Experience The College Network

In recognition of International Nurses Week, Sheila Davis, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, Director of Global Nursing at Partners In Health, wrote an article that I thought was worth showing to readers of The College Network nursing blog. Sheila reflects upon worldwide and industry-wide challenges facing nurses, and also highlights some of the fantastic opportunities for collaboration in global healthcare that are arising and likely will increase in scope and number in the near future. I selected some quotes below that I found especially interesting. The article in full appears on The Huffington Post website.  

“Although nurses deliver 90 percent of all healthcare services worldwide, they remain largely invisible at decision-making tables in national capitals and international agencies.”

“In one of the most innovative initiatives global health nursing has seen, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute has supported the creation of a nursing oncology partnership with Inshuti Mu Buzima (IMB), PIH's sister organization in Rwanda. Four experienced oncology nurses have committed to working alongside local nurses and physicians at IMB for three-month rotations, creating an unprecedented opportunity for Rwandan nurses to develop the specialized skills and experience needed to raise the quality of oncology care.”

“These long-term, grassroots initiatives are shaping the new face of nursing in global health. With the investment of the global community in nurse training, mentorship, and leadership, we can make enormous strides in strengthening health systems.”

There is quite a bit of data out there that shows that the healthcare field is one that is not only stable, but one that is growing.  And while you might be interested in working in this field, you don't feel that becoming a registered nurse would be a good fit for you.

Have you considered a Medical or Health Services Manager?  As a manager, you plan direct and coordinate medical and health services.  You might manage an entire facility or a specific clinical area or department.  Some also manage practices for groups of physicians.  

And while the majority of these jobs are located in a hospital setting, you can also work in long term healthcare facilities or even insurance companies.   You will be working with physicians and surgeons, registered nurses and possibly medical and clinical laboratory technicians.  

So, what is entailed in becoming a Health Services Manager?  You can work through The College Network to obtain your Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Regis University.  Because of the convenience of an online education, you can continue to work and gain professional experience at the same time.

This program also requires an internship at an approved health care facility of your choice.  When you graduate with your Bachelor's degree, you will have practical experience and the comparative knowledge that you need to be successful.  There are many exciting options available to you with your degree.

Please reach out to us today at (800) 39-LEARN to find out more about your future in Healthcare Administration.   

I have been speaking to nurses this week to help write success stories for those that have earned their Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing degrees.  These nurses are graduating with degrees from Regis University.  

One of the nurses I spoke with had been a registered nurse for 20 years and never planned to go back to school.  She worked in a hospital and was on the floor, taking care of patients.  Her employer came to her and offered her a new position that required her to have her master's degree.   She took the new job but it was contingent upon her obtaining her degree.  

Once she enrolled, she was very surprised to learn how much she loved learning and how many doors it opened up for her personally and professionally.  In fact she enjoyed the experience so much, she is moving forward to start on her doctorate in the fall.  

Not to say it wasn't hard.  She will be the first to tell you that she worked full time while earning her degree and had to find time to study and stay motivated.  But, it is definitely achievable.  She will proudly walk across that stage in Denver, Colorado at Regis University to receive her diploma.  

Wherever you are in your career and education, we may be able to help you move to the next level.  At The College Network, we work with nurses who are just starting their careers and those that are established and want to take on new challenges.  With some hard work and dedication, you too can look forward to walking across the stage, being handed your diploma and starting the new chapter in your life.  Call us today at (800) 39-LEARN, and we'll help you get there.  

Do you know someone who seems to pass every test they take with flying colors and with seemingly minimal studying? You, on the other hand, study the material over and over and over again and never seem to do quite as well on your tests. Are you studying the wrong information? Do you just not get it? Maybe you weren't cut out for this after all? Don't go beating yourself up over this, because there could be a very good reason behind your test taking issues-you may have "Test Anxiety."

Test Anxiety is a very real issue that a lot of people struggle with. It is when your anxiety is so bad that it affects your exam performance. People suffering from test anxiety can experience physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms. Here are the main causes of test anxiety according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) :

• Fear of failure
• Lack of preparation
• Poor test history

If you think you suffer from Test Anxiety there are some things you can do to manage it.

Organize-Organize your time and develop a study plan. Give yourself plenty of time to study before you have to take your exam.

Prepare-Study, study, study.

Practice-Take practice tests or have someone quiz you over the material you have studied. 

Ask Questions-If there is material that you have studied and don't understand, ask someone for help.

Take Your Time-When exam day arrives, take your time to read through the directions and each question thoroughly. If you don't know an answer, skip it and revisit the question once you have finished the remainder of the exam.

