Leading It Forward:
Larissa's Career Journey from LPN to RN Manager
Featuring: Larissa A., RN Manager
Location: Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center
If you had asked Larissa when she first started as an LPN in med surg where she saw herself five years later, she might not have imagined the path ahead.
Larissa began her career at Ochsner Lafayette General in 2020, working on 4C during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, her career has taken her from LPN to RN, nurse supervisor and now inpatient nurse manager of the 9 West telemetry unit.
For Larissa, each step has been shaped by a willingness to grow and the support of people who recognized her potential along the way.
Finding a Path With the Support of Others
Early in her career, Larissa’s colleagues encouraged her to continue her education and pursue her RN.
“My colleagues really supported that growth. They saw something in me, and they spoke that into me and over me.”
While Larissa knew she wanted to continue growing as a nurse, leadership wasn’t necessarily where she expected her career to take her.
“Administration was never on my radar,” she said.
After earning her RN, Larissa continued her career on 5W, where she stepped into a nurse supervisor role. There, she had opportunities to take ownership, strengthen her leadership skills and take on new challenges. She also credits Amy Cormier, director of med surg, as an unofficial mentor who invested in her development throughout her career.
Amy remembers seeing Larissa’s potential early on.
“From the beginning, I saw a nurse who genuinely wanted the best for every patient. Larissa was always eager to understand the ‘why’ behind our processes so she could help make meaningful improvements.”
On 5W, Larissa helped transform a new unit with no established core staff into one of the hospital’s strongest-performing units across turnover, patient experience, nurse communication, employee engagement and throughput.
“Larissa consistently set high goals, stayed focused and learned to celebrate the small wins along the way,” Amy said.
As Larissa grew in her role and helped drive progress on the unit, Amy continued to see the qualities she had recognized in Larissa early in her career. When a nurse manager position became available, it felt like a natural next step.
Finding Purpose Through Challenging Experiences
Larissa’s growth as a leader is also rooted in the experiences that shaped her early days as a nurse.
As a new nurse working on a COVID-19 unit, she cared for patients who often couldn’t have their loved ones beside them.
“Being at the bedside with patients who were not allowed to have families at their side, holding their hands and doing those little things for them throughout their stay really taught me so much about empathy and caring for the whole patient, not just their illness.”
Those lessons have stayed with Larissa and continue to shape the kind of leader she is today.
“For me, the purpose of nursing is really treating the whole patient holistically,” Larissa said. “As I’ve moved into management, that has kind of shifted to treating my employees holistically.”
For Larissa, that means recognizing the people behind the roles they fill.
“They’re employees, but they’re also people, and they have lives outside of here. That’s really important for me to help support them.”
Why Med Surg Has Her Heart
Even as Larissa’s role has evolved, med surg has remained an important part of her career.
“The best part about med surg and telemetry is that you’re constantly learning. There’s never a dull moment.”
That opportunity to continually learn is part of what Larissa loves about the specialty.
“I think the best thing about nursing is you’re constantly learning, constantly growing. Med surg gives you that opportunity.”
She also believes med surg can give nurses a strong foundation as they build their skills and discover where they want their careers to take them.
“Med surg has my heart, and it’s a great foundation.”
Staying Open to What Comes Next
From LPN to RN to nurse leader, Larissa’s career is a reminder that growth doesn’t always follow a path you planned from the beginning.
“Being open-minded, I think, is the biggest takeaway for going into leadership, going into nursing, in any role,” Larissa said. “Every day is going to bring new challenges and new opportunities, and you have to just roll with it.”
Now, as a nurse manager, Larissa gets to provide her team with the same kind of support that helped shape her own career, encouraging others to grow, take on new challenges and see new possibilities for themselves.
Explore nursing opportunities at Ochsner Lafayette General and pursue your purpose with a team where you can continue learning and growing.