In a recent blog, we highlighted the changing healthcare landscape and the call from the Institute of Medicine for 80% of nurses to hold at least a bachelor's degree by the year 2020. As well, there is a push for nurses everywhere to go back to school with more and more hospitals reaching to achieve Magnet status which requires a high percentage of nurses to hold an advanced degree. If you're wondering how you can reach the next level in your education, here are some options for you with The College Network® and our partner universities.
If you are an LPN who would like to earn a bachelor's degree, The College Network partners with Indiana State University to offer the only online LPN/LVN to BS in Nursing program in the country. Work through your general education requirements using the The College Network's program and then transfer those credits to Indiana State University, where you'll complete the rest of your program and obtain your BS in Nursing degree. Learn more about Indiana State University's program.
Are you a registered nurse who wants to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree? Regis University offers an online RN to BSN degree designed for busy nurses which allows you to complete your upper-level nursing courses in just 12-20 months. Regis University has full time faculty dedicated to their online students and offers a very student focused experience. You can learn more about Regis by watching the video below.
The best part about our bachelor degree options is that there are no waiting lists. You can get started today in your degree program. So if you're ready to find out more, call us at 800-395-1014 or simply click here.
If you are an LPN/LVN, you’ve probably considered going back to school to earn your degree and RN license. With the demand for qualified RNs on the rise, it’s a great time to start working toward a higher nursing credential.
Earning your associate’s degree in nursing isn’t the only way to get your RN license—in fact, there are lots of benefits to earning your bachelor’s degree instead.
The 80 by ‘20 Push
By now, you’ve probably heard about the Institute of Medicine’s 2011 recommendation—it states that 80% of all RNs should hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) by the year 2020. But why is the industry pushing for higher nurse education? The simple fact is, due to the demanding nature of the patient landscape, the role of the RN is changing. RNs are required to take on more responsibilities than before, working directly with physicians to diagnose patients and manage teams of LPNs.
To be successful in these new working conditions, it is beneficial to have a bachelor’s-level nursing education. In fact, many healthcare facilities are raising their minimum education requirements for RNs as a result of this industry-wide push.
Aside from mastering the necessary clinical skills, BSN students gain an in-depth understanding of leadership skills and managerial strategies, preparing them to lead and manage teams of nurses and move up within their organization over time. Most nurse managers are required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
As RNs retire at a rapid rate, the number of open positions for BSN-RNs is on the rise. Over 55 percent of today’s RNs and nurse leaders plan to retire by 2020, creating more leadership opportunities for BSN-prepared RNs.
Go From LPN to BSN with One Online Program
As an LPN, your bachelor’s degree in nursing is well within your reach. Although there are many degree programs that can bridge the gap between LPN and BSN, there is only one LPN to BS in Nursing program that can be completed entirely through distance learning. The LPN to BS in Nursing program from Indiana State University allows to complete your course work online, meaning you can continue to work in your current job while completing your degree. Upon graduation, you’ll receive your bachelor’s degree in nursing and will be ready to make an impact as a BSN-prepared RN.
If you’d like more information on the LPN to BS in Nursing program, feel free to call us at 800-395-1014 to speak with a Program Advisor. You can also request more information by clicking here.
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.
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!
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.
After working as a Licensed Vocational Nurse for a long time, Elizabeth Hill decided to begin working towards her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from IndianaStateUniversity with help from The College Network™.
“I thought it would be a great way to earn my BSN that would be a lot more convenient as a working, divorced mom. I need to earn more income, and becoming an RN is the way to go for me since I love the nursing field and have been an LVN for 27 years now,” Elizabeth explains.
Not only does Elizabeth like the convenience of earning her nursing degree online, she also says this is more affordable than some of the traditional colleges she looked into.
Find out how Elizabeth stays motivated to earn her degree by reading more of her story, or call 1-800-395-1014 to find out how you can begin your online educational journey.
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.
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.
I decided to become a nurse to help others. I love being a nurse. I care about other people. I feel a great satisfaction when I have the privilege to care for others, advise, & teach people.
