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.
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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.
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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.
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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)!
As an LPN, you don't have to choose between your career and furthering your education. We make it possible to work and earn your degree at the same time. You can begin today and move at your own pace, setting your study schedule around the things that are important to you.
You may have even encountered the long waiting lists that many people find themselves on before they can enter nursing school. The College Network has designed an online learning environment exclusively for LPN’s, and you can begin working toward your advanced nursing degree as soon as you're ready - there is no wait list.
Hospitals in Georgia have also started requiring that their registered nurses hold a BSN--especially those hospitals who are attempting to earn Magnet status. Holding your RN license used to be the accepted standard, but in keeping with the call for a more educated workforce, hospitals now are giving more consideration to those nurses with their bachelor's degree.
Hospitals in Georgia struggle to find bachelor's-prepared nurses and because of this, have developed policies to address the issue. These hospitals will hire nurses with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree, but will require those nurses to obtain their bachelor's degree within a certain number of years.
At The College Network, we have options for you if you are either an LPN or an RN who would like obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
We partner with Indiana State University to offer the only online LPN to BSN program in the country. This three-phase program allows you to work through your general education and prerequisite courses with The College Network and then enroll with Indiana State University for your nursing transition courses and final nursing courses with concurrent clinical hours. Courses are delivered online, and you can get started today.
The College Network has helped over 200,000 nurses begin working toward an advanced education! We can help you too! Getting started is simple. Just call me, Jerry Kelly at 404-217-6638 or go to www.collegenetwork.com/kelly to learn more about how you can reach your dream of earning your advanced nursing degree in the state of Georgia.
Since the 2011 release of The Future of Nursing report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), healthcare researchers have continued to justify the push for more baccalaureate-level registered nurses. One of the most powerful testaments to the power of baccalaureate education lies in the fact that facilities with more BSN-RNs have better patient outcomes.
The most recent evidence of improved patient results comes from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, who reviewed outcomes from 134 Pennsylvania hospitals. The resulting study showed that a 10-point increase in the percentage of bachelor’s-level RNs was directly linked with an average reduction of 2.12 deaths for every 1,000 patients.
The report is the University of Pennsylvania’s most recent piece of evidence in an ongoing effort to emphasize the link between baccalaureate-level education and improved care. In 2008, the University partnered with the Journal of the American Medical Association to release a similar study, which revealed that a 10 percent increase in the number of BSN-RNs on staff led to a 5 percent decrease in the risk of patient deaths.
In order for healthcare facilities to improve their bachelor’s degree-level nurse ratios, more nursing students will need to start choosing baccalaureate degrees over associate degree programs. In 2011, 60 percent of candidates who passed the NCLEX-RN® exam held an associate’s degree, while only 40 percent held a baccalaureate degree. In today’s workforce, only 45 percent of U.S. nurses hold a bachelor’s degree. The number of nursing students entering BSN programs will need to increase significantly if the industry hopes to meet the IOM’s recommendation, which states that 80 percent of RNs should hold a bachelor’s degree by 2020.
If you are interested in earning your bachelor's degree in nursing, now is the time. The College Network offers a variety of options for LPNs and RNs who are interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree. To learn more, you can view a full list of our degree programs for nurses or request more information. Or, call us at 800-395-1014 to speak with a program advisor.
I am really thrilled to see that Indiana State University's (one of the best schools in the Mid-West according to the U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review) online LVN to BS in Nursing program is now recognized in the state of Texas. This completely distance-based program allows an LVN to work full time and earn his/her BSN RN without ever having to return to the college classroom and without ever having to visit the campus in Terre Haute, Indiana. Indiana State University is accredited by the North Central States Association of Colleges & Schools (the same association that accredits such schools at the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, University of Chicago and the University of Illinois). It's recognized by the National League for Nursing and the Texas Board of Nursing.
This program has three phases. The first is the general education phase. Indiana State University allows nurses to transfer previous college credits into the program as long as the course 1) was taken within 30 years, 2) is from a regionally accredited school and 3) has a grade of C or higher. Any required subject the nurse hasn't taken, can be fulfilled by testing out via The College Network's Comprehensive Learning Modules in our online Resource Center. There is one learning module per subject. When the nurse passes the one exam, she/he receives the same credits from Indiana State University as if she/he sat in a classroom for an entire semester. Almost all of the general education examinations are taken from home via a webcam on the computer.
Phase Two are four nursing transition courses that essentially work the same way as Phase One except the exams are taken outside of the home but locally.
Phase Three are the online nursing classes taken directly with Indiana State University. Also, it's in this phase where the clinical hours are performed. This is one of the best parts of the program! The clinicals are performed locally one-on-one with a preceptor.
This program can be completed in the same amount of time or less time than if the nurse were to quit his/her job and go to school full time at a local university. One nurse told me recently what she liked about this program is that she can fit her education around her life instead of her life around her education.
For more information, please contact The College Network at 1-800-395-1014.
Very best regards,
Joel Kimzey
The College Network has exciting news for Texas LVNs! We are now making it possible to complete an LVN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program entirely through distance learning. This program, available through Indiana State University, will enable you to sit for your NCLEX-RN exam in Texas.
As you know, registered nurses can make significantly higher salaries and have increased job opportunities. It is more important than ever before to advance your education by becoming an RN and earning a BS in Nursing considering a recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Medicine that calls for 80 percent of RNs to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing by 2020.
Indiana State University partners with The College Network to provide you with a way to continue your education while you continue working full-time as an LVN. We will work with you to ensure you have the education and training you need to advance your career right away without the need for long waiting list.
Please contact The College Network at 1-800-395-1014 to learn more about this program!
Very best regards,
Joel Kimzey
When listening to the radio, the song "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepson comes on the radio several times during the day--there is no escaping it on the station I listen to. And afterwards I find that I can't get it out of my head. Plus there are so many parodies on YouTube and other channels. It has become part of our trending culture.
After a friend posted that people don't call each other anymore, I realized that I have to agree. With the popularity of social media, it's easier to post your status on Facebook or tweet about something you find interesting. We even reach out to our community for recommendations or advice. The art of communication is sometimes lost in the fray.
But it is after a lengthy conversation I had with a customer this morning, that I want to encourage you to call us. The College Network's Academic Support team is available to you when you need some support, to schedule a test or just to review your program. You can also talk to them about developing a study plan if you are new to your online program, or need to get restarted.
As an LPN to RN, we understand that you are working hard to support yourself and at times run into questions that you need some clarification on, or perhaps you just need to talk through you program plan to keep on your schedule. Maybe you're starting in your BSN program and need to understand Regis University's small class sections. Whatever you may need, our team is here for you.
Here's our number, 800-634-1443--so call us maybe.
If you’ve been thinking about going back to school to earn your Bachelor’s Degree in nursing, now’s the time to do it. The demand for nurses is at an all-time high, with the American College of Medical Quality predicting a national shortage of 300,000 to 1 million nurses by the year 2020. The increase in demand is largely credited to the rising healthcare needs of the aging baby boomer generation.
But conditions aren’t just calling for more RNs --many experts expect the BSN degree to become the new entry-level requirement for nurses. Currently, only about 50 percent of nurses in the U.S. hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In order to meet national demand, the Institute of Medicine reports that 80 percent of nurses will need to hold bachelor’s degrees by the year 2020 -- hence, the “80 by ‘20” rule.
In response, The College Network® will continue to provide our customers with the means to earn their Bachelor’s of Science in nursing from the comfort of home. Through our partnership with Indiana State University, The College Network offers the only distance-based LPN to BSN program in the country. If you are an LPN or LVN, you probably have a busy lifestyle as it is. By enrolling in our BSN program, you can obtain your bachelor’s degree at your own pace and ensure career stability in the competitive years to come.
If you are ready to take the next step towards becoming a contender in tomorrow’s healthcare market, contact The College Network and speak with a Program Advisor at 1-800-395-1014.
Many of you have probably heard the term "accredited." We use it a lot when we talk about accredited nursing programs, but many people may not truly understand the value behind that word: accredited.
When I hear the word "accredited", the first thing that comes to mind is excellence. When I was in college, it was extremely important for me that the program I was studying was accredited, because I knew that the education I would receive would be the best of the best AND would be reputable when it came time to look for a job.
Not every higher education program holds this status of accredited. It is something that must be both proven and earned. Those that have earned this level of excellence have gone through a long process of being reviewed by experts. The following is a list of benefits of choosing an accredited program:
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Program excellence
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Experienced faculty
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Respect from potential employers
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Ability to transfer credits more easily
The quality of the education you receive really does matter. At The College Network, we know the value of accreditation, which is why all of the universities we work with to offer online nursing degree programs are regionally accredited. You can learn more about online nursing programs here or by calling 1-800-395-1014.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that is. Do you have a nursing degree-perhaps an associates degree, but aren't really sure what your next move should be? If you're like many other nurses you probably love what you do, right? So, how can you stay in the nursing field, but also make a career change? It's simple, earn your bachelors degree in nursing and enjoy the opportunities that will come along with that.
