Tag: Nicholls Nursing Program

Transforming Healthcare: The Impact of Thibodaux Regional’s Record-Breaking Donation to Nicholls Nursing Program

Nicholls State University recently received a monumental boost to its nursing program with a record-breaking investment from the Thibodaux Regional Health System, as per this news release from the school. In a landmark move, the university’s College of Nursing will now bear the distinguished title of the Thibodaux Regional Health System School of Nursing at Nicholls State University, thanks to a generous $10 million contribution from the health system. This transformational partnership was greenlit by the ULS Board of Supervisors and is slated to span a decade.

Speaking about this transformative investment, Dr. Jay Clune, President of Nicholls, expressed profound gratitude, stating, “Thibodaux Regional’s unprecedented gift will change the trajectory of the nursing program and transform this university.” Dr. Clune emphasized Nicholls’ commitment to nurturing highly skilled healthcare professionals, citing the pivotal role this collaboration will play in bolstering the ranks of nurses not only in Thibodaux but also across the broader region.

The infusion of funds from Thibodaux Regional promises to catalyze significant enhancements within the nursing program. With this financial backing, Nicholls aims to procure cutting-edge equipment essential for top-tier student training, recruit additional faculty members to facilitate program expansion, bolster the retention of existing faculty, and facilitate ongoing professional development opportunities for nursing educators. This generous contribution will empower the Nicholls nursing program to ramp up the enrollment of nursing candidates within its undergraduate program, effectively addressing the pressing demand for qualified nurses within the region.

Greg Stock, CEO of Thibodaux Regional Health System, underscored the institution’s commitment to supporting educational initiatives, particularly amidst a nursing shortage. He lauded Dr. Sue Westbrook, Nicholls’ Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, as an exemplary leader and expressed confidence in the transformative impact of this collaboration on nursing education.

Indeed, the partnership between Thibodaux Regional and Nicholls has deep roots, with the health system serving as a steadfast ally of the university’s nursing program for many years. In addition to providing invaluable clinical space for student training, Thibodaux Regional has been instrumental in facilitating employment opportunities for graduates. Moreover, the collaboration has extended beyond the realm of healthcare, encompassing initiatives such as sports medicine and athletic training services for student-athletes.

The newly christened Thibodaux Regional Health System School of Nursing at Nicholls State University is poised to uphold a lofty mission: preparing students to excel as nurses within a global society. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing teaching, research, and service, the school endeavors to cultivate a cadre of well-educated nurses equipped to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the coastal region and beyond.

As part of its academic offerings, the school collaborates with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN) to offer an MSN program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This collaborative framework, involving universities such as McNeese State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, ensures a comprehensive curriculum tailored to prepare graduates for diverse roles within the healthcare profession. Faculty members, renowned for their expertise in areas ranging from clinical practice to research, mentor students across specialized concentrations such as Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Education.

In essence, the partnership between Thibodaux Regional Health System and Nicholls State University heralds a new era of excellence in nursing education and collaborative healthcare initiatives. By marrying philanthropy with academic innovation and fostering interdisciplinary cooperation, this collaboration promises to nurture the next generation of healthcare leaders, enriching both the local community and the broader healthcare landscape for years to come.

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Nicholls Nursing Students receive Clinical Lab Coats from United Houma Nation

Nursing students at Nicholls State University will be receiving clinical lab coats thanks to a large donation from the United Houma Nation, as per the university. The United Houma Nation (UHN) donated approximately $20,000 worth of clinical lab coats to Nicholls’ Department of Nursing in order to assist students by covering an important and often costly part of their enrollment in the program.

After Hurricane Ida passed in 2021 and massive amounts of damage and destruction were surveyed in Thibodaux Parish, the UHN had received various donations of supplies that were to be distributed to the affected community. Among these supplies were numerous boxes of nearly $20,000 of clinical lab coats, and these boxes were discovered by Cami Dardar. Dardar is both a senior student of nursing at Nicholls and a member of the UHN, so when she discovered the boxes of lab coats while organizing the donations, she jumped to action.

Dardar told Nicholls press, “I knew I had to get in contact with Dr. Raquel Engolio to get these uniforms out. I really think this is from God because the uniforms could have gone anywhere and out of all the people involved, I knew what to do with them. I would have never thought that being a nursing student and a member of the UNH would ever cross paths. It’s amazing to see two important parts of my life come together.”

