The College Network

“If you want to succeed, you should strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.” – John D. Rockefeller

John D. Rockefeller certainly knew something about success—he was the founder of an oil company that dominated and revolutionized the industry and he became a very wealthy and influential business man as a result. However, Rockefeller didn’t start at the top—his first job was as an assistant book keeper. Because he refused to be content with the status quo, he eventually climbed to the top of American business.  

Rockefeller is certainly not alone. History is full of examples of people who pushed ahead and didn't accept things only as they were. When have advancements happened by simply following established practices in a monotonous circle? Was Alexander Graham Bell satisfied only communicating messages through telegraph? Did Dr. Joseph Lister chalk infection up to a risk of surgery for patients and move on? Did Steve Jobs look to the technology of the day and copy it? Most pioneers in a field don’t follow the path most traveled to leave their mark on the world. They take a chance, act on a hunch or instinct, and push into the unknown on their own path.

Are you tired of status quo in your life and in your career? Are you ready to take a chance and blaze a new trail for yourself by advancing your degree and your career? Get started on the path to earning your online degree with help from The College Network and top university partners like Indiana State University, Regis University, and Tulane University (just to name a few!) and open doors to career advancement and new ways to put your distinct mark on your field. You can get started right away—there is no need to wait for a new semester to begin. Contact us today and strike out on a new path to success!

A recent post by Professor Joe Martin addressed the challenges faced by those who felt motivationally challenged when it came time to study. He offered ten tips for study that can help get you back on track and focused on learning on those days when you're struggling to get started. I highlight five of those tips here.

1. Take a power nap. I mastered the power nap in college and found that it refreshed me and helped me regain focus if I realized I was reading the same sentences over and over again or I began dozing during a study session. The important thing about a power nap is to set an alarm—sleeping for more than twenty minutes may only make you feel more tired and less motivated to learn. Fifteen to twenty minutes gives you just enough time to get a little rest without making you feel comatose when you wake up.
2. Sit up. Once you are alert, stay alert by studying in an upright position. No studying in bed or in a recliner, on a lounge chair or a couch. Your body can translate a more relaxed position into a more relaxed mental state, meaning you won’t be as focused as you study. Sit in a chair at a desk or table and signal to your brain that you are ready to study.
3. Unplug. Turn off small electronics, TVs, and phones to reduce distraction. It’s too easy to drift to a tablet and start checking Facebook or Twitter or to start a marathon conversation with your best friend when you feel the alternative is not so appealing. You’ll be less likely to be distracted if you just shut it all down. You could even use these things as a source of motivation: If I focus and study for an hour, I’ll let myself watch an episode of my favorite show.
4. Have a snack. Eating a light snack can keep hunger from distracting you during your study session. Just don’t overdo it—a big plate of spaghetti or a slice of chocolate cake may only make you feel more sluggish and less focused as you begin your study session. Apple slices with a little bit of peanut butter or some carrot sticks with ranch dressing can fill you up enough to help you focus without dragging you down.
5. Split up your session. If you’re like me, you may find that sitting in one place doing the same thing for long stretches of time makes you feel a little antsy. Break up a longer study session into increments of time: study for twenty or thirty minutes and then take a ten to fifteen minute break. It’s better to be closer to the ten minute break time throughout your devoted study period, but you could go closer to the fifteen minute end if you’d like to use one of your breaks for a power nap!

Next time you find yourself losing focus, try one (or all!) of these tips to help you reclaim your attention and have greater retention in your study sessions. If you’re still having trouble motivating yourself, you can always contact a Program Advisor for a big dose of support!

If you've considered furthering your nursing education through the pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you've likely wondered about the potential benefits of holding a BSN. While there are many routes that lead to a solid nursing education, the most direct and beneficial route involves becoming a bachelor's-prepared nurse. In fact, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Initiative on the Future of Nursing feels so strongly about the pursuit of a BSN that it hopes to increase the number of nurses with bachelor's degrees to 80 percent by 2020.

The College Network offers an online LPN to BS in Nursing program as well as several online RN to BS in Nursing programs. Below is a list of three major advantages of completing these programs and earning a bachelor's degree in nursing.

1. More Experience — Nurses who complete a bachelor's degree program have more experience in real-world hospital situations than those with a lesser degree. Most BSN programs require a significant number of clinical hours, which helps students feel more comfortable in the nurse role.
    
2. Broader Knowledge — Nursing bachelor's degree programs dive further into each nursing course and require completion of more courses than associate's degree and diploma programs. This gives students a broader knowledge base and enhances their problem solving and critical thinking skills.
    
3. Expanded Opportunities — With the changing nature of healthcare, hospitals are increasingly looking to staff their nursing units with nurses who have earned at least a BSN. Bachelor's-prepared nurses have a leg up on those who have only an associate's degree, and that helps them stand out when seeking initial employment as well as promotions. Additionally, some positions in the nursing industry (e.g., educator, researcher, and administrator) can only be filled by those with a bachelor's or higher degree.

If you're ready to advance your career with a BSN, contact The College Network today at 1-877-TCN-DEGREE (877-826-3347)!

What are some more positive outcomes of digital learning besides no longer physically having to attend a classroom? This infographic from www.edudemic.com discusses some of the ways that digital learning is enhancing education. While it is geared more toward teachers incorporating digital lessons in to their classrooms, it still outlines some important reasons why you do not necessarily have to attend school in the flesh to learn something. "Across the country, students are taking on roles that are pushing the traditional boundaries of learning. Through these opportunities, students can connect to their future with authentic and meaningful learning."

There are three main ways that digital learning promotes deeper learning:

1. Personalized Skill Building: offers a customized, adaptive experience and allows more time spent on lessons instead of just classroom time

2. Schools & Tools: Produce/Publish/Present high quality work products, encourage collaboration, allow simulations for complex problem solving

3. Enhanced Access: 24/7 access for content, faster performance feedback, more options for learning material

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were the recipients of two vintage Schwinn bicycles. We had talked for a few years about getting bikes, so when these 1970s-era beauties came our way, we were excited about all of the places we’d go and the things we’d do on two wheels. After a quick tune-up to the bikes, we were ready to hit the road—or so I thought. You know that saying “It’s like riding a bicycle”—once you learn to ride a bike, you always can? I began to have serious doubts about the truth of that belief after I finally got myself up on the bike seat and balanced. It had been more than ten years since I last sat on a bicycle seat, and I could tell. As I pressed the pedals forward, the bicycle began to wobble and I felt in serious danger of tipping right over. I had a death grip on the handles and felt myself breaking into a sweat. How did I do this so effortlessly as a child? My husband began riding circles around me, almost a taunt to my difficulty.

I stopped and put down one foot to balance myself. Maybe I was the exception to the rule. Maybe I couldn’t ride a bicycle and should just wheel it back into the garage and call it a day. But then I started thinking about all the plans we made—the leisurely Sunday afternoon bike rides on trails near our house capped off by a picnic in the park, trips to get ice cream, and more. I wanted those things! It wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought, but I had to do it if I wanted all the great experiences that would come from it. I pulled myself back up on the bike and began doing loops of the driveway—unsteady at first, but I didn't fall. After ten minutes of my post-training-wheels-like warm-up, I hit the road with some trepidation. I won’t say that my death grip loosened immediately or that I’m doing crazy tricks with my bicycle (I can’t even stand up on the petals to help with momentum up hills!), but I can say that I have not given up or shied away because I was afraid. I’ve not let my fear stop me from reaching my goals of picnics in the park and enjoying the sweet taste of ice cream (and victory!) at the end of a long ride.

