Ochsner to Administer Donation to Southern University Nursing Program

BATON ROUGE – Furthering Ochsner Health’s partnership with Southern University,

Ochsner has agreed to administer a $2 million donation to the Southern University School of Nursing that will expand student enrollment, enhance training and laboratory programs, and expand job placement services for students.

The donation was made possible through the Louisiana Department of Health. Ochsner and Southern signed a memorandum of understanding that began with the fall 2022 semester and runs through the fall 2025 semester. After that, Ochsner and Southern have an option to extend the agreement for an additional year.

The agreement includes the creation of an advisory committee that will oversee how the money is spent in achieving several goals, including:

• Increasing class sizes by 25 students annually, beginning in the fall of 2023, by adding classroom space and clinical faculty.
• Upgrading the nursing school’s Simulation Based Learning Center and Skills Labs, along with the Technology and Learning Resources Center that provide students experience through real-world scenarios. Those facilities will be updated with a full spectrum of technology-rich simulation equipment and trainers designed to enhance clinical knowledge, skill proficiency and competency.
• Improving retention rates and strengthening students’ performance on nursing licensure exams.

In addition, Ochsner will support students for clinical rotations and help with marketing events like career expos and job fairs. Ochsner also will help Southern nursing students with mock interviews and résumé writing workshops.

Southern will notify Ochsner of job openings within the nursing school, and Ochsner job openings will be posted within the nursing school.

Southern nursing students will be able to apply to the Ochsner Nurse Scholars program, which offers tuition support in exchange for a commitment to serve at an Ochsner facility for a specified term after graduation. Students also will have access to Ochsner’s career center when applying as a nurse tech, along with the opportunity to participate in other professional development programs.

“Ochsner is honored to work with Southern University in helping ensure nurses are educated and trained with the best equipment and technology available to continue meeting our community’s healthcare needs,” said Chuck Daigle, CEO, Ochsner Baton Rouge. “Healthcare education and workforce development are crucial to Ochsner’s Healthy State campaign, which seeks to raise Louisiana’s national healthcare ranking by 2030.”

“We are honored to create a partnership with Ochsner Health. This innovative academic practice partnership between Ochsner and the School of Nursing will revolutionize how we prepare future nurses in meeting the workforce demands and healthcare needs of those we are called to serve,” said Dr. Sandra Brown, Dean, College of Nursing and Allied Health, Southern University, Baton Rouge.

For more information about Southern University’s programs, contact the School of Nursing at (225) 771-3266 or visit www.subr.edu/SUSON

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About Ochsner Baton Rouge

Greater Baton Rouge is home to Ochsner Medical Center - Baton Rouge, a full-service, 150-bed hospital and 13 Health Centers across Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston and Tangipahoa Parishes – including Ochsner Cancer Center – Baton Rouge. Over 2,300 employees serve patients in the Greater Baton Rouge area, including more than 250 physicians and Advanced Practice Providers whose collective dedication to patient care is recognized for quality excellence by Becker’s Hospital Review, Healthgrades, Truven Health Analytics and Leapfrog. Ochsner Baton Rouge is part of Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest non-profit healthcare delivery system committed to inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities by preventing diseases, providing patient-centered care that is accessible, affordable, convenient and effective, and building partnerships with innovative organizations that share our vision. In 2021, Ochsner Health treated more than 1 million people from every state and 75 countries, providing the latest medical breakthroughs and therapies, including digital medicine for chronic conditions and telehealth specialty services. Ochsner's team of more than 36,000 employees and 4,600 providers in Louisiana and the Gulf South are working to reinvent the future of health and wellness in the region and beyond through its cutting-edge Connected Health digital medicine program. To learn more about Ochsner Baton Rouge, please visit our website and follow us on Facebook.