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Nicholls admits 160 students annually with approximately 80 students admitted each semester. Each student is responsible for procuring their own clinical lab coat, which can be costly as these coats are valued at about $115. Stacked against tuition, textbooks, and other supplies, it’s certainly advantageous for nursing students to be recipients of this UHN donation.

In reflecting on the significance of a Nicholls student who may or may not have had their entire lives upended by Hurricane Ida receive this symbolic and vital part of their Nursing education, Dardar said, “to see another student who needs the uniform due to losing them in the storm or can’t afford them is just a feeling I can’t describe.” She continued, “I remember my first semester and how much of a burden it was to afford these uniforms. Now, students don’t have to worry. It is an honor to bless upcoming students with these coats.”

Head of Nicholls’ Department of Nursing and assistant professor of nursing Dr. Englio commented on the donation by saying, “this wonderful donation will assist Nicholls Nursing students by saving them both time and money. We are very grateful to have this type of support from the community and from one of our students. The timing of the donation is perfect. It is also very meaningful to future registered nurses and will help them have a positive clinical experience.

These donated clinical lab coats were primarily donated on November 5, 2021 at a dedicated donation event organized by Principal Chief August “Coco” Creppel, in which a team of UHN members delivered and handed out approximately 450 lab coats to new clinical students.

New students admitted to the Department of Nursing previously were able to attend a Nursing-exclusive job fair last semester. The job fair was organized by the university’s Career Services, and it provided current and former graduates of Nicholls’ nursing programs to meet, interview with, and connect with potential employers. Employers attending the Nursing Career Job Fair were healthcare providers from hospitals and other healthcare groups across Louisiana.

Over the past decade, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an on-average projection of about 194,500 job openings for registered nurses with the typical entry-level education required being a Bachelor’s degree. That being said, the donation of lab coats from the United Houma Nation is massively appreciated by Nicholls’ nursing students.

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NSU Nursing Program Recognized

The nursing program at Nicholls State University has been recognized for the quality and affordability of the program by several online resources. Registered Nursing, a nursing advocacy organization of registered nurses that bridges the gap between resources and future nurses, ranked the Nicholls online bachelors in nursing number seven in the country and best in Louisiana.

Best Health Degrees, a website dedicated to spreading awareness of healthcare education, named Nicholls nursing program the number four most affordable accredited program in the country.

Dr. Sue Westbrook, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, is delighted about the program recognition. The former dean of the College of Nursing says “It’s satisfying to know that our program offers high quality at an affordable price.”

The Nicholls nursing program is the most popular on campus, and also remains one of the most successful program in the South with their graduates regularly passing the RN licensure exam at rates that are higher than both state and national averages.

Nicholls nursing program offers a traditional BSN, LPN to BSN Articulation Program, RN to BSN Articulation Program, and a Master of Science in Nursing. The MSN program is offered in affiliation with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN) and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In the MSN program, you can choose from three specialty concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Education.

With a mission to prepare students to contribute to a global society and a diverse workforce as productive, responsible, and engaged citizens and as well-educated nurses to meet the healthcare needs of the Bayou region and beyond, it’s estimated that eighty percent of the Bayou’s Region’s nurses are Nicholls alumni. Students will receive hands-on education from experienced and award-winning faculty, and 100 percent of Nicholls recent nursing grads are either employed or in nursing school.

Anna Busalacchi, a graduate from Nicholls with her Bachelors of Science in nursing, states “It’s cool to be prideful of my alma mater. I had so much on my resume because I attended Nicholls and it helped me get a job so much easier.”

Nicholls’ College of Nursing aims to send off their graduates embracing these core values:

  • Civic responsibility
  • Diversity
  • Excellence
  • Integrity
  • Leadership
  • Respectfulness
  • Responsibility
  • Caring
  • Professionalism
  • Safety

Registered Nursing determines its school rankings using a variety of higher education statistics, while also factoring in school accreditation, graduation rates, cost of tuition, the ratio of instructional faculty to tenured faculty, and student acceptance rate.

Best Health Degrees determines its school rankings based on accreditation from either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and by the cost of tuition.

Best Health Degrees helps prospective students learn what skills and training they need for their ideal career field, the salary they can expect to earn, and advice on how to land their dream job, as well as information they may need about the college or university of their choice.

For more information about Nicholls nursing program visit nicholls.edu/nursing.

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