Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center Nursing Program Review

Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center (OLLMC) is home to Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing. The school of nursing was established in 1961: about 10 years after the medical center. The school of nursing and the Medical center are part of Lourdes Health System along with the Lourdes Medical Center located in Burlington County. The health system is a catholic-faith based medical center and it was founded by the Franciscan sisters of Alleghany.

Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing

The School of Nursing (SON) under the Lourdes Health system is located in Camden County, New Jersey. The school has one nursing programs to offer: a 3-year hospital-based diploma in nursing program.  Outside the nursing school, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center (OLLMC) offers a Nurse Anesthesia program as a joint program with Drexel University. The 3-year diploma program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and is fully approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.

The OLLMC Nursing Program

The 3-year nursing program is also offered as a joint program between the school of nursing at Lourdes Health System and Camden County College.  Candidates must therefore place applications in both institutions to be considered for admission in the two admission cycles in fall and spring. Candidates must complete a TEAS V test and a college placement test administered by Camden County College. A CPR certificate is also mandatory to eligible for the program.

Once admitted, students take all general education courses from Camden County College. Transfer students who wish to transfer credits must follow the transfer policy of Camden College to establish credit transferability. However, the program does not accept transfer of nursing courses with a clinical component. On the other hand, nursing courses and related practical courses are offered at OLLMC-SON. Students may do clinical practice at either OLLMC at Camden County or Lourdes Medical Center Burlington County.

After completion of the 82-credit curriculum, students earn two awards: a diploma from Our lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and an Associate of Science in nursing from Camden County College. Graduates of the program also become educationally eligible to take the NCLEX-RN to become registered nurses (RN).

Our Lady of Lourdes Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP)

This is a joint program between OLLMC and Drexel University and is fully approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs. Candidates must apply to both Drexel University and OLLMC in order to be considered for the single April admission. Candidates must have earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree in addition to 2 years RN experience preferably in intensive care. However, candidates with a non-BSN degree may be accepted into the program if they convert their non-nursing degree into a BSN. This can be done by completing a 3-credit Bridge Course offered by Drexel University prior to making an application.

Accepted students complete the entire curriculum package for the NAP program of Drexel University right at OLLMC in Camden or from Drexel.  The 70 semester credit curriculum (93-quarter credits) is designed to be completed in 27 months of full time study that includes 3 summers and 2 winter sessions.  Students graduate with a Master of Science in nurse anesthesia degree.

Post Master’s Options

OLLMC offers a post masters track in Nurses Anesthesia still in collaboration with Drexel University. The track is open to candidates who have already earned a Master of Science in nursing degree. Such graduates can receive credit for their earlier master program to cover some of the 66 credits needed for this certificate track.

Contact:
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
1600 Hamden Ave, Camden,
NJ 08103