SOWELA Technical College Clinical Training Program

Our partnership with SOWELA Technical Community College expands workforce development across critical allied health and clinical disciplines. Memorial proudly provides clinical training sites and real-world leading opportunities that allow students to build skills, confidence, and professional pathways close to home.

Through this collaboration, we support:

• LPN-to-RN programs
• Clinical training for allied health programs
• Hands-on experience in hospital and clinical settings
• Workforce pipeline that meets regional healthcare needs.
• Preceptor program for new nurses
• Tuition reimbursement

Memorial’s partnership with SOWELA closely resembles our partnership with the nursing program at McNeese. Unlike other area hospitals, Memorial nursing students partner directly with a registered nurse for real-work, expert level training.

Within each partnership, the Nurse Extern Program is a highlight. Through this program, nursing students rotate through various floors and are paid for their time. At any given time, Memorial has over 80 nurse externs from McNeese and SOWELA receiving real-world experience across the health system. Students can participate for up to four semesters and often begin during their clinical semester.

Allied Health Career Training

In addition to the nursing program, Memorial supports other healthcare training-to-career pipelines by providing faculty and training for:

• Sterile processing
• Scrub technicians
• Respiratory therapy

Memorial also provides clinical participation for SOWELA’s advisory board, and a simulation program used by both LSU residents and SOWELA students.