Travel nursing in Louisiana
Stipend ceilings by area, compact license status, and every hospital guide in the state. Real numbers, with sources.
Housing stipend ceilings in Louisiana
The most an agency can pay tax-free for housing is the GSA lodging rate × 7 nights. Cheapest: $791/wk (standard rate, every county not listed below, 88 hospitals). Most expensive: New Orleans at $1,153/wk on average, $1,316/wk at peak.
| Area (county) | Housing /wk | Meals /wk | Hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|
New Orleans Orleans / Jefferson Parishes | $1,153 $966–$1,316 · peaks Feb, Mar, Apr, May | $560 | 11 |
Alexandria / Leesville / Natchitoches Allen / Jefferson Davis / Natchitoches / Rapides / Vernon Parishes | $826 flat all year | $476 | 15 |
Everywhere else Standard CONUS rate | $791 | $476 | 88 |
Got an offer? Decode it against the ceiling for your work ZIP and dates →
Louisiana nursing license
Louisiana is a compact state. If your primary state of residence is another compact state and you hold a multistate license, you can work here without a new license. If you live in Louisiana, your multistate license comes from the Louisiana board.
If you don't have a multistate license: typical endorsement steps
- Apply for licensure by endorsement on the Louisiana board of nursing's site.
- Verify your current license through Nursys (or your original board if it doesn't use Nursys).
- Complete the criminal background check and fingerprints if the board requires them.
- Ask whether a temporary license is available while the full application processes, and how long processing takes now.
Requirements and timelines vary. Louisiana board contact details (NCSBN) →
Where can your license take you?
Source: NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map, checked 2026-10-11. Covers RN/LPN compact licensure for the 50 states and DC. Confirm with the state board before you accept an assignment.
Charting systems in Louisiana
Certified EHR reported to CMS by 104 of 114 hospitals (10 not reported, including VA hospitals). Know the system before day one.
- Epic33 · 32%
- TruBridge24 · 23%
- MEDITECH14 · 13%
- MEDHOST14 · 13%
- Oracle Health9 · 9%
- Altera4 · 4%
- athenaOne4 · 4%
- Azalea2 · 2%
Top travel-nurse markets in Louisiana
- New Orleans, LA
- Childrens Hospital$1,153/wk
- New Orleans East Hospital · Epic$1,153/wk
- Ochsner Medical Center Acute · Epic$1,153/wk
- Touro Infirmary · Epic$1,153/wk
- University Medical Center New Orleans · Epic$1,153/wk
Questions
- What is the maximum tax-free housing stipend in Louisiana?
- Under GSA FY2027 rates it ranges from $791/week (the standard rate for counties not listed) to $1,316/week in New Orleans at peak season. The meals and incidentals ceiling is $476/week or more depending on the area.
- Is Louisiana a compact nursing license state?
- Compact state (Enacted NLC), per the NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map checked 2026-10-11.
- How many hospitals are in Louisiana?
- CMS lists 114 acute care, critical access, children's and VA/DoD hospitals in Louisiana. TravelNurseMap has living guides for 5 of them in the top travel-nurse markets.
- What EHR do hospitals in Louisiana use?
- Of the 104 Louisiana hospitals that reported a certified EHR to CMS for 2023–2024, 32% use Epic, 23% use TruBridge, 13% use MEDITECH. Each hospital guide shows its own system.