The Nursing Student's Guide to Baton Rouge Education and Careers

Visit our Complete Directory of
Baton Rouge Nursing Schools & Programs!

By C.J. Gustafson, Nursing Schools.com Contributing Writer

The city of Baton Rouge is located on the Mississippi River in the southwest section of Louisiana eighty miles northwest of New Orleans. In 1699, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, led an expedition along the river and came upon a pole stuck in the ground that was stained with blood of fish and animals. This pole and others like it were believed to mark the dividing line between the territories of the Bayougoula and Houmas Indians. Near this location, Iberville established the area's first permanent European settlement, and named it "le Baton Rouge," which means "the red stick."

Baton Rouge, Louisiana A History of Diversity
At different times throughout its history, the French, English, and Spanish each claimed the area. With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Baton Rouge and the rest of Louisiana became part of the United States. Slaves from Africa and the Caribbean were brought in to work the large southern plantations.

A city charter was obtained in 1817, and Baton Rouge became the state capital in 1849. The city was taken by the Union army during the Civil War, and the government was relocated several times. It returned to Baton Rouge in 1882.

Steamboat and railroad traffic contributed significantly to the city's economy in the early 1900s. Popular and controversial Governor Huey P. Long was elected in 1927 and served until 1932, when he became a U.S. Senator. Under Long, new roads, bridges, and a stunning state capitol were constructed. World War II sparked a period of rapid industrial growth for the city with petrochemical industries, aluminum companies, and shipbuilders establishing operations.

A Unique Blend of Cultures
Today, the city of Baton Rouge covers 74.74 square miles and has around 230,000 residents. The outlying metropolitan area is home to over 600,000 people, and the area has one of the most diverse and unique cultures in the U.S. Along with the French and Spanish heritage, the city is infused with African American and Caribbean influences. Creole culture is also prevalent. Although there are many definitions for the term Creole, it often refers to either a white person descended from French and Spanish settlers, or a person of mixed European and African blood.

These influences, along with aspects of other cultures that have found their way to Baton Rouge, are prevalent in every aspect of life in the city, from language to architecture to food and entertainment. Even the civil laws of the state are based on the old Napoleonic Code of France.

As Carol Tingle from Baton Rouge General Medical Center's School of Nursing describes it, "the capital city, Baton Rouge offers many opportunities for activities that are contributory to the way of life here. Existing as a true melting pot of cultures from French, Spanish, Irish and Cajun cultures, to name a few. There are cultural events, festivals, tourist activities and many concerts, etc."

Nursing in Baton Rouge Excellent Education & Training Opportunities
Baton Rouge General, where Ms. Tingle is employed, is a community-owned, not-for-profit, full-service hospital. It has two locations in the city, and offers an accredited nursing program where students have immediate access to the hospital and its learning resources and research programs.

Louisiana State University (LSU), also located in Baton Rouge, offers numerous health care degree programs as well. A leading educational facility in the country, LSU is home to twelve research facilities as well as numerous centers for specialized study and education. There are also five separate research facilities at Southern University, the largest African-American university in the nation.

Our Lady of the Lake College specializes in nursing and health care education. Established in 1923 by a small group of Franciscan Missionaries as both a hospital and a small nursing school, the institution has become well known for its specialized programs in the health sciences.

Students at these schools can study a wide variety of different nursing specialties including Critical Care Nursing, Forensic Nursing, Hospice Care Nursing, Midwifery, and Nursing Informatics. They can train to become a Legal Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse (RN), or even a health care administrator.

A Place to Call Home
Baton Rouge provides a southern sub-tropical climate with winter temperatures rarely falling below freezing. It has a diverse population and a unique culture that can't be found in other areas of the country, and its location along the Mississippi River also offers many recreational pursuits.

As described on the Louisiana State University Web site, "Home is where you make it, and in Baton Rouge and its surrounding area, there is an eclectic blend of old and new subdivisions with modern and traditional styles of houses, condominiums and apartments. Museums, art galleries, a symphony, opera and ballet, historic districts, a zoo and numerous educational and entertainment exhibits come together in a metropolitan setting."

Perhaps you will decide to make Baton Rouge your home while you pursue your education and career in the nursing field.

Nursing schools in Baton Rouge >>