Our Lady of Holy Cross College Nursing Program Review

Our Lady of Holy Cross College (OLHCC) is a Catholic liberal arts college that is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was originally a woman’s college and was established in 1916 as a two-year normal school. In 1967, men were admitted. Today, there are around 1,200 students attending a variety of programs on the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The college offers small classes and a low student to faculty ratio of 13 to 1. Over 53 programs are offered at Our Lady of Holy Cross College that lead to associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees. Students have opportunities to participate in campus ministries, such as the Congo Social Justice Event and others. An ongoing event at the college is the Algiers food bank collection. Students and faculty collect food products to be sent to this country throughout the year.

Nursing Programs

BS in Nursing

Students who are interested in a career as a professional nurse may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Science (BS) in nursing program. This four-year program prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN, the national exam that is required for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). Students complete all of the general education requirements for the college, and they are expected to complete as many core courses in their freshman year as possible. In the fall semester of the sophomore year, students may be admitted to the nursing clinical sequence. While completing clinical nursing courses, students continue to work on non-nursing liberal arts and science courses. The last two years of the program are concentrated on nursing courses and clinical experience at local hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

To be admitted to the program, students must have adequate reading comprehension and vocabulary skills, and they must have completed at least 32 credits of Level I core and support courses at the college with a minimum grade of C or better. They must also have a grade point average of at least 2.5 and acceptable scores on entrance exams. A formal application to the Department of Nursing is also required with three recommendation letters. Admission to the program is competitive, so even if a student meets the admission requirements, he or she may not be admitted to the nursing program. The college requires that students maintain a C or higher in all nursing courses and in general education courses to qualify for graduation. They must also pass the exit exam with an adequate score.

Online RN to BSN Degree Program

Our Lady of Holy Cross College offers an online program for RNs to enable them to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. All of the online courses are on Blackboard, so students can complete the coursework according to their work schedule. The advantages of this online program are that the nursing faculty carefully reviews an applicant’s transcript to allow for as many transfer credits as possible, and students may choose whether to complete the program in 3, 4, or 5 semesters. Applicants who have previously completed either an associate degree or diploma may be awarded up to 36 credits.

To be admitted to the program, all transcripts must be submitted to the college, and the applicant must have at least a C on all prerequisite courses. The applicant must currently be a licensed RN with a license to practice in the United States. The online application must be completed and application fee submitted, along with transcripts from all colleges that the applicant has attended. A completed health form and proof of CPR certification and liability insurance are also required. At the completion of the program, the student is awarded a BSN. The BSN is required by many government and community facilities, and it provides the education background for the student to pursue a career in advanced nursing as well.

Contact:
Our Lady of Holy Cross College
4123 Woodland Drive,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70131-7399
(504) 394-7744

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