Louisiana is a state that thrives on culture and diversity. You’ll find old-world architecture and new, modern attitudes. There’s a reverence for tradition and a laid-back lifestyle so enticing it’s no wonder any nurse would be excited to explore nursing career opportunities in the Bayou State.
With over 150 hospitals across the state and countless physician’s offices, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and other places needing nursing staff, Louisiana has much to offer to RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. And with a dense population of nearly five million residents, the need for nurses will continue to grow. Here we offer five nursing career opportunities in Louisiana.
What Makes Louisiana a Great Location for Nurses
The state of Louisiana has so much to offer when it comes to advancing a career in nursing. Louisiana has a diverse but strong economy. When compared with other states in the region, Louisiana’s cost of living is much friendlier and more affordable. There’s plenty of cultural diversity and an amazing food scene. Those who live in the Creole State embrace any chance they have to go outdoors. Hiking, fishing, boating, or a lazy picnic along the Mighty Mississippi are just a few ways residents of Louisiana kick back and enjoy life.
5 Nursing Career Opportunities to Explore
Just like the rest of the country, Louisiana also suffers from a nursing shortage. The state predicts a 12% increase in the need for skilled nurses over the next decade. When you look at lifestyle and cost of living, Louisiana’s competitive compensation and benefits packages go a long way.
Many of the nursing career opportunities in Louisiana stem from the demand for healthcare services, the increased need for patient care, and the growth of an aging population in need of skilled nursing services. That translates into a wealth of job opportunities for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs, as well as advanced practice nurses.
Here are five nursing career opportunities you may wish to explore in Louisiana.
1. Hospital RN
As a registered nurse in a hospital setting, you are instrumental to the facility’s operations. Healthcare organizations in Louisiana rely on their RNs to provide patient care as part of the care team, administer patients’ medication, and collaborate with the healthcare team in the patient’s best interests. You’ll find opportunities in a variety of special areas, including emergency medicine, trauma, intensive care, and pediatrics. Geriatrics is a growing area in Louisiana.
2. Skilled Nursing Facility
Skilled nursing facilities have a dire need for nurses. RNs, LPNs, and CNAs are all necessary for patient care and the success of a skilled nursing facility in Louisiana. With the growing sector of Louisiana’s aging population, geriatric care facilities of every level need qualified nurses.
3. Home Health/ Home Care
Nurses are necessary for patients who wish to remain at home. Whether a CNA provides basic care and assists with bathing, feeding, and mobility issues, or a more advanced nurse who helps with the management of chronic conditions, post-surgical care, or long-term care, being part of the home health care team is a rewarding career.
4. Travel Nurse
Nurses of various certifications are needed to fill short-term roles in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, and a variety of other healthcare settings. Because of Louisiana’s unique and diverse culture, along with diversity in healthcare needs, travel nurses find nursing career opportunities here quite exciting.
5. Community Health Nurses
The need for community health nurses is growing across the country in both rural and urban settings. Community nurses work in a wide variety of venues, such as clinics, shelters for unhoused individuals, schools, universities, and correctional facilities. These nurses focus primarily on serving their community through outreach and advocacy programs, health education, and policy change. Depending on the duties involved, community nurses may be RNs, LPNs, or CNAs. Again, because of the diverse population in the state, a community nurse in Louisiana is a rich and rewarding nursing career opportunity.
Answer the Call
As the need for nurses continues to grow in Louisiana, so do the nursing career opportunities. For more on how you can answer the call for skilled nurses in Louisiana, contact BOS Medical Staffing today.
