NATCHITOCHES, La. — Northwestern State University is providing a faster pathway into the nursing profession through an intensive 16-month program offered at its campuses in Alexandria and Shreveport
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field. The four-semester curriculum begins each summer with a combination of pre-nursing and introductory coursework, followed by advanced nursing classes and hands-on clinical placements at local healthcare facilities, hospitals, and nursing home community partners. In their final summer semester, students complete fifth-level coursework while working in a hospital setting.
NSU launched the accelerated program in Shreveport in 2022 before expanding it to its CENLA campus in Alexandria the following summer. Program Coordinator Katrina Seymore, an associate professor at the CENLA campus, noted that the accelerated track caters to career changers seeking a rapid transition into healthcare…