Louisiana RN to MSN / Masters in Nursing Programs
(found programs from 10 schools)

Business is booming in Louisiana for advanced practice nurses. A 2011 report by the Louisiana Board of Nursing (LBON) showed that there are 1,910 NPs, 1,321 CRNAs, 167 CNSs, and 32 CNMs. Over the past several years, the number of students enrolled in APRN programs in the state has risen significantly. Although Louisiana has been historically an economically disadvantaged state, a salary survey published in Advance for Nurse Practitioners showed that NPs earn a mean salary of over $84,000.

Nurses are also choosing administration roles in significant numbers, as over 35 percent of Louisiana's MSN candidates were enrolled in nursing leadership programs in the 2009-2010 academic year, according to the LBON. Like the rest of the nation, nurse educators are in high demand. Almost 80 percent of nurses teaching in pre-RN programs have an MSN. Only about five percent of MSN candidates have chosen education tracks in recent years, and pre-RN nurse educators earn about $50,000/year. For more information, check out the Louisiana Board of Education, Louisiana State Nurses Association, and the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Programs to consider:

Louisiana State University-Health Sciences Center (New Orleans, LA). LSU has a number of MSN programs to choose from including advanced practice specialties, administration, education, and public health.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Lafayette, LA). Among UL's MSN programs are nursing education, executive leadership, and mental health and family practice NP.

Below is a list of all the accredited schools with campus locations in Louisiana that offer MSN programs.