You may feel like going back to school will be similar to my experience getting back on a bicycle—a scary endeavor full of white-knuckle grip and uncertain balance. But, like me, you might also have goals that prod you forward despite the fear and uncertainty. Instead of thinking about what you believe you could lose in the endeavor, why not concentrate on what you could find? What do you stand to gain by going back to school? Advancement in your career? Job security? More time for your family? Greater financial freedom? Keep these gains in the forefront of your mind as you take the leap and work toward an advanced degree. You may find that getting back into your education really is just like riding a bicycle—it may be scary to get back on at first, but you’ll find balance and enjoyment in the exercise! Contact us and get started toward your goals today! 

It’s no secret that the majority of the nursing field is comprised of women.  A woman's role in any industry is made tougher by trying to balance all of the various things in our life: family, work, school, maybe sleep (if there’s time).  In the book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, Sheryl Sandberg talks about how hard it is for women to get ahead in the workplace, not just because of external forces like gender bias but also internal forces like excuses and justifications.  Some women are just too afraid to try to step in to a leadership role or feel like they are not prepared enough.  Sandberg encourages women (of all ages, not just those starting out in their careers) to be more ambitious and more confident.  Ask yourself questions like:

·         How can I do better?

·         What am I doing now that I don’t realize I’m doing?

·         What am I not doing that I should be?

By “leaning in” or not doubting your ability to combine work and family, you will present yourself as a person that can not only juggle the various things going on in your life outside of work but will put you in a position to ask for what you need and make changes that not only benefit you but could benefit others.  You could even be an example for younger women in your industry to be more willing to “lean in” to leadership roles as well.

Read an in depth review of Sandberg’s book here.

May 15th is Police Officer's Memorial Day (part of National Police Week). Due to the high demand in nursing, many of TCN's efforts are focused on helping nurses achieve the next step in their education.  But we can offer so much more!  TCN has a wide spectrum of continuing education programs, including the Public Safety sector.  

Bellevue University offers two options for a Bachelor's in the Public Safety arena: Criminal Justice Administration and Security Management.  Bellevue offeres undergraduate degree programs in a cohort approach in an online learning format.  

Criminal Justice is designed for people working in or associated with the criminal justice system; Security Management looks at private and industrial security settings.

Read more about these programs on The College Network's website here.  

Read more about National Police Week here.

In honor of National Nurses Week (celebrated every year from May 6 through May 12), I'd like to highlight some of the top reasons why The College Network (TCN) is dedicated to helping nurses continually improve their healthcare knowledge and gain advanced credentials throughout their careers. At TCN, we understand and appreciate nurses because they maintain selfless attitudes and they embrace their admirable roles in the following areas:

 NURTURANCE

When most people think of nurses, words like nurture, heal, and compassion likely come to mind. Nurses are dedicated to providing optimal care and putting patients at ease. They wear many hats, including those of caregiver, friend, teacher and therapist.

 TRUST

According to Gallop's annual "Honesty and Ethics" survey, nursing is considered the most trustworthy profession in the United States. The 2012 survey marks the 11th straight year that nurses have topped the list, ranking 10 percentage points above pharmacists and 15 percentage points above medical doctors. According to the survey, 85 percent of those polled ranked the trustworthiness of nurses as high or very high.

 LEADERSHIP

Although people may think of doctors as the leaders in a hospital, nurses are the true leaders of patient care. Nurses make sure patients understand instructions and procedures as well as ensure the safe implementation of interventions. Nurses also delegate various patient care activities to other members of the healthcare team. Additionally, nurses are the chief advocates for patient care needs, and they play a major role in improving patient outcomes.

 INFLUENCE

According to the American Nurses Association, "both the Affordable Care Act and the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Future of Nursing report place nurses at the center of healthcare transformation in the United States." The knowledge and skills that nurses possess make them influential characters when it comes to changing healthcare policies, and they are increasingly being put in positions to make significant contributions to the improvement of the healthcare system.

 SERVICE

When asked why they wanted to become nurses in the first place, many (if not all) nurses will say they wanted to help people and make a difference in others' lives. Serving others and positively impacting the lives of patients and their family members is a large part of being a nurse. And it's also what makes nursing such a rewarding profession.

 EDUCATION

Nurses deserve a tremendous amount of respect for their dedication to staying relevant in the healthcare industry by continually seeking more knowledge and pursuing advanced degrees. According to the American Nurses Association's "Nursing by the numbers" fact sheet, 50 percent of registered nurses (RNs) have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.2 percent of RNs have a master's degree or a doctoral degree. 

If you are interested in seeking an advanced position within the great field of nursing (or in entering the profession for the first time), The College Network wants to help! Visit our nursing degrees page for more information.

Thank you, nurses, for all that you do!

Metacognition. Just the word sounds complicated and involved. However, metacognition is not all that difficult—in fact, thinking about the way you think is something you probably do without even realizing it. More than likely, you give thought to the way you want to organize your thoughts and approach to a new project at the outset. You already know the best way you think and operate—it just may be buried in your subconscious.

Metacognition is not just important when you start a new project at work, it’s also extremely important when you decide to go back and earn an advanced degree. After you’ve taken the Learning Styles Survey, it’s important to think about the way you think and create a strategy that will enable you to learn and achieve your goals through a customized approach. No two people learn the exact same way, and as such, no two people will have the same cognitive strategy. Your strategy should be specific to you.

According to Snowman and Biehler, cognitive strategy is divided into two segments: learning strategy and learning tactics. The first step in considering cognitive strategy is to determine your learning strategy: what is your general plan to achieve your academic goal? Map out a plan for achieving that goal. Each plan you map out becomes an objective (i.e., “Complete Biology course in 14 weeks”). These objectives will build your learning strategy.

Once you’ve determined your learning strategy, you’ll want to determine learning tactics that will be useful for you next. These tactics are what you will use to accomplish each individual objective that works toward fulfilling your overall learning strategy. There are two types of tactics: memory-directed tactics and comprehension-directed tactics. Memory-directed tactics are the techniques you use to store and retrieve important information as you study. Comprehension-directed tactics are the techniques that help you understand what you are learning (check out a previous post for an example). There are very few people who can use just one tactic or the other—both tactics are often needed to achieve success.

Give thought to what you feel will best help guide you toward success as you build your cognitive strategy. Not sure what strategies and tactics are best for you? Do a little research, beginning in our Center for Learning Empowerment  and work from there!

As National Nurses Week 2013 comes to a close, the best and brightest in healthcare have shared many new insights and ideas with the nursing community. As we reflect on the week behind us, there is one question still to be asked: as a nurse, how will you impact nursing?

Whether your goal is to leave a lasting legacy on the profession or simply become a more skillful nurse, furthering your education is an essential first step. You have the experience – now why not earn the credential you need to move ahead?

At The College Network®, our vision is to enrich the lives of nurses by empowering them with educational opportunities that fit into their busy lifestyles. If you are ready to take the next step toward a successful future, check out our list of nursing degree programs.  Or, give us a call at 800-395-1014 to speak with a program advisor. We’re here to help!

If you’ve been following The College Network on social media this past week, you might have noticed our ongoing tribute to several famous nurses. To close out the week, we’re releasing the full version of our latest infographic, “5 Nurses Who Changes the Face of Healthcare.” Click the image below to check it out. And thanks for a wonderful Nurses Week!
 

How will you impact the future of nursing?

We hope you've enjoyed our tribute to influential nurses throughout history in honor of Nurses' Week 2013. These extraordinary women accomplished great things to change the face of healthcare as we know it today. How will you make an impact on the future of nursing?

• LPN/LVN to RN
• LPN/LVN to BS in Nursing
• RN to BS in Nursing
• RN to MS in Nursing
• MS in Nursing

Are you ready to take the next step in your nursing education?

