Healthcare Career Central

01/23/2026

Meet Abigail Parham, a traveling nurse from Central Louisiana who’s turning her passion for patient care into opportunity. As an LPN, Abigail built a strong foundation, but advancing to RN opens doors to greater responsibility, flexibility, and impact across the communities she serves.

Graduating from Central Louisiana Technical Community College and continuing her education right here in Cenla means investing back into the region that shaped her, strengthening our local healthcare workforce, and showing future healthcare professionals that growth starts at home.

To learn more about career paths in our region, visit: https://healthcarecareer-central.com/students/postsecondary-pathway/

To address the growing need for healthcare workers, Louisiana Central collaboratively created Healthcare Career Central, an innovative platform brought to you by The Rapides Foundation. We aim to bring together the diverse healthcare careers and the young, aspiring minds of today right here in Central Louisiana.

01/23/2026

Weather impacts staffing, access, and patient care. Proactive planning and clear communication help healthcare teams stay safe and ready. Thank you, Louisiana Central, for keeping our regional workforce informed.

As our area monitors the potential for winter weather in the coming days, we encourage everyone to stay informed, plan ahead, and prioritize safety.

Our region’s strength is built on its people, our families, workers, and businesses, and taking precautions now helps keep our communities moving forward. We appreciate the leadership of local officials, employers, and first responders as conditions develop.

Safety comes first, because together, we keep Central Louisiana strong.

WINTER WEATHER CHECKLIST:
1. Communicate early and clearly
Let employees know now how updates will be shared (text, email, social, phone). Uncertainty causes more disruption than weather.

2. Prioritize employee travel safety
Ice is rare here and roads become dangerous quickly. Encourage delayed openings, remote work where possible, or flexible scheduling.

3. Protect facilities and equipment
Insulate exposed pipes, check generators and backup power & secure outdoor equipment and signage

4. Review staffing contingencies
Plan for reduced staffing or temporary closures. Cross-train where possible and identify essential personnel only.

5. Coordinate with vendors and customers
Proactively communicate potential delays or adjusted hours to avoid confusion and frustration.

6. Monitor local guidance
Follow updates from local emergency management, DOTD, and weather authorities rather than relying on speculation.

7. Document decisions
Keep records of closures, schedule changes, and communications for HR, insurance, and operational clarity.

8. Put people first
A safety-first approach builds long-term trust with employees and customers, and that matters more than a single business day.

01/07/2026

ATTENTION MENTAL HEALTH PLACEMENT SITES & FUTURE PROFESSIONALS:

The Central Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Program is hosting webinars tomorrow, January 8, for specific audiences to address workforce shortages & empower future licensed counselors and social works in Louisiana.

Scan the QR code to join these virtual workshops tomorrow via Webex, each tailored to a specific audience:

• 12:00 PM – Candidate Workshop
This session is designed for mental health professionals working toward licensure as an LPC or LCSW and will cover eligibility requirements and available support.

• 4:00 PM – Placement Site Workshop
This session is geared toward agencies providing mental health services and will review eligibility criteria and the types of support available to placement sites.

Applications for both candidates and placement sites are due January 21, 2026.

01/06/2026

Central Louisiana offers a wide range of healthcare educational paths, providing students with a variety of healthcare career choices in our region.

Healthcare Career Central’s website connects you with testing resources, local training programs and providers, financial information, and educational timelines that can help students get a glimpse of the many paths they can take to start their path to success and be a healthcare hero in Central Louisiana.

Visit today: https://healthcarecareer-central.com/

01/01/2026

Cheers to a new year filled with endless possibilities and opportunities for you and your students!

Healthcare Career Central is excited to continue sharing the diverse healthcare career opportunities and education paths in our region, and helping students find their highway to success.

Happy New Year from Healthcare Career Central!
www.healthcarecareer-central.com

12/30/2025

💡Do you have a student dreaming about a career in healthcare? Healthcare Career Central is here to help Central Louisiana middle and high school students take the first steps toward a fulfilling future in healthcare. 🌟

From career roadmaps to programs and pathways, we connect students with the resources and pathways to kickstart their journey in healthcare.

🔗 Visit HealthcareCareer-Central.com today and take the first step toward your future!

12/29/2025

New Year, New Opportunities! 🎉✨

Healthcare Career Central is here to help Central Louisiana middle and high school students take the first steps toward a fulfilling future in healthcare. Here are a few ways students can set actionable goals this year:

🎯 Explore Careers: Set a goal to learn about one new healthcare career each week. Check out Healthcare Career Central’s resources to find inspiring paths that match your interests. www.healthcarecareer-central.com

📚 Focus on Academics: Identify subjects like science or math where you can improve. Set achievable goals to strengthen these areas—they’re building blocks for healthcare careers.

👩‍⚕️ Shadow a Professional: Reach out to local hospitals or clinics and aim to shadow a healthcare worker for a day to gain real-world insights.

🤝 Volunteer: Commit to volunteering at a healthcare facility or community program this year to develop skills and show your commitment to helping others.

📆 Plan for the Future: Set milestones for exploring colleges, scholarships, or certifications. Our website has tools to guide you in making the best choices.

🚀 Get Involved: Join a school or community program, like HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), to connect with peers interested in healthcare.

Encourage your students to dream big, work hard, and take steps toward making their goals a reality! Visit Healthcare Career Central today to get started.

12/25/2025

🎄✨ Season’s Greetings from Healthcare Career Central! ✨🎄
This holiday season, we’re celebrating the future healthcare heroes whose dedication and passion will touch countless lives. Thank you for striving to make tomorrow healthier and brighter. ❤️💉📚

Wishing you a joyful holiday and a New Year full of hope and opportunity! 🌟

12/24/2025

Are your students curious about healthcare careers? The NSU Healthcare ACE program gives high school students hands-on experience and exposure to real-world healthcare professions—from nursing and medical technology to patient care.

Healthcare ACE helps students explore their interests, build essential skills, and get a head start on a healthcare career. Encourage your students to discover their potential!

Learn more about this and other programs at www.healthcarecareer-central.com.

The Rapides Foundation

12/24/2025

Our Healthcare Career Central team had a blast learning about life-saving careers at Central Louisiana's Pafford Emergency Medical Services! From festive hats to holiday cheer, their team knows how to save lives and spread joy.

We can’t wait to share more about these amazing careers, but for now, happy holidays from all of us!

12/12/2025

Ian Hernandez from Pitkin High School is here to tell you about his experience at NSU Healthcare ACE, a hands-on exploratory program that helps high school students discover real-world healthcare careers. Through interactive learning, skill-building activities, and guidance from healthcare professionals, students gain insight into the many pathways available in the medical field and learn what it takes to succeed.

To learn more about this program and other opportunities in your area, visit www.healthcarecareer-central.com.

12/09/2025

Meet Theo Wogmon, a senior at Rosepine High School!

Theo aspires to major in biology, and programs like NSU Healthcare ACE help students like him explore real healthcare careers early. Healthcare ACE provides hands-on learning, healthcare career exposure, and guidance that prepares students for success in healthcare pathways after high school.

To learn more about NSU Healthcare ACE and other career exploration programs, visit www.healthcarecareer-central.com.

The Rapides Foundation NSU Healthcare ACE