I'm a caring, empathetic nurse, who understands & listens to patients. I love my job. I would not trade it for all the money in the world! I can't see myself as doing anything different! I'm working on my LVN to BSN, currently. One day I will become an OR Nurse!
After I became pregnant at age 17, I knew I had to find something to help support my family. I fell in love with nursing. I feel that it is a calling from God for me to be in this profession. I love serving, helping, and caring for people.
My future goals are to finish RN school and then go ahead and do my BSN.
I had already had some past medical experience, but I lost my mother unexpectedly. She had just retired a few months before, and her sudden death really hit me hard.
It dawned on me that my three teenagers would be done with high school soon and without my mother to be with once they were out of the house and onto college, what would I do? I thought about all of the previous jobs I have had, and I remembered how much I liked the medical field, but I didn't want to do the front office part of it any longer.
I decided I wanted to become a nurse and give back to repay all the staff that tried to help save my mother's life while she struggled those last few days in the hospital. I took all of my prereqs at community college (even though I'm considerably older than the standard college student) and enrolled in the nursing program.
I am currently an LVN who is continuing on to get my RN with a BSN. I hope my mom would be proud of all I have accomplished... my kids are!
I decided to become a nurse when I was in high school, so I enrolled in the ROP program.
I became a CNA and began working at Doctor's Hospital in Santa Ana, California. It was there that I experienced the joy of having a part in the patients' road to health.
I was even allowed to assist in a code blue situation; in which case the patient survived. The task was daunting, but the reward was well worth it.
I am currently an LVN, and I am working on my BSN. I want to continue to care for the patients, and I want to be a support mechanism to their loved ones. I want to be a beacon of light just as Florence Nightingale was during her time.
Taken from Florence Nightingale's pledge: " I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care."
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.
$18,720. That's a strange way of starting a sentence; isn't it? What does $18,720 have to do with anything? It could be the price of a new car. Down payment on a new home. That deluxe home theater system with 60" LCD TV you've been dreaming of. What could that mean?
$18,720 is the first year increase in your salary if you go from LPN/LVN to RN. On average, RN's make $9.00 more per hour than an LPN/LVN! Over the course of 10 years that's $187,200 in your pocket!
Did you know that being a Registered Nurse is one of the most in demand jobs in the U.S.? Look at any Sunday jobs listing in your local news paper or go online to any job search site and type Registered Nurse; look at the sheer volume of openings available. Some of them even offer sign on bonuses to entice you to work for them!
How do you get there? Easy, invest in you. You decide to buckle down, enroll in an Associate of Science in Nursing degree program online or LVN to BSN program online. The College Network has made it more convenient and faster for you to get your RN while you continue to work. You can do most of your program from from the comfort of your own home. We have some of the most inexpensive nursing degrees available from leading universities that you can find anywhere and you get The College Network support the entire way. We are here to help you realize your dream.
Are you interested? Do you have plans for the extra $$ you will make when you complete an online nursing degree program? We can help get you there. Call me and I will show you how to achieve your dream.
Norma is an cheerful lady full of enthusiasm and passion for teaching nursing. A few years ago, Norma invited her local College Network Program Advisor to speak to her LVN graduates at her school in her rural community of Fresno, California about Indiana State University's online LPN to BSN program. While listening to The College Network's Program Advisor, she learned that The College Network has partnerships with a variety of leading universities from across the United States offering an eclectic mix of degree and certificate online programs. Upon learning that The College Network offers an online MS in Nursing program from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, she promptly enrolled.
Norma just finished all of the academic requirements and after doing so, received 4 job offers! She will attend graduation ceremonies (not required) on the campus of Regis University with her husband and daughter on 18 December 2010. She told me she wouldn't dream of missing it. Regis University has over 80 acres in Denver with the regal Rocky Mountains in the background. Regis University has been voted by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's finest schools in the West.
Helping nurses like Norma advance their careers is a very fulfilling experience for all of us at The College Network. To learn more about our degree program offerings, please contact The College Network online at www.collegenetwork.com/blog/msn or call 1-800-395-1014.
