The School's mission is to achieve national eminence as a leader of excellence in nursing education, research and practice. Its affiliation with an academic health sciences center distinguishes it from other nursing schools in the state. It is also the only Louisiana school to offer a Doctor of Nursing Science degree that prepares nurse scientists, scholars and educators. Dedicated faculty, staff and students of the School remain actively engaged in the development, dissemination and utilization of nursing science, service and community outreach.