By earning your bachelors degree in nursing you are putting yourself in a category of nursing that will earn a higher salary, have more responsibility and be exposed to more specialized work. Below is a chart indicating the average salary, broken down by years of experience, that nurses who have their BSN make annually.
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Some of the job opportunities available to BSN nurses are Clinical Nurse Manager, Nursing Director, Nurse Case Manager, Emergency Room RN, Operating Room RN and Nurse Educator. Nurses who have their bachelors degree typically have more job security due to their advanced education and knowledge.
At
The College Network we work with several top universities to offer convenient and affordable Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree programs. We have an
LPN to BSN program and an
RN to BSN program. With our self-paced programs, you can begin working towards your advanced degree with little interruption to your daily life. Most of our customers continue to work full-time, raise a family and still do all of the things the enjoy all while earning their degree.
If would like more information on our online Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, give us a call today at
1-800-395-1014.
A recent article from
U.S. News University Directory reports that more nursing students are choosing to earn bachelor's degrees instead of associate's degrees. The article goes on to state a couple of important facts: "According to a press release, enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by approximately 3.9% between 2010 and 2011. Additionally, the survey found that enrollment in bachelor's degree completion programs, or RN-to-BSN programs, grew by 13.4%."
More importantly, the article says, "As more students opt to enroll in these courses of study, many schools across the country have found that they are having trouble accommodating so many degree seekers due to faculty or space restrictions. Preliminary data from the report shows that in 2011, about 51,082 qualified students were turned away from 503 entry-level bachelor's degree nursing programs."
For aspiring bachelor's degree nurses, this is troubling news. Demand for bachelor's degree nurses is still very high, but traditional colleges don't have the means to satisfy the desires of many who wish to earn these degrees. So what can one do? Give
The College Network a try. With a myriad of degree programs in nursing, whether associate's, bachelor's, or master's, TCN can possibly help you bypass the long wait lists of some universities by offering convenient higher education online.
There is an extremely high projected nursing need to account for the baby boom generation's aging and the healthcare system's expansion, and young people are increasingly stepping up to fill the gap. According to a study mentioned in an
article on LATimes.com, the number of RNs aged 23-26 was at 165,000 in 2009, as compared to only 102,000 in 2002. The number is only going up, and if it continues the need for nurses may possibly be filled. California is certainly a hotbed of activity for new RNs--2002 saw only 5,300 people graduate from nursing schools in the state, whereas the 2009 number was over 11,500.
I talk to people in California on the phone all the time, and they tell me that the wait time for entrance into local nursing schools is very long. If you live in California and you want to become an RN, your options are not limited to local schools with swelling student populations. The online LPN to BSN program, offered by Indiana State University in partnership with The College Network, is a smart route to becoming a BSN Nurse that allows you to work and/or raise your family and complete your education when it is convenient for you---without the wait time!
If you are interested in learning more, give me a call at 1.800.378.8515. extension 4768, or checkout
collegenetwork.com!
Nursing is a growing industry—that is well documented.
But did you know that the demand for nurses with their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree is also growing?
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) published report, The Future of Nursing in October 2010 outlined that objectives set forth in the 2010 Affordable Care Act will mean that nursing must change in order to meet the expanding responsibilities nurses face.
They also deliver the supposition that a more educated nursing workforce would be better equipped to meet the demands of an evolving health care system as nurses are required to serve as more of a primary care provider.
Additionally, the report calls for increasing the number of baccalaureate prepared nurses in the workforce to 80% by 2020. Currently 50% of nurses today have their BS in Nursing. The IOM also recommends that a health care organizations encourage their nurses who currently have an associate’s or diploma degree to enter a BSN program within five years of graduation.
Are you an RN who is contemplating moving forward to earning your BSN? Or perhaps you are an LPN/LVN who is considering obtaining your BSN? The College Network can help you in your pursuit of a lifelong dream, or the next step in your education goal. Call us today at (800) 39-LEARN to find out more about your future.
