating RNs since the 1970s when the University started one of the first B.S.N. programs in the c... Address: 6363 St. Charles Avenue, Stallings Hall, Room 202, Campus Box 14

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