MSN Programs in Louisiana

By EveryNurse Staff on January 16, 2023

Nurses who would like to play a role in teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals will have to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing in order to qualify for an education-related nursing position. Schools with MSN programs in Louisiana not only allow RNs to concentrate their studies on becoming an educator but also offer a chance for them to study advanced practice nursing skills and become a leader within the industry. Job positions associated with an advanced degree in nursing may incorporate clinical nurse specialties, nurse anesthesia, policy-making, and administrative responsibilities.

Schools With MSN Programs in Louisiana

Northwestern State University of Louisiana, located in Shreveport, provides on-campus instruction at the school’s College of Nursing. Registered nurses may concentrate their studies on becoming a clinical nurse specialist, nurse educator, nurse administrator, or nurse practitioner. The school is especially known for attracting nurses who have an interest in neonatal care, family care, pediatrics, adult critical care, and women’s health. The MSN programs at the university are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The CCNE-accredited MSN program offered at Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center in New Orleans trains nurses to qualify for job positions related to clinical nursing (Adult Health Nursing), nurse anesthesia, nurse practitioners (Family or Neonatal), nurse administration, nurse education, or public/community health nursing.

The School of Nursing at Our Lady of the Lake College offers MSN program options that are all accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Located in Baton Rouge, the school caters to nurses with an interest in working with anesthesia or becoming an educator or administrator within the field. One of the ways that nurses learn the skills necessary to earn a graduate-level degree is to gain experience at a variety of clinical sites, such as an acute care hospital, clinic, community care center, and school.

The School of Nursing at Grambling State University is home to two different NLNAC-accredited MSN degree programs: Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator. Both programs are comprised of 21 months (or five semesters) of course study, which includes 49 graduate credit hours for the Family Nurse Practitioner option.

Students with an interest in earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in family health nursing or wish to assume a role as administrator, educator, or family nurse practitioner upon graduation, may obtain a degree from Southern University and A & M College. The school is located in Baton Rouge and offers an MSN program that is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Loyola University New Orleans provides learning options that accommodate nurses interested in obtaining an MSN. The University’s School of Nursing is home to two online non-clinical tracks in Health Care Systems Management (HCSM) within the school’s master’s program, which helps train the next generation of nurse managers. This particular program is comprised of 36 credit hours that prepare a nurse to pursue a wide range of leadership positions in health care organizations (12 hours spent on completing core courses and 24 hours related to a didactic and clinical curriculum). Some of the courses that a student may pursue include Theoretical Perspectives in Nursing, Legal/Ethical Issues in Health Care, and Advanced Research Methods.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette provides access to an online RN to MSN program, which is offered through an affiliation with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN). The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and is geared towards nurses with an interest in becoming a nurse practitioner. Upon completion of the MSN program, graduates may seek licensure as a Family Nurse Practitioner or Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (42-45 credit hours) or Nurse Executive (35 credits hours). Both programs require the completion of either a scholarly project or thesis.

Louisiana MSN Checklist

Become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Louisiana.
Apply to and earn an MSN degree from an accredited university or college.
Fulfill requirements, such as completing supervised clinical hours.
Apply for licensure with the Louisiana Board of Nursing (~ $140 fee). This is mandatory for Nurse Practitioners (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) in the state of Louisiana.
Official graduate degree transcripts must be submitted with date of completion and nursing graduate degree related to specialty.
Must authorize the disclosure of Criminal History Record Information.
Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Louisiana.

Louisiana MSN Salary & Job Outlook

Obtaining a graduate-level degree opens the doors to the kinds of jobs that pay more within the nursing industry – in exchange for assuming a higher level of responsibility. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, advanced practice nurses, nurse educators and nurse administrators generally earn the following median salaries in Louisiana: medical and health service managers ($84,610), nursing instructors and teachers ($59,840), nurse practitioners ($93,640).