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Healing Beyond the Surface: Inside Burn Unit Nursing
The Burn Unit at Ochsner LSU Health – Academic Medical Center provides highly specialized care for patients with complex burn injuries across North Louisiana and surrounding states. The team combines advanced clinical expertise with deep compassion, guiding patients through long and challenging recoveries. With a strong emphasis on integrity, teamwork, and mentorship, this unit offers nurses a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact while working in an environment that feels like family.
When patients arrive at the burn unit at Ochsner LSU Health – Academic Medical Center, they’re facing one of the most challenging journeys of their lives. Our nurses are the heart of that journey. They provide expert care, unwavering compassion and hope when it matters most. If you’re looking for a career that makes a profound impact, this is where you belong.
The Challenges and Rewards of Specialized Nursing
The burn unit is one of the most specialized in the region, caring for patients from North Louisiana and surrounding states. These cases are complex, requiring advanced skills and a deep commitment to patient-centered care.
“A rule of thumb is, for every 1% burn equals a day in the hospital,” says Heath Leeper, director of advanced medical surgical specialty nursing. “If someone has a 60% burn, they’ll be with us for two months. You really get to know them and their families throughout that time.”
Patients are often in the hospital for months as they receive treatment.
“It pulls at your compassion a lot,” Heath shares. “Seeing patients go through that pain, even after all the medications we give, is hard. But watching them progress from day one to discharge is incredibly rewarding.”
Heath’s Story
For Heath, this mission is deeply personal.
“I was burned as a child—25% of my body,” Heath explains. “They airlifted me to Shreveport, and I spent three weeks in the hospital. That experience gives me a certain amount of compassion for these individuals for sure.”
That lived experience shapes the way Heath leads his team and how the team cares for patients. Every nurse understands that burn care isn’t just about healing wounds; it’s about restoring dignity, hope and quality of life. In this work, integrity is key.
“If you have strong integrity, everything else falls into place—teamwork, putting patients first,” Heath says. “Our nurses live Ochsner’s core values: excellence, patients first, integrity, compassion and inclusivity.”
This role also demands clinical expertise and emotional resilience.
“There’s a strong emphasis on infection control, pain management, critical thinking and wound care,” Heath explains. “You also need emotional stability, flexibility, empathy, teamwork and stress management.”
A Team That Feels Like Family
Ask anyone on the unit, and they will tell you: this team is a family.
“My favorite thing is knowing that my team has my back through good and bad times,” Heath shares. “I could call them at any moment, and they’d be there.”
That trust comes from years of working side by side. Some nurses have been here for decades, creating a culture of mentorship and support that’s rare in healthcare today. For new nurses, that means you’ll have experienced colleagues guiding you every step of the way. You’ll learn, grow and thrive in an environment where everyone wants you to succeed.
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If you’re looking for a nursing career where your skills and compassion truly change lives, join the burn unit team at Ochsner LSU Health. Apply today and start your journey with us.