Call us at 1-800-395-1014 or

click here for more information.

"If you stand still and settle for the status quo, that's exactly what you will have." - Hazel Johnson-Brown

The final nurse in our series of "5 Influential Nurses Who Changed the Face of Healthcare" is Hazel Johnson-Brown, who was the first African American Chief of the Army Nursing Corps and the first African American female general in the U.S. Army.

The first week of May is Nurses Week:  May 6th is National Nurses Day and May 8 is School Nurses Day!

Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern Nursing and her birthday ends the week on May 12th. 

Nurses work in ER's, schools, clinics, shelters, and many, many more places.  So many of us know a nurse that works hard for their family and patients.  Make sure you hug the nurse in your life this week!

Want to honor an exceptional nurse? Visit the American Nurses Foundation site here to find out how.  

Want to learn about the history of National Nurses Week or even pick up some Nurses Week swag? Visit http://www.nursesweek.org/. 

"The surest test of discipline is its absence." - Clara Barton 

As you know, we've developed a series titled "5 Influential Nurses Who Changed the Face of Healthcare" in honor of Nurses' Week 2013. The third nurse profiled in our series is Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross.

If you're thinking about pursuing an online nursing degree, there are many steps you can take to journey toward success. An article recently published on nursetogether.com offers some helpful advice for surviving nursing school. Here are four tips to help you succeed in your pursuit of online education:

1. Stay organized. Use a calendar to keep track of reading assignments for yourself and to schedule your exams. When you log in to The College Network Resource Center, you will see a calendar for just this purpose on the left-hand side of your screen.
    
2. Discover your learning style and use it. People learn in many different ways, but there are typically three major learning styles: tactile, auditory and visual. You can take a learning styles survey in our Center for Learning Empowerment to find out which learning style works best for you. Once you know your optimal learning style, organize your studying around that style to maximize your chance of success.
    
3. Seek assistance if you need it. If you are having trouble with a particular concept, don't hesitate to ask for help! Our Academic Support team is available seven days a week to lend a helping hand.
    
4. Take care of yourself. In order to succeed as a nursing student, it's important to pay attention to your health. Make sure to get enough sleep and to eat a balanced diet so that you feel your best when studying and taking your exams. It's also a good idea to get regular exercise to keep your stress level low.

To learn more about the opportunities for advanced nursing education available through The College Network, visit our nursing degrees page or fill out our information request form.

"I have learned to live each day as it comes, and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow."  - Dorothea Dix

The second nurse profiled in our series of "5 Influential Nurses Who Changed the Face of Healthcare" is Dorothea Dix, who established the first mental health system in the United States.

"How very little can be done under a spirit of fear."  - Florence Nightingale

In honor of National Nurses' Week 2013, The College Network has created an infographic about "5 Influential Nurses Who Changed the Face of Healthcare." The first nurse profiled in our series is Florence Nightingale, often recognized as the founder of modern nursing.

National Nurses Week serves as the perfect opportunity to look back on some of the individuals who have brought the nursing profession to where it stands today. Throughout history, there have been many nurses who have fought to make the nursing profession accessible to women, people of color, and the lower class. Many of these women also pioneered advances in patient care and worked to make healthcare more available to underserved populations. In accordance with this year’s theme, “Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care,” we created a video and infographic to recognize a few nursing heroes who have changed patient care.

Though they lived in different eras and pursued different passions, each of these women has made a vital impact on healthcare. Let’s take a closer look at some of the nurses who made it onto our list.

Dorothea Dix: 1802 – 1877

“I have learned to live each day as it comes, and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow.”

A renowned military nurse, Dorothea is best known for creating the first mental health system in the United States. During the Civil War, she braved the battlefield as Superintendent of Union Army Nurses. After the war, she lobbied state legislatures and the U.S. Congress to create the first American mental asylum. After establishing the Dorothea Dix Hospital for the mentally ill in Raleigh, North Carolina, Dorothea was inducted into the ANA Hall of Fame.