It's hurricane season, and recently Hurricane Irene struck the U.S. eastern seaboard. Like many of you reading this, you were either directly effected, or had family within its path. I personally had family in coastal South Carolina, coastal Maryland, and New York City, and they all were affected in some way by Irene.
I just want to take a minute to recognize and thank those that are out there to help in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Irene. And, as it relates to
The College Network, I am excited to know we have helped thousands upon thousands of nurses complete NLNAC Accredited nursing programs. Knowing the value and quality of education these nurses have received in achieving their
BS in Nursing, or
Associates in Nursing; it is comforting to know these very people we help at The College Network are also out there helping in situations like these.
Kevin Burton, Program Advisor, 1-800-307-1006 Ext. 4734, kburton@collegenetwork.com
In a recent article published in the Middletown Journal it was announced that Miami University which is one of Ohio's top nursing programs is ending its two year nursing degree programs to concentrate on four year and bachelor's degree completion programs. This is big news considering the fact that Miami University reportedly provides many nurses to surrounding hospitals such as McCullough Hyde in Oxford, Atrium Medical Center in Middletown and The Fort Hamilton Hospital.
This change is also going to impact an existing problem with waiting lists due to the limited number of NLNAC accredited universities with online nursing programs.
"The shift has implications for the region and the state’s most popular type of higher education that enrolled nearly 30,000 students in 2009, according to the most recent Ohio Board of Nursing data.
The demand for all types of nurses is expected to grow in coming years as older professionals begin to retire while new students often face waiting lists of up to two years because of a shortage of educators and clinical training sites."
The good news is that there are options for nurses in Ohio and everywhere even those with minimal nursing school prerequisites. The College Network partners with leading universities to provide nursing education programs that can be completed entirely through distance learning. Best of all, The College Networks programs are designed for busy nurses looking for flexible nursing education with no waiting lists.
Visit www.collegenetwork.com to learn more about LPN to RN, LPN to BS in Nursing, RN to BS in Nursing, and other advanced nursing education programs.
My Name is Maykel Verdecia Alonso. I studied registered nursing in Cuba for 5 years (from 1996 to 2001). Before taking the national state licensing exam, I legally migrated to the United States as a refugee. The reason why I did not take the national licensing exam in Cuba was because I was afraid that I was not going to be able to leave the country (the Cuban government, in order to avoid professionals leaving the country, has dictated laws that prohibit graduated students from leaving unless they spend 3-5 years performing social services). Since I had the urgency to leave the country, I decided to voluntary drop out of school and immigrate to the USA.
Soon after I arrived in the United States, I went to City College of San Francisco to learn English as second language. I discovered that City College also had an LVN refresher program for foreign nurses, so I enrolled in that to become a licensed nurse and apply to the CA-LVN Board. My hopes to be a nurse started to become a reality; even though, I was considered to be a drop off nursing student-immigrant from Cuba.
Soon after a fully credentialed evaluation and completion of the LVN refresher program, the LVN Board granted me the authorization to take the licensing exam. Since 2001 I have been working as an LVN in the United States.
When I felt confident working as a nurse, learned more about US law, rules and regulation, and gained more skills following policies and procedures; I decided to apply to the RN Board. Soon after I applied, the CA RN Board wanted my official transcripts from Cuba again (Cuban transcripts are to be use in Cuba National territory ONLY unless they are released by the government). After waiting a response from Cuba for several years, my immigration status in the US, Cuba-USA embargo, and after I realized that everywhere I go, institutions would request official transcripts, I decided to go back to school and retake all the classes I took for nursing in Cuba.
Since City College of Saint Francisco was the first institution that I enrolled in when arrived to the United States, I decided to complete my general education with them, and I have earned more than 80 units of general education. It is time for me to pursue my educational goal in this country, which is why I have applied to Indiana State University (ISU) to hopefully get into their LVN to BSN program.
Before I enroll into ISU, I first need to pass the ISU pre-exams which educational materials and preparation is offered by The College Network. Thanks to the excellent customer services of College Network and the excellent study materials offered, I already completed two of the pre-requisite exams needed for the LVN to BSN program of ISU.
