As part of a consortium, the Southeastern masters program in nursing has been recognized as the “Nursing School of the Year in Advanced Practice.”
The Louisiana Nurses Foundation and the Louisiana State Association presented the Nightingale Award at the Nightingale Gala on Feb. 16. The advanced practice category is new to the 2013 awards gala.
“It’s a very prestigious award. We were pretty excited, and we think we deserved the award,” said Dr. Lorinda Sealey, associate professor and coordinator of the school of nursing. “Our pass rate for the national certification exams is between 90 and100 percent. In that case, our students prove they are successful in what we do.”
The university masters nursing program is offered in a consortium with the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, McNeese State University in Lake Charles and Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux.
“As a part of a consortium we are able to share resources with the other three universities, making it a very unique type of program,” said Sealey. “Our students get to interact with students from other universities in the same classroom.”
Established in 1963, the nursing program prepares graduates for a professional career in nursing. Its mission is to prepare nurses with caregiver, management and overall leadership in enhancing public health.
“Our best assets are our faculty and students,” stated Dr. Ann Carruth, dean of the school of nursing, in a university press release. “Together we have graduated advanced practice nurses to meet the healthcare of the region, nurse leaders to solve complex health care management crises and nurse educators to train future nurses.”
The Foundation annually sponsors the Nightingale Gala to recognize the achievements of nursing programs throughout the state. Nominations are submitted by colleagues and ranked by out of state judges.
Sealey highlighted the significance of the award in explaining the decision process.
“The applications are sent across the country to other schools of nursing and other nursing organizations, and the judges are not local,” said Sealey. “When they look at the applications, they’re pretty objective in making their decisions.”
While the graduate category is a new addition, the Southeastern undergraduate nursing program has received the Nightingale Award three times within the past decade.  
“We collaborate with the other universities so that we can meet the goals not only of our institution, but the external standards that we have to meet,” said Sealey. “It is a reward for hard work. I thought we were very deserving, and we’re very proud of it.”