Our Lady of Lourdes Nursing School

prmenrs, RN · Oct 1, 2008

I did go to the school last Thursday; the Dean very kindly gave us a tour. I was very impressed w/the program. I think it is more intense. The fact that you spend most of your clinical time in one facility means you spend less time trying to find something and more time actually nursing, @ least imo.

We didn't get to see much of the hospital--the chapel is as pretty as ever, tho.

Interesting thing--the school is on the 5th floor--that's where I lived for 3 years!

twizzlerbabe · Oct 2, 2008

I did go to the school last Thursday; the Dean very kindly gave us a tour. I was very impressed w/the program. I think it is more intense. The fact that you spend most of your clinical time in one facility means you spend less time trying to find something and more time actually nursing, @ least imo.
We didn't get to see much of the hospital--the chapel is as pretty as ever, tho.
Interesting thing--the school is on the 5th floor--that's where I lived for 3 years!

I went last Thursday also but just to see if there was any information i was missing. yes, the program does seem to be pretty intense, I look forward to the challenge. I did not stay to take the tour, I was trying to make it home before my 2yr old went to bed.

What do you mean "you lived there for 3yrs?

prmenrs, RN · Oct 2, 2008

When we went to nursing school, the building that was replaced by this one was actually a dormitory. My room was on the 5th floor. Except for the 2 male students in my class, we all lived there.

What was a real bummer was when it was snowing. There was a "tunnel" connecting our basement w/the hospital cellar. No matter what the weather, we could go to clinicals. So, while we were dressing, we'd listen to the radio telling us of all the other school/colleges being closed due 2 snow.

twizzlerbabe · Oct 2, 2008

When we went to nursing school, the building that was replaced by this one was actually a dormitory. My room was on the 5th floor. Except for the 2 male students in my class, we all lived there.
What was a real bummer was when it was snowing. There was a "tunnel" connecting our basement w/the hospital cellar. No matter what the weather, we could go to clinicals. So, while we were dressing, we'd listen to the radio telling us of all the other school/colleges being closed due 2 snow.

lol, that was a bummer, lol. How long ago did you attend, and how does the program compare now, to when you attended.

prmenrs, RN · Oct 2, 2008

I graduated in June 1968. @ that time, the program was 33 months long. Judging from the curriculum posted on the web site, I don't think it's that different.

Freshmen year, lots of classroom time; A&P, Chem, a little Micro, a little tiny bit of physics, and Med-Surg. Also, psyc. None of the this courses compared to college courses, but it was sufficient.

After 2 months of classwork, one afternoon, they told us to go upstairs and change into our uniforms and we went over to the 2nd & 3rd floors---and took TPRs!!! By the end of the year, we were going to the floors for longer and longer times, but still not a full shift, and taking care of pts. We worked on our skill list--injections, baths, meds, and, yes, care plans. No nursing Dx back then!!

In June, we got "capped" and then we had 3 weeks off. When we came back, we worked full shifts--no classes, but occassionally we had "conference". Our instructors were there most of the time, but we worked weekends, too, and the floor RN was our supervisor then. We might get a couple of 2-bed room or a 4-bed room--whatever was in there was ours to deal with!

We rolled right into "specialties" in September--2-3 days of classes and the rest of the week on Peds, OB, psyc (psyc pts on the gen'l wards and 6 weeks @ Ancora!!), 4 weeks in the OR (my personal favorite). We rotated in 12 week sections. If we weren't doing peds, OB or psyc, we also worked Med-Surg. We spent a week in "premie" nursery, a couple of days in the formula room (they made their own formula). We also spent a week on nights and one on pms.

Finally, after 13 months of all that, we got 4 weeks off, and in September, senior year started. Some classwork, more work. We did "Leadership" AKA "Interdepartmental Communications". We might be team leader on one side of the 40 bed units that were 2 E, 2W, 3E, and 3W. Sometimes we were charge, which consisted of a LOT of paperwork--NO WARD CLERKS!!! We did 6 weeks of nights and 6 weeks of pms.

Sister John Francis was head of the school. Every morning we went to the chapel for prayers @ 7:40, afterwards, we handed her a little card w/our name on it, and went upstairs for report. Her eyes would be focused on our hair (had to be off our collar), our eyes (no eye make-up). She would yank you out of line and send you back to the dorm if she busted you.

She had a rule if we were working nights: @ 3am, all the students working met up, went back thru the tunnel to the faculty lounge for "lunch"--a tray of sandwiches etc., and @ 3:30, back to work we went. One night, the group found doughnuts intended for the faculty, and ate them. One by one, they were called into the ass't directors office and questioned, and one by one they all lied thru their teeth. Doughnuts? I didn't eat them! No, ma'am!

The food in those days---awful. Not true now, I'm told, but it was pretty nasty when I was there. And the pts got the same thing. If they complained, we were NOT sympathetic: "I have to eat it for 3 years!!!" We got lots of invitations for dinner out of that!! And we usually went.

We were not permitted to be called by our first names. Our names were sewn on the sleeves of our uniforms: "Miss -----". If someone asked us our 1st names (the grandmothers were the worst offenders), and they insisted past the 1st polite refusal, we were to say: "For what reason do you wish that information?" That nearly always stopped them!

It might sound rigid and grim from the current point of view, but we were all close to the the same age (18-22), we went to frat parties over @ Rutgers South or in Philly, and we laughed a whole lot!!! And when we get together the last weekend in September every 2 years in Ocean City--it's like being back in the lounge again. Unbelievable how much noise 17 60++ y/o women can make!

