THE GREAT STATE OF
LOUISIANA
David Hagsted RN
David Hagstad is an O.R. nurse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In addition to hands on nursing, he has published multiple times in mainstream nursing journals on a variety of topics. His breakthrough article on Bioterrorism (AJN, Dec 2000) was the first multi-national article on the topic warning of the risk of an attack. Nine months later the horrors of 9/11 and the Anthrax scare came true. He continues to lecture around the country on topics ranging from nursing ethics, bioterrorism, and substance abuse. His expertise in bioterrorism has led to him advising the governor of the state of Louisiana on terrorism.
David has served in the Army and Air Force for 18 years, and completed two tours in Iraq during two separate wars. During his most recent deployment to Balad Air Base in Iraq, his home state was ravaged by the disaster of Katrina and Rita.
He is excited about the opportunity to lend his pen to Male Nurse Magazine.
David is one of many people that have taken their time to help with this project. He has been around for some time and I feel very lucky to have his pen.
November 2006
State of Louisiana
While Louisiana continues to rebound from the disaster of Katrina, nursing programs have re-opened their doors and continue to attract a fair amount of male students interested in the profession of nursing. I recall that my uncle once told me that he resigned from a nursing program here in Louisiana over twenty years ago because of what he called too much “reverse discrimination”. Men have become more commonplace both in these programs today and in the field caring for the citizens of Louisiana.
Last year, in the 2005 Annual Report to the Governor of the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing reported that 2,002 students enrolled in the twenty-three different Registered Nurse programs around the state. (9 ADN, 13 BSN & 1 Diploma program) Male enrollees accounted for 15% of all new students starting programs last year.
What struck me as most unfortunate about the Annual Report, were the number of declined candidates of both sexes. Obviously aspiring nurses need to be screened, and interviewed. They also need to have a reasonable level of aptitude. But in Louisiana alone, there were still 1,384 QUALIFIED applicants more than there were seats for them in programs – a full 47% more nurse wanabees. Imagine if this number were par for all 50 states. Where would our chronic shortage of nurses be if we had one more nurse on the job for every two there now?
So what does the future hold for Louisiana and its nursing outlook? Male enrollees accounted for 15% of all new students starting programs last year, while practicing male nurses have held steady around 10% statewide for the past five years. The implication here is that male nurses leave the profession at a higher percentage than our female counterparts.
Furthermore when the 41,000 active nurses in Louisiana were asked how many years they planned to work in nursing they answered in a way that offered a continuingly bleak outlook for nursing numbers. 13% answered 0-5 years, 21% said 6-10 years. Only 28% expected to make a career of nursing (over 20 years.)
Nurses need to look at the nursing profession as a PROFESSION, not a rest area. Why put in all the time and effort, get the degree and the license to for a temporary career. If that’s your plan I know 1,384 qualified applicants that would have just rathered you were flipping burgers.
Reporting from your state
