McNeese State University
Nursing Partnership
McNeese + Memorial Nursing Training Partnership
Community Built. Cowboy Strong.
Training the Next Generation of Nurses
Lake Charles Memorial Health System and McNeese State University share a long-standing partnership rooted in education, clinical excellence and a shared commitment to the future of healthcare in Southwest Louisiana.
Through this partnership, nursing students gain hands-on clinical experience inside the region’s largest healthcare system, learning directly from experienced nurses, clinical faculty and healthcare professionals who are dedicated to helping them grow from students into confident caregivers.
From Classroom to Clinical Care
Nursing school builds the foundation, but real-world experience helps students understand what it truly means to care for patients. At Memorial, McNeese nursing students are welcomed into clinical settings where they can apply classroom knowledge, strengthen their skills and build confidence alongside experienced registered nurses.
Students gain exposure to essential areas of nursing care, including patient assessments, documentation, basic nursing skills, personal care, communication and the day-to-day rhythm of working in a healthcare environment.
A Partnership That Builds Confidence
For many students, stepping onto a clinical floor for the first time can feel intimidating. Memorial’s partnership with McNeese helps ease that transition by surrounding students with knowledgeable, supportive professionals who are invested in their success.
By working side-by-side with nurses and clinical teams, students gain more than technical experience. They learn teamwork, compassion, critical thinking and the responsibility that comes with caring for others.
Nursing makes up more than 1/3 of Memorial's workforce, and our collaboration ensures students have meaningful, hands-on opportunities to train locally, with nursing experts – and build lasting careers right here at home.
A Shared Commitment to Excellence
Our partnership includes:
- RN-to-BSN and LPN-to-RN pathways
- Clinical rotations and preceptor sites
- Nurse practitioners training and mentorship
- Providing clinical adjunct faculty and rotations
- Clinical faculty support across nursing programs including graduate and doctorate programs
- Preceptors' programs for new nurses
- Nurse Extern Program
Nurses are essential to Memorial’s mission of providing quality healthcare close to home. Through our partnership with McNeese, we are helping develop nurses who are prepared, supported and ready to meet the needs of our region.
Together, Lake Charles Memorial and McNeese State University are creating opportunities for students, strengthening the nursing profession and building a healthier future for Southwest Louisiana.
One of the most valuable aspects of the Memorial-McNeese partnership is the opportunity for students to learn from nurses who were once in their shoes. Many Memorial nurses serve as clinical instructors, preceptors, adjunct faculty members, and mentors, creating a continuous cycle of education and professional development. Students gain firsthand exposure to the realities of patient care while building relationships with experienced healthcare professionals who are invested in their success. This collaborative approach helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the bedside, ensuring graduates enter the workforce with the confidence, skills, and support needed to thrive in today's healthcare environment.
Supporting Local Students, Strengthening Local Healthcare
This partnership is also an investment in the future healthcare workforce of Southwest Louisiana. By providing clinical rotations, preceptor opportunities, faculty support and career pathways, Memorial and McNeese help prepare students to serve the same communities they call home.
Many students who train at Memorial go on to build their careers here, bringing their education, experience and commitment back to local patients and families.
Memorial's partnership with McNeese extends beyond nursing to include other healthcare training that includes programs for:
- Radiologic Technologist
- Medical Laboratory Scientists
- Kinesiology - Health & Human Performance
- Counseling and social work
- Clinical Dieticians
- Health System Management internships