Always remember, whether you are preparing to take your NCLEX-RN or an exam for a specific module, The College Network is here to support you and help answer any questions you have when studying. Visit our Academic Support webpage to find out how you can get into contact with one of our academic advisors.

Most of my customers, before joining their program of choice, will make sure and research The College Network. I, for one, think that is fantastic, because it shows their passion for completing the right program to suit their needs. But, don't believe everything you see out there.

Earning a Master of Science in Nursing degree has a purpose for Carla Stevens that goes beyond advancing her credentials. “I intend to travel to third world countries and teach nursing to the locals. Too many times, we send missionaries oversees, and we can teach the people to help themselves. I am traveling to Africa this summer to start the mission,” Carla said.

Carla learned about The College Network® from a representative who visited her office. “He made me so excited about starting and made it so easy for me to start,” she said.

According to Carla, The College Network makes it easier to manage your daily responsibilities and earn a degree. Read more about Carla's experience with The College Network, here.

Online rehabilitation and medical supply company RehabMart.com has recently launched an online experience for nurses based on the concept of brick and mortar trade shows. To mesh with nurses’ busy schedules, the new NurseShow online trade show requires no travel. Opportunities to learn about new products, services, opportunities, market trends and job postings are all a part of NurseShow. Nurses are also invited to contribute blog posts to the virtual trade show website.

“We are thrilled to introduce NurseShow.com to the world via the Internet,” said Hulet Smith, founder and CEO of Rehabmart. “As a practicing pediatric OTR/L, I can very well relate to the challenges in keeping up with the latest changes in functional design and the technological advances of Nursing information, products and services. It has not always been simple nor realistic to attend these kinds of physical trade shows for our connected professions. We are so pleased to have created this innovative nursing professional trade show online to enable every professional Nurse to keep up with of the latest news and trends, which in turn will directly impact their own practice, ensuing in a positive effect on their patients.”

This is the first time The College Network Nursing blog has featured an virtual nursing trade show. It will be interesting to see if this website will start a new trend.

Information for this post came from timesunion.

If you are considering a career in criminal justice--The College Network can help you earn your degree with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, Bachelor of Science in Corrections Administration and Management or Bachelor of Science in Security Management from Bellevue University.  

With a criminal justice degree, there are a lot of options that you have depending on your interest and experience.  Maybe you are interested in law enforcement, working as a police officer or a U.S. Marshall.  Or perhaps you are more interested in working within the corrections field as a corrections or parole officer.  You can also move into private security or become a private detective.  You have many options to find the right fit for your skills and experience, you just need an education to match it.

The College Network partners with Bellevue University to offer these online degree programs. You will work through your Comprehensive Learning Modules and then enroll with Bellevue to complete your degree. As with all our online programs, you can study anywhere and anytime that you are able and work at your own pace towards your degree. Bellevue also offers a cohort program so that you will be working with a group of your peers, "cohorts", who are also completing the program so you can build relationships and draw from other's experience.

The best part about obtaining your criminal justice degree with The College Network and Bellevue is that there are no waiting lists; you can get started today.  So call us at 800-39-LEARN and make your future happen.  

There are three main types of learning styles: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Since every person learns differently, it is important for you to understand which style or combination of styles works best for you so that you can be successful in the learning process.

Auditory Learners learn best by listening. These learners prefer to hear things being explained rather than to read about them. Reading material aloud often helps them learn better.

Visual Learners learn best by seeing things such as pictures, graphs and charts. They like to see things written out, but may have a hard time concentrating while listening to a subject being explained to them.

Kinesthetic Learners learn best through hands-on experiences. Touching things or participating in an activity helps these learners retain information. They also prefer to write things down.

If you are a customer of The College Network, I encourage you to log in to our Online Resource Center and take the Learning Styles survey, located within the Center for Learning Empowerment, to find out which style of learning best suits you. This will help you focus better and ultimately retain the information you are learning, which will help you have more success with your exams.

Have you ever had an inkling or thought that you SHOULD do something?

In the words of Jiminy Cricket, a famous Walt Disney character, "Always let your conscience be your guide".

If you are considering going back to school for advanced nursing education, it might be time to listen to yourself. Earning a degree will not be easy, but it may be necessary to achieve your career goals. The College Network has made its mission to help working nurses through self-paced education and training. 

Research The College Network and hear what customers are saying about their experience at: www.youtube.com/thecollegenetwork. 

