LSUA Secures $1.2M to Add Evening Nursing Program, Tackle State Shortage

Image: LSUA

Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) has received a $1.2 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) to expand its Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program.

The funding will create more flexible training options for aspiring nurses in central Louisiana — including new evening courses paired with weekend clinicals.

A Push to Fill the Nursing Gap

The grant comes from the Healthcare Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (HERO) Fund, a statewide initiative focused on growing the health care workforce pipeline.

“Nationwide, and especially here in Louisiana, we are facing serious health care workforce shortages,” said LDH Undersecretary Drew Maranto. “The HERO Fund helps us to grow our health care workforce pipeline at a critical time and keep talent here in Louisiana.”

Key goals of the HERO-funded LSUA expansion include:

• Launching evening nursing courses
  
  
• Weekend clinical training
  
  
• Increasing enrollment by 25%
  
  
• Offering scholarships and stipends
  
  
• Hiring more nursing faculty
  
  
• Strengthening NCLEX prep and licensure pass rates

500+ Nursing Vacancies in Central Louisiana

LSUA’s School of Nursing Director Sarita James, Ph.D., said nearly 500 nursing positions are currently unfilled across central Louisiana, pointing to a critical workforce gap the program aims to address.

She explained that the new evening and weekend format is designed to support adult learners, especially those balancing work and family responsibilities.

“This initiative not only addresses a workforce shortage,” James said, “but also opens doors for adult learners to build brighter futures for their families.”

Economic and Statewide Impact

The HERO Fund, created by the Louisiana Legislature, supports partnerships between educational institutions and health care providers.

In April, LDH announced nearly $7 million in HERO grants statewide, projected to help train 800 additional health care workers and generate $30 million in annual economic impact.

At LSUA, the new funding will help:

• Expand clinical partnerships with five local health care providers
  
  
• Offer flexible learning pathways for nontraditional students
  
  
• Maintain NCLEX pass rates above 95%

As Louisiana continues to grapple with health care staffing challenges, initiatives like HERO aim to not only fill critical roles — but also create opportunities for upward mobility across the state.

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