By Sergen H. Kumas
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Camden County College on Dec. 3 hosted an information session for students interested in the nursing program.
Nine students attended the session, which took place from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Connector Building. Faculty nursing advisor and coordinator Robynn Anwar and Rutgers University-Camden School of Nursing lecturer and pre-nursing adviser Cheryl McLaughlin conducted the event. The two provided students with information about the nursing programs at CCC.
Anwar said nursing has become a popular option for students because of the need for nurses in the expanding health-care industry. “Health care is growing, not diminishing, because there’s a lot out there and a lot of help needed. People need help, their needs met, and they need care.”
Nursing students typically attempt to meet their pre-nursing requirements and obtain their diploma in nursing, giving them the title of a registered nurse, better known as an R.N. According to the 2018 Camden County College Academic Guide, students have the option to enroll in the Our Lady of Lourdes Cooperative Nursing Program. The completion of this program will give students the preparation needed to pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to become an R.N.
As for nursing programs at four-year schools, Anwar said the options are plenty. “We have Rutgers on campus and Rutgers-New Brunswick. A lot of them are doing their pre-nursing and are going to go to Our Lady of Lourdes or to Rutgers. But they can go to any college because our credits here that they get for nursing are acceptable at almost all universities and colleges.”
Emily Dignam, a Burlington County resident who plans to enter Camden County College soon and who attended the session, said she could endure the commute from Burlington County to Blackwood. “I feel like in the morning, it won’t be as bad because I think I have to be here at 8 a.m., so I would just come here at 7:30 a.m.”
Throughout the session, Anwar and McLaughlin told students it’s never too late to start studying nursing. The message connected with Dignam’s story. “Actually, I was going for OT, so occupational therapy. I actually went to a different school, Immaculata University in Malvern, Pennsylvania. I went away and I hated it. I hated the school and the major and I didn’t know what I was doing. I came home and didn’t know what to do,” Dignam said. “I researched nursing and stuff like that. So yeah, I didn’t know I wanted to do nursing at first. It was hard, but I know what I want to do now, so that’s good.”
For more information about nursing information sessions and nursing programs offered at CCC, visit Anwar in Halpern Hall Room 329 or email her at ranwar@camdencc.edu.
Robynn Anwar gies students information about what they need to accomplish to become nurses. By Sergen H. Kumas, CCC Journalism Program