The Rio Grande Valley is a group of towns on and near the south Texas border. It has been a great area for nurses to find work. The job opportunities have been generous to both RNs and LVNs over the past years.
However, in recent months, the main conversation among LVNs has been about job security. Nurses have seen a gradual decline in the job market for LVNs for the past year. It has become even more competitive than ever before. Some healthcare employers have stopped hiring LVNs. It used to be that there were plenty of jobs in home health, but there have been some home health agencies that have laid off LVNs and gone to RN staff only. Several nurses have commented that they believe the changes in government and healthcare have been a significant contributing factor.
As a Program Advisor for The College Network, I meet with nurses every week who are looking to explore their options in continuing with their education. With The College Network’s partner universities & colleges, I am able to present to them with distance education programs from fully accredited schools. Lately, I have been meeting with more LVNs who are looking at their options in earning an associates degree in nursing. Although we have several good campus based programs in our area, most nurses do not want to sacrifice work or family at this point in their lives. They know they need to secure their careers and they are exploring alternate options in distance education.
My wife Rosie joins me in meeting with nurses here in the Rio Grande Valley and we love to be able help with their goals for ADN, BSN, and MSN degree programs.
I am currently working on a project at The College Network which emphasizes our commitment to our customers' success. We offer an a plethora of courses for adults looking to continue their education.
Whether you are looking to earn a better salary by upgrading your EMT to RN (with the Online Paramedic to RN Program), RN to MSN, or even LVN to BSN programs with inexpensive nursing degrees from our partner universities. We also partner with leading universities to offer certificate programs such as: Project Management, Paralegal, or Lean Six Sigma Online.
With our programs you can earn online degrees and certificates from leading universities such as Regis University, Indiana State University, Purdue University, Boston University, and even eCornell.
But, The College Network support is what I am focusing on in this blog entry. Online classes can be daunting. You might start thinking: "How can I get help?" "How can I contact my peers?" "What if I am confused about a certain area of study?" The College Network has taken into account these aspects of online education, and we strive to make sure you know that online doesn't have to mean alone.
We have many systems in place to help ensure success. Online live chat with one of our specialists is just one way to get help. You may also contact us via telephone or email. We have specialists just waiting to help students having trouble. Being that we offer online courses, it is especially great that we have staff to make sure you are not alone in your studies. Online discussion boards are also in place to contact other students.
Remember, You Are Not Alone.
So don't be afraid to enroll in online education with the help of The College Network. We will be with you along every step of the way.
It is becoming more and more important to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing BSN. According to Yahoo! Education, a BSN degree is considered the 5th most valuable degree based on its potential for job security.
If you're an LPN, LVN, or Associate prepared RN who has ever thought about going back to school, now is the time. The nursing shortage is expected to grow throughout the next several years, and opportunities for jobs as a BSN are nearly endless.
With The College Network and our partner universities, you can complete LPN to BSN Nursing Programs and RN to BSN Nursing Programs with little interruption in your personal and professional life. We offer you a way to earn your nursing education with no waiting list and earn your degree while working full time.
Contact us at 1-800-395-1014 to speak with someone about the options available to you today or visit us online. Our Program Advisors would love to discuss your goals and answer any questions you have about online education and The College Network.
There was an article this morning on msnbc.com that talks about how a report done by the Institute of Medicine discusses how nurses should "take on a larger and more independent role in providing health care in America, something many doctors have repeatedly opposed, citing potential safety concerns. It calls for states and the federal government to remove barriers that restrict what care advanced practice nurses -- those with a master's degree -- provide and includes many examples of nurses taking on bigger responsibilities."
Part of the argument for this change in nurse's current responsbilities is to help with the additional multi-million Americans who are going to receive coverage thanks to the new health care law. "Experts predict that more physicians, nurses and other medical professionals will be needed to care for the 32 million additional Americans who will get coverage beginning in 2014 under the sweeping new health law. