NSU has fourth-largest nursing program in U.S.

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University nursing student Cyndi Gagnon is confident she has found the right profession and the right place to learn that profession.

Read full story from The Shreveport Times

[lu-lu]

Natchitoches need more good nurses, caring nurses nurses that love their profession,and have a big heart

[Girly Girl]

I'm proud of NSU. You are so right lu-lu.

[Keisha]

I am glad to read this. The last time I was there I rode through the campus. I think the NSU campus is beautiful.

[Animal Lover]

Why are they so limited to the amount of nurses they can choose for clinicals?

[Just Me]

Do not have enough instructors. There is a state mandated student:instructor ratio.

[Student]

It may be the largest but, they do have their share of issues, the main one being is being able to offer classes in Natchitoches with the exception on one level of clinicals (this year), all the classes are either in leesville or shreveport which I understand the clinical part due to the fact that there is more hospitals and facilities in shreveport to put these students at, but with todays technology they have the capability of offering the class (as they do between leesville and shreveport) through compressed video, which means you are in a class and are watching the instructor and students on tv and can interact with them if needed.

The problem is local people are having to drive to shreveport upwards of 4 days a week and I am sorry with this 4.00 a gal gas NSU could do something to get their program improved to allow students a greater flexability to attend.

I noticed about the tuition increase, and then after seen they were getting a video score board for the school, now where's the priority? These students are paying out the but for education and most of the nurse courses are not even offered here at Natchitoches where the main campus is..

[Another Student]

The fees for Nursing students are a lot higher than the average tuition for other majors - they should have one of the top programs in the country!$900+ for 3 hours is a bit much!

[fustrated]

i am a first level clinical student @ NSU and I am not looking forward to the amount of money in gas driving to Shreveport 4 days a week. I was told in confidence by an advisor that northwestern is completely capable of televised learning but won't do it unless enough students complain.(which is ridiculous!) I sent out a mass email and did not get any response.
How can we better our lives by going to nursing school...if we can't even afford to get there????

[Another Student]

fustrated wrote:

i am a first level clinical student @ NSU and I am not looking forward to the amount of money in gas driving to Shreveport 4 days a week. I was told in confidence by an advisor that northwestern is completely capable of televised learning but won't do it unless enough students complain.(which is ridiculous!) I sent out a mass email and did not get any response.
How can we better our lives by going to nursing school...if we can't even afford to get there????

Have you tried writing to the Natchitoches Times and the Current Sauce as a way to reach out to your fellow nursing majors? You'd probably reach a lot more students that way. Good luck!

[Student]

I have been in contact with the director too about this trying to get something going for natch, see i think one of the big obstacles is having a preceptor or mediator to watch the class. But it is definitely needed becuase at this rate gas is crazy, but they expect that you are only in school, do not work, and should move to where you are going to class at. I own my home so I can't just up and start another residence in shreveport and sorry but have to work to pay bills so you know not every can drop all these things but that is what they expect.

[fustrated]

Student wrote:

I have been in contact with the director too about this trying to get something going for natch, see i think one of the big obstacles is having a preceptor or mediator to watch the class. But it is definitely needed becuase at this rate gas is crazy, but they expect that you are only in school, do not work, and should move to where you are going to class at. I own my home so I can't just up and start another residence in shreveport and sorry but have to work to pay bills so you know not every can drop all these things but that is what they expect.

I understand that completely. My husband works offshore and I have a 1 year old daughter. I cannot uproot and live in shreveport...there is no way.

[Student]

Yeah they fail to realize that people go to college to further their education and most are not "kids" just out of school. It actually worries me some though the quality of teaching and seeing the healtcare settings first hand. I understand some of the scut work but when you get past first level it's time to learn more about the nursing job, while the clinical sites see us as just being there to continue their scut work, I also noticed hardley no communicatin between students and nurses definitely no teaching time. I have been in the medical field for a while and already know as much as a nurse as I think the whole experience could be better, I think for the price we pay it could be alot better. I don't think it's any consideration taken for the students only the teachers and the school. Quality begins with the students though if the students are not in an enviroment to learn, and are tired "from all the traveling" etc that is not quality education. My biggest complaint was the ability it there to do the "compressed video" however they don't want to take it on either because of money or they just don't want the added hastle. But we can put 80 students in a class in shreveport and call it done. To me 80 students in one class is entirely too much for this type of class. They could at least limit the lecture class size and by putting on one in Natchitoches it would cut the size down. The reason I say this is that when you are in a class where there is no where to move becuase of the close quarters and then the biggie no where to park in shreveport ( parking is horrible, these are definitely some areas needing to be addressed.