AtomicWoman · Oct 3, 2008

I loved reading this story!! Why don't you post it or something like it, in the Articles section of Allnurses.com.

Thank you for sharing your story!

twizzlerbabe · Oct 3, 2008

I graduated in June 1968. @ that time, the program was 33 months long. Judging from the curriculum posted on the web site, I don't think it's that different.
Freshmen year, lots of classroom time; A&P, Chem, a little Micro, a little tiny bit of physics, and Med-Surg. Also, psyc. None of the this courses compared to college courses, but it was sufficient.
After 2 months of classwork, one afternoon, they told us to go upstairs and change into our uniforms and we went over to the 2nd & 3rd floors---and took TPRs!!! By the end of the year, we were going to the floors for longer and longer times, but still not a full shift, and taking care of pts. We worked on our skill list--injections, baths, meds, and, yes, care plans. No nursing Dx back then!!
In June, we got "capped" and then we had 3 weeks off. When we came back, we worked full shifts--no classes, but occassionally we had "conference". Our instructors were there most of the time, but we worked weekends, too, and the floor RN was our supervisor then. We might get a couple of 2-bed room or a 4-bed room--whatever was in there was ours to deal with!
We rolled right into "specialties" in September--2-3 days of classes and the rest of the week on Peds, OB, psyc (psyc pts on the gen'l wards and 6 weeks @ Ancora!!), 4 weeks in the OR (my personal favorite). We rotated in 12 week sections. If we weren't doing peds, OB or psyc, we also worked Med-Surg. We spent a week in "premie" nursery, a couple of days in the formula room (they made their own formula). We also spent a week on nights and one on pms.
Finally, after 13 months of all that, we got 4 weeks off, and in September, senior year started. Some classwork, more work. We did "Leadership" AKA "Interdepartmental Communications". We might be team leader on one side of the 40 bed units that were 2 E, 2W, 3E, and 3W. Sometimes we were charge, which consisted of a LOT of paperwork--NO WARD CLERKS!!! We did 6 weeks of nights and 6 weeks of pms.
Sister John Francis was head of the school. Every morning we went to the chapel for prayers @ 7:40, afterwards, we handed her a little card w/our name on it, and went upstairs for report. Her eyes would be focused on our hair (had to be off our collar), our eyes (no eye make-up). She would yank you out of line and send you back to the dorm if she busted you.
She had a rule if we were working nights: @ 3am, all the students working met up, went back thru the tunnel to the faculty lounge for "lunch"--a tray of sandwiches etc., and @ 3:30, back to work we went. One night, the group found doughnuts intended for the faculty, and ate them. One by one, they were called into the ass't directors office and questioned, and one by one they all lied thru their teeth. Doughnuts? I didn't eat them! No, ma'am!
The food in those days---awful. Not true now, I'm told, but it was pretty nasty when I was there. And the pts got the same thing. If they complained, we were NOT sympathetic: "I have to eat it for 3 years!!!" We got lots of invitations for dinner out of that!! And we usually went.
We were not permitted to be called by our first names. Our names were sewn on the sleeves of our uniforms: "Miss -----". If someone asked us our 1st names (the grandmothers were the worst offenders), and they insisted past the 1st polite refusal, we were to say: "For what reason do you wish that information?" That nearly always stopped them!
It might sound rigid and grim from the current point of view, but we were all close to the the same age (18-22), we went to frat parties over @ Rutgers South or in Philly, and we laughed a whole lot!!! And when we get together the last weekend in September every 2 years in Ocean City--it's like being back in the lounge again. Unbelievable how much noise 17 60++ y/o women can make!

I enjoyed reading this, and can only stand to learn from your experiences. I just turned 33 in September and I do believe it would be an unbelievable experience to be a fly on the wall at one of your two year reunions. I'm pretty sure you guys have lots and lots of stories. I hope I get to make lasting friendships as you did, and hopefully my group can meet up with your group and trade stories.

prmenrs, RN · Oct 5, 2008

I did forget to mention one important thing: $$ For all 33 months, room, board, books, tuition, uniforms (including a cape)---the WORKS, the tab was $845. Even in 1968 $$s, that was a bargain!

mel101478 · Oct 10, 2008

I just had my interview September 9, 2008, and was told that I met all my requirements, but they needed one last official transcript from my college and my file would undergo final review on friday September 19, 2008. My interviewer did ask me whwn I was able to start and i said ASAP then she wrote Jan'09 on my interview sheet. She also red carded me into the Intro to Nursing class which I am currently taking. I am so anxious, I check my mail box everyday, wanting to know if I got in....any ideas? How long after your interview and final review do you have to wait?

I believe it was about 3-4 weeks before I heard. Also if your starting in Jan 09 there is a registration meeting on the 22nd of this month. Good luck! I can't wait.

capemay5143 · Nov 30, 2008

hi mel.....So are you going to olol in jan 09? I just got my complete apllication into them. I was wondering how long until they sent out a request for interview? Also did you take thier nursing 100 "2" credit class? how was it? sorry about all the questions im really nervous! i just want to get into nursing school!!!

zawatscm · Feb 12, 2009

I just was notified that I have an interview this comming Friday. What are the chances I will be accepted, if I have been called in for an interview. (if any one knows or has an idea)

-Thanks

PTYME · Apr 1, 2009

I really really want to go to OLOL...I will finish my undergrad degree in the summer..with a GPA of a 2.5...is it impossible for me to get in with my GPA???