Southeastern and St. Tammany Health System announce Accelerated Nursing Degree Program
Monday, June 12, 2023
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – In an effort to address the critical need for nurses in St. Tammany
Parish, St. Tammany Health System and Southeastern Louisiana University’s School of
Nursing are partnering to establish an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
degree program tailored specifically for Northshore residents. The Northshore-based
program will be housed in two places - primarily at the St. Tammany Academic Center,
strategically located near St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish
Hospital in Covington, with additional classes at Southeastern Louisiana University.
The program is open to students with non-nursing bachelor degrees, allowing them
to earn a BSN in just 18 months. Beyond hands-on learning opportunities, the ABSN
degree offers extensive preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination.
“Through this academic partnership with Southeastern, we hope to broaden the
opportunities for individuals – especially our Northshore neighbors – who want to
explore a nursing career path through building on the degrees they have already earned,”
said President and CEO of St. Tammany Health System Joan Coffman. “We see it as opening
a new door for another valuable workforce population, and we hope potential students
see it this way as well.”
“We want to expand access to nursing education in St. Tammany, with the goal
of increasing the number of nurses in our community to meet the growing demand for
qualified, caring nurses in healthcare today,” added Senior Vice President and Chief
Nursing Officer of St. Tammany Health System Kerry Milton. “This partnership builds
on what we already have – nursing colleagues who set the standard for nursing care
in the region. We look forward to welcoming future colleagues who want to join our
spectacular team.”
Bronwyn Doyle, the health system’s assistant vice president of workforce strategy,
underscored the program’s commitment to nurturing local talent by providing ABSN students
with early opportunities to apply for academic scholarships and nursing positions
within the health system, explaining that program graduates would be given priority
consideration.
Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Southeastern Ann Carruth
stresses the importance of preparing students for today’s competitive job market.
“By forging meaningful connections with healthcare institutions, we can bridge
the gap between evidence and practice, ensuring students receive an exceptional education
and valuable clinical experience,” she said.
As part of the partnership, St. Tammany Health System will offer nursing students
critical clinical training at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, eliminating a common barrier
nursing programs encounter when seeking experience for students.
Interim Department Head of Southeastern’s School of Nursing Lindsay Domiano agrees.
“Through this partnership, we hope to cultivate a shared vision of compassionate,
patient-centered care, where nurses play a vital role in improving health outcomes
and advancing the overall quality of healthcare delivery in our communities,” she
said.
Students interested in the program must apply through Southeastern admissions.
Once admitted, students should then complete a nursing program application by the
deadline of Sept. 1, 2023. For programs starting in August, the deadline is Feb. 1.
Scholarships from St. Tammany Health System are available.
Southeastern plans to offer the program’s first courses at the Academic Center
in Covington beginning in January 2024. For more information, visit https://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/program-list/ns_acc_nursing_bs.html.