[Another Student]

"Yeah they fail to realize that people go to college to further their education and most are not "kids" just out of school." That has got to be one of the dumbest statements ever posted on this forum. As well, the rest of your rambling post is just as dumb. And you are a student in the nursing program, that's scairy.

[fustrated]

Another Student wrote:

"Yeah they fail to realize that people go to college to further their education and most are not "kids" just out of school." That has got to be one of the dumbest statements ever posted on this forum. As well, the rest of your rambling post is just as dumb. And you are a student in the nursing program, that's scairy.

what's scary is that you are trying to put us down for voicing our opinions and you can't even spell the word SCARY

[your dumb]

Another Student wrote:

"Yeah they fail to realize that people go to college to further their education and most are not "kids" just out of school." That has got to be one of the dumbest statements ever posted on this forum. As well, the rest of your rambling post is just as dumb. And you are a student in the nursing program, that's scairy.

you're probably one of those "kids" we are talking about who probably won't even make it to clinicals

[Student]

Yeah to frustrated, they fail to realize that no matter the situation they are in they are there to get an education, they are not kids straight out of high school who has mom and dad paying their bills, even the older population need to further their education. P.S. I am very good at what I do and I pray I will never get you as a paitent.

I have to explain in a little more detail so your mind can fathom what I meant by that post.

[mr CRNA]

fustrated wrote:

i am a first level clinical student @ NSU and I am not looking forward to the amount of money in gas driving to Shreveport 4 days a week. I was told in confidence by an advisor that northwestern is completely capable of televised learning but won't do it unless enough students complain.(which is ridiculous!) I sent out a mass email and did not get any response.
How can we better our lives by going to nursing school...if we can't even afford to get there????

I graduated from NSU and started my career as a critical care nurse at Cabrini in Alexandria. Trust me when I say that you won't appreciate how great NSU is until you graduate. I was miles ahead of the grads from other schools. Keep this in mind, even if the school did offer distance learning for Natchitoches, there is nothing to learn at the Natchitoches hospital. That's no knock on our hospital, but there isn't enough diversity in the medical cases there that will sufficiently prepare you for the world of nursing. Finally I know it's rough making that drive, I hated doing it to, but there is a lovely reward at the end.

[Student]

The distance learning I spoke of was not necessarily speaking of the clinical, it was only speaking of the "compressed video" or lecture course. You know it is kind of bad when you have to drive to shreveport and listen to a lecutre from leesville, or vice vera. The point of that is they have the capability of at least allowing students to attend the lecture portion in Natchitoches. I understand there is not alot at Natchitoches and there is alot more to see as far as procedures, surgical care, etc that Natchitoches just does not provide but they could at least work out a plan to allow the lecture portion.

[your dumb]

mr CRNA wrote:

<quoted text>
I graduated from NSU and started my career as a critical care nurse at Cabrini in Alexandria. Trust me when I say that you won't appreciate how great NSU is until you graduate. I was miles ahead of the grads from other schools. Keep this in mind, even if the school did offer distance learning for Natchitoches, there is nothing to learn at the Natchitoches hospital. That's no knock on our hospital, but there isn't enough diversity in the medical cases there that will sufficiently prepare you for the world of nursing. Finally I know it's rough making that drive, I hated doing it to, but there is a lovely reward at the end.

I think you might be misunderstanding me...I am not saying I have anything against NSU as a school. I am very proud to be attending nursing school at NSU (although what you said did make me feel even better). I'm glad clinicals are not at Natchitoches hospital for those same reasons and like what "student" is saying, I just would like compressed video for lectures to cut down the cost of driving to Shreveport a little. Every little cutback counts when you have a family to support. My only complaint with NSU is that they are capable of that but don't do it. I think they should offer it because the average nursing student age is 36 which means most of us are in the same money situation. i do thank you though for that light at the end of the tunnel :)

[ShreveBossier99]

No offense, Ladies, but you knew how the situation was when you started the program. And now you fuss and complain that you have to drive sooooo far for an education. Just calm down and things will be ok. Soon you will be making 50 grand plus a year and it will all be worth it.