Ochsner partners with St. Mary’s to foster nursing

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

On a recent morning at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans, four sophomores were being given online instruction by an Ochsner Health employee on how to make a stethoscope. This was just one activity of many the girls will be introduced to monthly as part of the nursing pre-apprenticeship program offered through Ochsner Health.

Several St. Mary’s teenagers launched their health care career in the Ochsner nursing program last year, said Pamela Rogers, president/interim principal. The first cohort completed an internship last summer and will soon have opportunities for more on-the-job training with Ochsner.

“After students graduate from St. Mary’s, they will have an MA (medical assistant) or certified nursing assistant (CNA) certificate and then continue with course work to earn an LPN (licensed practical nurse) certificate or gain credits toward being a registered nurse, which Ochsner pays for at Delgado (Community College),” Rogers said. “They have to be very focused in order to do this.”

Criteria, curriculum
Ochsner began developing the program in 2021, with the first cohort of 148 students from 10 schools in fall 2022 receiving career awareness and health care exploration, said Quentin Bradley, MBA, M.Ed., SHRM-CP, manager of high school pre-apprenticeships.

This year, the program has grown to 16 schools from St. Bernard to St. John civil parishes, including Academy of Our Lady in Marrero.

The seven St. Mary’s students enrolled have an average grade-point average of 3.2, said Tamiko Massey-Haynes, director of admissions and special programs.

Courses progress each year in the Ochsner curriculum and can be taught virtually, on campus or self-paced, depending on each school, Bradley said.

In 10th grade, students are introduced to the health sciences, skills and equipment used to treat patients and complete other touch points on professionalism, career awareness beyond nursing, engagement, relationship building and a one-week summer internship at an Ochsner site. Ochsner Health has 40 facilities and 250 health centers and urgent cares under its umbrella.

“The students have to do their regular class work and this,” Massey-Haynes said.

Several courses are dual-enrollment and earn college credit. Beginning in the 11th grade, students take three courses in the practical-nurse track or four in the registered-nurse track at Delgado Community College or Nunez Community College.

In 12th grade, dual-enrollment nursing classes continue with resume writing and interviewing skills. Bradley said students in private schools, such as St. Mary’s, pay for their dual-enrollment courses in high school. These earned college credits are transferable in college programs throughout Louisiana, Bradley said.

Upon graduation from high school, students may be interviewed for the Ochsner Health nursing apprenticeship program and can enroll in Delgado School of Nursing, with Ochsner paying for all courses. Upon completing their degree program, students are invited to interview for a full-time position at Ochsner Health.

St. Mary’s student Amiri Ross decided to try the course because, she said, “I like helping people.”

Successful so far
Since the program began last year, Bradley said he’s seen “a 45% increase in school partnerships, and an 84% increase in student participation.” The biggest jump has been with male students – a 221% increase in male enrollment. “We are trying to break the stigma of nursing being a female occupation.”

Bradley said Ochsner Health initiated the program as part of its Healthy State Initiative with the state of Louisiana.

“We have a mission that, by 2030, we want to move the state up in health-care state rankings from 48th to be in the top 40,” he said. “Being able to recruit and retain a diverse workforce is a pillar in our strategy. It also fulfills a need. Nationally, there is a nursing shortage. If we can get more individuals in health care, it is something we want to do. … This also helps involve the community by creating opportunities to improve the community as a whole.”

Students are happy to have this program.

“My mom is a nurse, and I just wanted to follow in her footsteps,” said student Camryn Brown. “I really like the field of nursing and don’t want to do anything else.”

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