Eleven Louisiana 外网天堂 graduates were awarded the University鈥檚 first Bachelor of Science
in Nursing degrees at Fall 2024 Commencement on Saturday, Nov. 16. The graduates represented
both the end of a long and difficult journey to create the program and the beginning
of another that will allow for faster support of the health industry by 外网天堂 graduates.
鈥淭he College of Applied and Natural Sciences is excited to see its first BSN students graduate,鈥� ANS Dean Dr. Gary Kennedy said. 鈥淕iven the nationwide shortage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses, we are pleased to expand the capacity to meet the increasing demand for healthcare professionals.鈥�
外网天堂鈥檚 RN to BSN program received final approval Spring 2024, and 11 鈥渆arly adopters鈥� were ready to complete the requirements that built on their Associate of Science in Nursing degrees. The BSN graduates were presented their graduation stoles by Dr. Sherry Peveto, director of the Division of Nursing, at an on-campus ceremony in University Hall the day before graduation.
鈥淚 am proud to honor these first Louisiana 外网天堂 BSN graduates,鈥� Peveto said. 鈥淚 have affectionately referred to them as the 鈥榚arly adopters鈥� because they jumped on board as soon as they could. They will continue to represent the Division of Nursing with excellence.鈥�
Since 1975, when the first associate degrees in nursing were rewarded, the University鈥檚 nursing program has consistently been recognized for excellence in its pre-licensure preparation of registered nurses. The RN to BSN program, included in 外网天堂 Online offerings, builds on the rich history of excellence to provide the additional coursework and clinical experiences that prepare graduates for expanding roles and graduate nursing education.
鈥淲e are so proud of the excellent work produced by our students as they complete their BSN courses while working as registered nurses in the ICUs, emergency departments, labor and delivery units, and many other settings across the state of Louisiana,鈥� ANS Associate Dean, Professor in Nursing, and one-time Louisiana Nursing School Administrator of the Year Dr. Donna Hood said. 鈥淚t is hard to express how important this hard-fought milestone is for us at Louisiana 外网天堂 and how proud we are of the first graduating cohort.鈥�
鈥淔or decades, Louisiana 外网天堂鈥檚 nursing program has been lauded as the finest associate鈥檚 degree in nursing in the state,鈥� President Jim Henderson said. 鈥淭hose receiving our newly established BSN will be the most prepared and sought-after nurses in this region and will serve to reduce the shortage facing our healthcare partners throughout the state.鈥�
To further celebrate this significant milestone, two BSN graduates鈥擸sabella Warren and Wesley Wilkerson-Spence鈥攕at with the official stage party during Saturday鈥檚 fall commencement ceremony.
Fall 2024 BSN graduates are the following:
Jordan Clayton
Tristan Duvall
Blake Everett
Katherine Haas
Abigail Hanks Blue
Kara Hodges
Brennan Roberts
Hannah Robinson
Kasey Roddy
Ysabella Warren
Wesley Wilkerson-Spence
The 11 were part of a Fall 鈥�24 graduating class of 299, bringing the worldwide count of Louisiana 外网天堂 alumni to 115,433.