Loyola University New Orleans Nursing School Review

Loyola University-New Orleans is a private Jesuit university that was founded in 1904. It is located in New Orleans, Louisiana and is one of the 28 Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Loyola University has been awarded recognition as one of the best colleges in the South and in the United States. Around 5,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs.

Sixty-one undergraduate degrees and 12 graduate and professional programs are offered at Loyola. The University also has over 40 study abroad programs in The Bahamas, China, England, India, Ireland, Japan, Spain, and more. The average grade point average of student admitted to the college is 3.66, and average ACT scores are from 23 to 29.

Nursing Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Loyola University-New Orleans offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for Registered Nurses (RNs) with associate degrees who want to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Loyola School of Nursing Online Program was named one of the best in the United States. To enter this program, students must be currently licensed as a RN. It is necessary to follow the admission procedures to apply to the Office of Professional and Continuing Studies. To qualify for graduation, at least the last 30 credits of the BSN must be earned from Loyola. Courses are available online, and students may enter the program during the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters.

Each course is scheduled to be completed in a seven-week session, and there is no clinical required. Applicants to the program must have all of the required courses since no lower level nursing courses are offered at the University. Applicants are awarded 24 nursing credits and then take 27 additional Upper Division nursing courses. Additional liberal arts and science courses must also be completed to meet the general education requirements of Loyola. A total of 121 credits are needed to graduate. Admission requirements begin with an online application to the program. Interested RNs must also send an official transcript of their college work to the admissions office, along with a recommendation that has been completed by an employer, counselor, or teacher. An additional requirement is a 300 word statement explaining the nurse’s reasons for seeking admission to the BSN program.

RN to MSN

Loyola University-New Orleans offers a RN to MSN program for Registered Nurses (RNs) with associate degrees or diplomas in nursing who want to complete their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. This program presents the opportunity for a student to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BSN) and Master of Science (MSN) degrees. Another program offered is the BLEND/MSN Bridge program that offers only a MSN. The RN to MSN program allows students to substitute two MSN graduate-level nursing courses for lower level BSN courses. This reduces the amount of credits needed for the MSN degree. The admission requirements of this program include the submission of an undergraduate application and official transcript. Student in this program must then apply to the MSN program before they begin taking 700-level courses. This program is unique since most similar programs bypass the BSN degree and award the student only the MSN degree. Students must complete all of the general education requirements for the BSN, and they receive credit for their previously completed courses.

BLEND Program (MSN Bridge)

The BLEND Program (MSN Bridge) is designed for nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. These students may enter the Loyola University MSN program without obtaining a BSN degree. Students in the BLEND program may enroll in the MSN Health Care Systems Management program as well. Applicants who are interested in the MSN program must complete the BLEND program of three credit courses in nursing that are prerequisites to the graduate level nursing courses. All BLEND courses are available online. Admission to the BLEND program is on a provisional basis until all documents are sent to complete the application to the MSN program. Admission to the BLEND program does not guarantee that a student will be admitted to the MSN program. A grade of at least B is required in all of the BLEND courses.

Masters of Science in Nursing

Loyola University-New Orleans offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program for RNs who want to pursue a career in advanced nursing. The program is online, and has been named as a top program in the nation. Students may enroll in the Health Care Systems Management (HCSM) track in the MSN program to prepare for a career as a nurse manager. Students are enrolled in the program on an unconditional or provisional basis. The program consists of 36 credits, and 12 of these are MSN core courses. The remainders of the credits focus on the specialty area of Health Care Systems Management. Students in the program complete a HCSM practicum and are mentored by nurse managers in local healthcare settings.

To be admitted to this program, applicants must have a BSN. After submitting their application and official transcripts to the Graduate Admissions office, they will be interviewed by the graduate nursing faculty. Applicants must have current RN licensure, at least one year of clinical nursing experience and a grade point average of at least 3.0 on their undergraduate coursework. In addition, they need to submit three recommendations from professional master’s prepared nursing supervisors or former professors and a goal statement explaining their interest in graduate education. A graduate level statistics course is also required. Applicants should have adequate liability insurance and must also have a background check completed.

Masters of Science in Nursing ANP/FNP

The Masters of Science in Nursing Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program is no longer accepting applications.

Blend to Health Care Systems Management (BLEND-HCSM-MSN)

This program is discussed above.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Online

Loyola University-New Orleans offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program online. The School of Nursing online program has been named as one of the best in the U.S. There are several program offerings, including two post-masters to DNP tracks and one post-BSN to DNP track. Currently certified Nurse Practitioners or RNs with MSNs who want to train for executive leadership can improve their knowledge and skills with this program. A one week orientation is required on campus each year. In addition, students visit campus at the conclusion of the program to defend the capstone. The DNP options are discussed below.

The DNP program requires a minimum of 1,000 clinical practicum hours. Those admitted to the Post-Masters DNP NP track satisfy 540 hours in their curriculum, and the remaining hours must be certified to meet this requirement. RNs complete their clinical practice at a healthcare organization in the state in which they are licensed, and they also work in their community to complete some of the clinical practice. A capstone project is also required of DNP students. It differs from the PhD dissertation in that the DNP student develops a practice portfolio of their achievements and includes at least one paper that can be published. It focuses on the results of their research being incorporated into their nursing work in the community. The DNP program must be completed within five years of beginning the program.

Post-Master’s to DNP Track

The Post-Master’s to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) track is designed for Nurse Practitioners who want to increase their knowledge in their specialty area. Students follow the curriculum in a cohort, and the program takes six semesters to complete or two years, including summer sessions. To be admitted to this program, students must be a currently licensed and certified nurse practitioner in one of the following fields: Adult, Family, Gerontology, Pediatrics, or Women’s Health. They must forward their application to the DNP program along with official transcripts from previous college level work that has been completed. A BSN and MSN are also required. Applicants must be currently licensed as an RN and have an advanced practice license if applicable in the state where all clinical practicums will occur.

They must have earned a grade point average of 3.2 or better on graduate coursework and have at least one year of recent post-master’s work experience. Three letters of recommendation from former professors or from someone who knows the applicant’s ability to complete doctoral study are also required. Additionally, the applicant must submit a goal statement, career goals, and explain the area of research that they are interested in for their capstone project. An interview with the School of Nursing faculty is also required. Those who have not yet taken a graduate level statistics course must take one before beginning the program. Finally, a background check and proof of malpractice insurance are required before the first day of class.

Post-Baccalaureate to DNP Track

RNs with a BSN are able to enter this Nurse Practitioner program that leads to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) if they meet the admission requirements. The program takes three years of online study to complete. Those admitted to the program complete 77 credits and work in a cohort. A one week orientation requires students to be on campus each year, and an additional campus visit is required at the end of the program to defend the capstone project. Students must also complete 1,080 practice hours in healthcare organizations located in the state in which the student is licensed. A capstone project is required at the end of this program that is presented online. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 to continue in the program.

Admission requirements are to complete a Post-BSN DNP program application and to forward official transcripts from all college work to the University. Applicants must have a BSN and an unencumbered RN license in the state where clinical practica will occur. A grade point average of at least 3.0 on all coursework is also required, as well as at least one year of recent work experience as an RN. Three letters of recommendation from former professors are also required. Applicants must have Basic Cardio Life Support certification and must also forward an essay outlining their goals for completing this degree, career goals, and the area of interest for the capstone project. A formal interview is also required.

Contact:
Loyola University New Orleans
6363 Saint Charles Avenue,
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 865-3142

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