My mom - 81 years old with lots of credits and no degree (yet)

[Taxandria]

You say she was a nurse? Did she graduate from an approved nursing program or have a license to practice nursing from a certain state? If so these could prove to be credits, depending upon the situation.

Yes, she was licensed in New York State as an LPN.

Here's her basic history/timeline:

1951 graduated high school
1951 went into convent (Sisters of Christian Charity) started Mallinckrodt College, did that from Sept. 1951 - June 1952
Did first year Novitiate (no college that year)
Left Sisters of Christian Charity in April 1953
Joined Carmelite Order Jan 1954
Professed in 1955
Worked 3 months at St. Patrick's nursing home in The Bronx, NY
In December 1955 started working at Josephine Beard Home, NYC, worked there 4 or 5 years. While there she was taught practical nursing but no college work.
September of 1957 entered Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing (found this online about the school: From 1951 to 1976, the school held full accreditation status by the National League for Nursing as a Diploma school, and from 1976, it was empowered to confer an Associate Degree Program.) Mom said she was in a 3 year program and they started a 2 year college credit program after she left.
She took the 8 hour exam and passed licensing for LPN for New York State with score in the 90's
Left convent in 1960.
~1965 Went into the nursing program at Hunter College (CUNY) with intent to get a RNBS. (Her nursing credits were not accepted by Hunter.) She fell ill and because she was behind, left the school and told them to put the records away at the time. So it was an incomplete term, about April 1966 or so. It was her 3rd term and she was taking 16 credits.

Worked at New Rochelle Hospital for a year and a half, did per diem work at Westchester Square Hospital.