LSUA’s School of Nursing has received a $1.39 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Health to expand healthcare education in rural Louisiana and strengthen the workforce serving communities across the state.
The grant supports the development of learning labs at three rural healthcare partners: Winn Parish Medical Center, Avoyelles Hospital, and Opelousas General Hospital. The project, which began September 1, brings educational technology, simulation equipment, and other training resources directly into healthcare settings where LSUA students can gain hands-on experience closer to the communities they may eventually serve.
The initiative is designed to expand rural clinical education opportunities for nursing and allied health students while also providing resources for continuing education and professional development for healthcare employees already working in partner communities.
“This investment allows LSUA to bring health care education directly into rural communities. By establishing learning labs within our partner hospitals, we can give students meaningful clinical experiences while building a stronger pipeline of health care professionals prepared to serve rural Louisiana,” said Ryan Riche, DPT, Dean of the College of Health & Human Services.
By establishing learning environments within rural hospitals, LSUA will be able to connect classroom instruction with the realities of delivering healthcare in communities where access to clinical education and workforce development resources can be limited. Students will have opportunities to train alongside healthcare professionals, gain experience in rural healthcare settings, and develop relationships with hospitals and communities throughout the region.
“This grant places nursing students inside three rural hospitals with a dedicated instructor at each site,” said Amy Giles, Assistant Professor of Nursing and project coordinator for the initiative. “After nearly 20 years in rural health care, I know students who train in these settings gain experience that is difficult to replicate, and some will ultimately build careers in those communities. Our goal over the next two years is to build partnerships that last well beyond the grant.”
The model also creates benefits beyond the students currently pursuing healthcare degrees. Equipment and educational resources placed at partner hospitals can support the professional development of existing healthcare employees, strengthening the skills and capacity of the workforce already serving rural Louisiana.
The long-term goal is to create stronger connections among LSUA, its students, and rural healthcare providers. Giving students meaningful clinical experiences in these communities can help them better understand the needs of rural patients and healthcare systems while introducing them to professional opportunities they may not otherwise encounter.
“The Rural Health Education and Training Pathways initiative expands access to nursing education while giving students the support they need to succeed,” said Sarita James, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean of the LSUA School of Nursing. “By reducing barriers to education and creating a more direct pathway into the workforce, we can prepare talented, compassionate nurses while strengthening the rural communities where they are needed most.”
Students who complete part of their education in rural healthcare environments have an opportunity to become familiar with the people, organizations, and needs of those communities before they graduate, potentially making rural practice a more visible and attractive career option.
For LSUA, the investment reflects a broader commitment to using education and community partnerships to address some of Louisiana’s most pressing workforce needs. By bringing training resources closer to rural communities, the university can help prepare students for meaningful healthcare careers while strengthening the institutions and communities that will depend on those graduates in the years ahead.
Written by Adam Lord
Image by LSUA Strategic Communications