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Louisiana RN Certification and Schools - LA

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 16th, 2010

In the 2009 report by the Louisiana Board of Nursing counted more than 50,000 RNs in the state, about 90 percent of whom were female and about 80 percent of whom were under age 50. About 23,000 nurses held bachelor’s degrees and about 18,000 held associate’s degrees. Nearly 6,000 had earned a master’s degree and fewer than 500 had obtained a doctorate.

Among the many topics covered in the Board’s annual report are meeting the goal of filling the many vacancies created in the healthcare system due to lack of enough nurses. Demand for RNs remains high in the state, and if you enjoy caring for people, have strong attention to detail and skill with science and math, becoming an RN may be a rewarding and lucrative career for you.

Educational Requirements and Opportunities for Registered Nurses

Once you’ve made the decision to become an RN, there are three basic educational paths in anticipation of taking the licensing exam. You need not attend Louisiana RN schools to practice in the state; however most do.  Online programs provide an excellent option to traditional campus-based institutions.

Continued Education (CE) Requirements for RNs in Louisiana

Each year, to maintain your license as an RN, you must take a certain amount of continuing education credit hours at approved or accredited institutions. This does not apply to your first year of licensure. The amount of credit hours depend on your status.
Full-Time RNs (practicing at least 1,600 hours a year) must take 5 hours of CE credits.

Part-Time RNs (practicing more than 160 hours but not full-time status) must take 10 hours of CE credits.
Unemployed or inactive RNs must take 15 hours of CE credits.

To be reinstated after your license has lapsed in Louisiana, you must take 15 hours of CE. credits.

Through campus or online programs, aspiring Registered Nurses in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Lafayette General Hospital, Ochsner Medical Center and Charity Hospital.