Thanks to The College Network, Indiana State University and City College of San Francisco for allowing me to pursue higher education. I had to struggle with the political struggles between US and Cuba but it does not mean that I will not pursue my educational goal which is to become a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
As of today, I have an LVN license granted by the CA-LVN Board, I have 80 units of general education earned at CCSF, I have eight years of experience as an LVN, I have successfully completed the joint LVN-refresher refresher training program for foreign and American nurses, which is equivalent to two hundred twenty hours of nursing theory at CCSF, and 360 hours of laboratory and clinical practice in medical surgical nursing at St. Francis Hospital, General Hospital, and leadership / skilled nursing at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center; thus, 5 years of nursing education in Cuba, whose courses and grades were officially evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
I would imagine there are other foreign trained nurses like me that would like to go back to school and that are not able to get their documents from their home countries (i.e. the school has closed, has changed name, has burned down during the war, are not politically related with this country, or simply are not willing to produce this type of document). For them, I would like to share my nursing experience.
Name: Maykel Verdecia
From: California
Our son was born with a condition that will affect him for the rest of his life.
I found out I was pregnant 2 weeks before graduating nursing school. We had been trying to conceive for almost 2 years and had taken fertility drugs in order to get pregnant.
After our son was born, I had the medical knowledge and references to find him the best possible care. This is why I became a nurse and why I am continuing my education today in the RN/BSN program.
Name:
Tracy Wishon
From:
Missouri
When I was a child, I wanted to be a nurse to help others get well as my grandmother's sister had done. When I was a teen, as a volunteer, I assisted RNs of the day render basic care for the vulnerable ill both young and old. As I worked among the RNs, I could not imagine a better profession to serve humanity in a more altruistic fashion.
When I was a nursing student, one professor asked me why I wished to become an RN and I replied: "To help people." She responded that this was not a good enough reason. In my mind then, I begged to differ, as for me, helping others was a passion.
Since my graduation and initial RN registration in 1980, I held on to my ideals and throughout my long career have strived to have make the lives of so many more meaningful in life, dignified in death, more wholly healed, more informed to make good health decisions or meet goals of self care, more able to adjust to the difficult consequences of illness, and to promote and support better health and to return others to the highest level of functioning.
I just finished an RN to BSN program early this year. It was hard but worth it. My studies, I believe, have extended my professional options and have made me a better citizen. RN skill sets are evolving to higher degrees of complexity requiring more advanced levels of education. I noted during my BSN studies that the life work of many great nursing leaders past and present remind the student that there is always more that needs to be done to promote health-related change at the organizational, professional, scientific, local, state and national levels.
I believe that nurses need to advocate at the health policy level to enact meaningful change, to contribute to the scientific database from a nursing perspective and educate new generations of nursing leaders given the shifting priorities of healthcare towards health promotion and prevention. There is so much to do.
I am still a nurse for the right reason today, as I was when I began years ago. To passionately and altruistically serve humanity as a whole person healer, a leader, a scientist, activist, an educator and advocate honor that commitment I made as a child long ago to help others.
That is me on the right, RN to BSN grad with Barb, another nurse who will soon graduate with a Master's degree in nursing education.
Name:
Jagjeet Kaur Khalsa RN, BSN
From:
California
New LPN/LVN to BS in Nursing ONLINE
LPNs/LVNs and RNs earn Your BS in Nursing Online! NLN-accredited/Top Ranked Indiana State University offers the nation's ONLY Online LPN to BSN, LVN to BSN or RN to BSN. Get started now with no waiting list.
Enjoy locally precepted clinicals with NO clinical testing. Earn your degree in half the time at half the cost of traditional programs with the help of The College Network.
Our leading partner universities offer online nursing degree programs, distance learning associate degrees in nursing, LPN to ADN programs, LVN to BS in Nursing and LPN to BS in Nursing degree programs.
Susan Shropshire is no stranger to struggle. Since enrolling in
The College Network and
Indiana State University’s LPN to BSN program, she’s fought cancer (and won) and suffered the deaths of her two older sisters. All the while, she’s worked as an LPN. Still, her dream of becoming an RN hasn’t faded.
“I’ve been an LPN since 1983. My family always wanted me to get my RN, but there have been many obstacles to overcome,” Susan said. “With the deaths of my two sisters and my battle with cancer, things became difficult.”
The College Network’s distance learning setup works for Susan because she can pursue her degree at her own pace. “I chose the LPN to BSN program through Indiana State University and The College Network because it fits my needs. The materials have been very informative. I am able to study after work and on my days off at home without any added pressure,” she said. “I like that they don’t push you to work faster than you can.”
Susan offers this advice to students starting out with a distance learning program: “Be patient with yourself. If you want to do it, go for it.”
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.
Since the 2011 release of 
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