The Alexandria Regional Action Coalition (RAC) includes the following parishes: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon and  Winn.

 

The Alexandria RAC held its first organizational meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, with more than 70 interested nurses and stakeholders in attendance. Following the meeting, a core group of volunteers was formed, and the group has met regularly to advance LAC work in central Louisiana. 

 

In February 2016, the group fielded a survey to area nurses to help determine challenges related to nursing education and practice in the region. Results were discussed and plans are under way to develop projects to help address some of the challenges identified.

 

GRANT

In 2016, the Alexandria RAC received a $1,000 grant from LAC to execute a project aimed at increasing Louisiana’s nursing workforce diversity: Addressing Diversity in Nursing Education in Central Louisiana.

With input from regional nursing program faculty, the local AHEC, the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and others, a survey relating to issues affecting diversity was developed and fielded to local nursing students. The results are being used to craft a plan to recruit a more diverse group of students into nursing programs.

 

Three video clips featuring minority and male RNs were filmed and used as part of a career presentation made by the Central Louisiana AHEC at 19 area high schools. A post-program survey revealed that 99 percent of those who saw the presentation increased their knowledge of health careers and 71 percent intend to pursue a health career.

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The Alexandria RAC is currently seeking members.

 

Anyone interested in participating in the Alexandria Regional Action Coalition please contact:

Ann Deshotels, MSN, RN at deshotelsa@nsula.edu