If you are already a customer completing a top online nursing program with help from The College Network, we're here for you. Our dedicated Academic Support team can help you develop a study plan based on your unique learning style, and our online Resource Center is packed with valuable tools that can make independent study fun and effective too. We know you can do this, and we'll support you throughout your TCN experience. 

You have to do what is right for you. Stop putting off the opportunity to earn your degree. You control your future when it comes to gaining advanced education that will provide endless opportunities and potential pay raises. Make the commitment to listen to your conscience and continue taking the necessary steps toward your goals. 

It's become common knowledge that nursing is a high in-demand career field, but there are also other jobs in the healthcare field that are growing and in need of people to fill current and future positions. Four of the top twenty career growth fields are nurses; nursing aides, orderlies and attendants; licensed practical/licensed vocational nurses; and home health aides.

For those currently pursuing a higher degree in healthcare, the news couldn't be much better. For those considering a career in healthcare, it's time to strike while the iron is hot. If you're worried about the cost, The College Network can help you earn college credit at a fraction of the cost of traditional institutions. If you can't wait and want to start right away, TCN has Comprehensive Learning Modules in their online Resource Center that you can access immediately on your own personal computer. If you're looking for an excuse to delay, you'd be hard-pressed to find one. The College Network's mission since 1992 has been to help nurses earn advanced degrees efficiently and conveniently, and over the course of twenty years, our products and processes have been fine tuned to create an opitmal learning experience. Visit The College Network's web site to learn more.

Did you know that the top paying certification you can have right now is a Project Management Professional®? With an average salary of $101,695, it is one of the top of highest paying certifications you can have.  Your salary will be approximately 30% higher with your certification.  Need more motivation than that?  

At The College Network, we offer project management certificates online through Boston University Corporate Education Center.  We make it easy for you to work full time while you obtain your certificate and move to the next level in your career. This certificate program is self-paced, and designed so you can work on the program whenever and wherever you can. It will provide the education you need to sit for the Project Management Professional® Exam. You can also start your program when it is convenient for you.  

Recently Jennifer, a customer who completed the Certificate in Project Management program, said she feels that as a direct result of obtaining her certificate, she was hired at a new job that will engage her experience and education.  Jennifer had years of experience in project management but felt that she would be more marketable if she had her certification.  If you would like to read more about her experience, please visit her  success story.  

There really isn't a better time to get started on your future as a certified Project Management Professional®.  Reach out to us today at The College Network 1-866-249-2131 and we can give you more information on certificate programs available from leading institutions.    

Our goal at The College Network is to enhance the customer experience. We have a great product, and we want to ensure that our customers are aware of all the resources available to them.

For example, during the past year we have worked to build our Center for Learning Empowerment located in the online Resource Center. Our customers use this to access their course content. The Center for Learning Empowerment is designed to coach customers on how to learn online by empowering them to achieve.

We also consistently work on the customer experience through our “We Care” initiative. Throughout every department, not just customer support, we are focused on improving touch-points by making processes easier, developing proactive communication, and enhancing our products.

Monthly meetings are held at The College Network where departments are asked to present what they’ve accomplished related to “We Care” and what they plan to accomplish before the next meeting that will positively affect our customers.

We make your success our goal, and we are here to serve you – our valued customer. 

I began serving as the Chief Operating Officer of The College Network in late 2011 from a background that blends operational, financial, and technical experience. 

I previously served at Motorola as MSSI Vice President & General Manager of Public Sector Applications, a division of Motorola’s Government & Public Safety group, with a global customer base and as Vice President of Worldwide Operations for SEI which delivered help desk services, sales support, and retail support services globally to customers including McDonald’s, Jiffy Lube, Steak ‘N Shake, and Dunkin Brands.  

I attended Valparaiso University in Indiana where I graduated with a BS in Accounting and I have a Masters in Management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 

I joined The College Network team because the company has built a tremendous platform in which I see opportunities. There is a lot we can do, and I’m here to identify areas of growth and lead the organization to new levels. I'm excited to be part of a team that changes lives through education, and hope that we can help make your academic goals a reality. 

Much to my dismay, I've had to make a couple trips to the hospital the past couple weeks.  Two of my grandparents had surgery and stayed in the hospital for about a week each.  Upon my visit, I paid particular attention to the nursing staff members since I speak with so many day-in and day-out.

What I learned from my hospital visits (besides relative relief and thanks that my grandparents are okay) is that the nursing staff makes or breaks the quality of a hospital.  The care patients receive is mainly determined on the nurses that care for them each hour of the day.  I want to thank RNs Shannon, Kim and all the other nurses at Clark Memorial Hospital in Indiana for being so wonderful to my family members, and providing excellent care to make my grandparents hospital stay very quick, and relatively painless.