Florence Nightingale: 1820–1910

“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.”

Known as the founder of modern nursing, English nurse Florence was an advocate for female participation in healthcare and treated patients regardless of class. During the Crimean War, Florence was known for making her rounds at night with a lamp in hand. Gifted with mathematics, Florence pioneered innovations in public health service and statistical graphics. One such innovation was the Nightingale rose diagram, a pie chart use to identify seasonal causes of mortality among military patients. In 1860, Florence founded the world’s first secular nursing school, St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. She was also a well-known author, and her book Notes on Nursing was used as a reference by the general public. Nurses Week ends each year on May 12^th, Florence’s birthday.

Clara Barton: 1821–1912

“The surest test of discipline is its absence.”

Known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” Clara created the standard for military care, treating the injured in the face of extreme danger. Clara is best known for founding the American Red Cross, which she organized to help victims of war and disasters. She was an avid supporter of women’s suffrage, and was a well-known public speaker nationwide. Clara even traveled to Turkey, where she directed relief operations on behalf of victims of civil unrest in Turkey and Armenia. She was the only woman and sole Red Cross advocate the Turkish government allowed to enter the country.

Mary Eliza Mahoney: 1845–1926

As the first African American female nurse in the United States, Mary’s legacy created countless opportunities for women of color in healthcare. Mary worked at the New England Hospital for Women and Children for fifteen years before being accepted into the hospital’s nursing school. She was an original member of the mostly-white Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada, which eventually became the American Nurses Association. In 1908, she co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. Mary was an avid supporter of women’s suffrage and was one of the first women in Boston to register to vote.

Hazel Johnson-Brown: 1927–2011

“If you stand still and settle for the status quo, that’s exactly what you will have.”

To say that Hazel was a fighter would be an understatement. She was the first African American female general in the U.S. Army and the first African American Chief of the Army Nursing Corps. After joining the army in 1955, Hazel served as a staff nurse for the U.S. Army in Japan, and she later trained nurses on their way to Vietnam. She also lived in Seoul, South Korea, while serving as chief nurse at the Army hospital there. When she returned to the states, she served as Director of Government Affairs for the American Nurses Association.

If you’d like to learn more about National Nurses Week, you can view a historical timeline of the celebration or check out the variety of educational materials available on the American Nurses Association website. Stay tuned to our social media channels until the end of the week, when we’ll release the infographic in its entirety. 

What does an online learner look like? Probably just like you! Online learners come from both genders and all adult age groups, with a sizeable portion comprised of middle-aged adults. Les Burr at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia reports that people tend to use the Internet as an educational resource more as they age and that people over the age of 50 participated in online learning more than any other age group in his study. Online learners range from traditional students to stay-at-home moms and dads to corporate executives with busy schedules. No matter who you are or how old you are, you’ll be in great company as the number of online learners continues to grow.

According to a recent report by the Babson Survey Research Group, over 6.7 million postsecondary students took at least one online course in 2011, compared to around 6.2 million in 2010. And the number of students who are taking classes and earning their degrees online is only expected to increase. Research firm Ambient Insight predicts that by 2014, 5.14 million students will complete all their coursework in a traditional classroom, but 3.55 million will complete all their classes online. With the increase of online learning comes a new appreciation and respect for what online degree programs have to offer. As part of their recent study, the Babson Survey Research Group surveyed a number of academic leaders, and 77% of them said that online learning outcomes are the same, somewhat superior, or superior to those encountered in traditional classroom settings. As innovation continues to shape and change the face of online education, the appreciation and respect for online education is sure to continue to rise.

At The College Network, we are constantly working to be on the cutting edge of online education. We seek to assist anyone interested in furthering their career by providing them with challenging and meaningful courses that will help them reach an educational goal. If you’re ready to join the millions of people just like you already making their dreams a reality, contact us today!