At The College Network, we are proud to offer distance nursing programs for LPNs, LVNs, and Paramedics out there that can and want to make a difference like the young ladies who helped my family.  Nurses truly are special people, and I am proud to work with you all everyday.  So if you are interested in furthering your education within the nursing field, give me a call and I'll give you the care and respect you give all of your patients!

Kevin Burton, Program Advisor, 1-800-307-1006 Ext. 4734, kburton@collegenetwork.com

There is an old Chinese proverb that states, "Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand." Experience is one of the best methods of learning; using multiple senses and taking the time to understand the how's and why's of something not only helps with familiarization, but also aids with comprehension.

Sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher has its advantages, but just listening doesn't provide the ability to comprehend the way reading and learning on one's own does. When you listen, you try to take the way someone else understands a subject and memorize it. When you take the time to read a subject on your own, you break the content down so that you remember it in a way that suits you best - so you not only experience the information first hand, but can also apply it to your own experience.

Get involved in your education and experience learning in a way that will forever change the way you view higher education. With The College Network's unique approach to learning, you can finally become completely involved in your own education by taking it into your own hands, at your own pace. 

If you're enrolled in one of The College Network's distance nursing programs, that means you are probably used to being around all sorts of prescription medication on a regular basis from your previous or current healthcare work experience. Healthcare facilities have the capability to safely get rid of unused prescription medications, but what if you have unwanted prescription drugs lying around at home? You're not supposed to just throw them away-it's unsafe.

Fortunately, you're in luck!  April 28th is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This past October was the third annual Prescription Drug Take Back Day and over 188 tons of unwanted prescriptions were turned in.

Take Back sites are available in all 50 states with several locations in each one, making it convenient to drop off your unwanted medicine. The upcoming April event hours are set for 10am-2pm with information on local drop off locations to be posted on The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day website (mentioned above) in March. 

Some Canadian citizens in need of advice from healthcare professionals regarding parenting and pregnancy are taking advantage of a convenient, high-tech option: talk to a nurse on Facebook! Rather than having to schedule an appointment or face the possibility of finding out of date or incorrect information online through other sources, people using this option can rest assured they are receiving quality answers to important questions. 

“Parents are using Facebook to share their pregnancy and parenting experiences with friends and family,” says Debbie Chang, Manager, Child Health at Peel Public Health. “The Parenting In Peel page gives these socially connected parents access to information they need, when they need it. They can post a question on the wall and it will be answered by a qualified nurse, all from the comfort of their computer.”

Chronicling advances in nursing and how nurses and patients connect is one area of focus for The College Network on our nursing blog. The Facebook page appears at http://www.facebook.com/parentinginpeel. This information came from a press release.  

For me it would depend on when that question was asked. Prior to college, I would have responded yes. It wasn't until I entered college that I realized I never learned how to study. For some reason, I was able to coast through my secondary education without having to truly study. I enjoyed writing papers, and participating in debates, but few classes really required “study time.”

Like any college freshman, I struggled initially with my studies. I figured that college would be a mere more aggressive high school experience, and I would fly through it as long as I showed for class and did what was expected. I was completely wrong. Trying to balance an 18-hour course load with multiple literature courses, plus a science, math, and philosophy course proved too much and I fell quickly behind. I was failing my science and math courses almost immediately because I couldn’t retain the information properly. It was then that I realized that I didn’t know how to study effectively and many students do not know how to effectively study. I was a good student in the transition scope that I had excellent attendance and test scores, but I really wasn’t absorbing or retaining the information. Luckily I had a great roommate who was able to teach me some great strategies and help me organize my information so that I could overcome my studying obstacles.

I was reminded of this scenario while speaking with a current Associate in Nursing customer who is also realizing that what had worked previously in high school, LPN school, and other college courses, wasn’t working for her now. I had to ensure her that she can be successful, but she has to be flexible and open to new learning experiences. After discussing her schedule and her learning style, we worked out a game plan that will not only incorporate study strategies she was used to doing, but new strategies that should help her overcome her current obstacle with memorization.

Learning is an independent process in itself regardless of the path one takes to achieving a certification or degree. Each of us is responsible for our own learning. However, one of the great aspects of starting a program with The College Network is our Academic Support team. We’ve all complete a college program and know how hard it can be to overcome obstacles. Sometimes all you need is someone to talk to who’s been there to point you in the right direction.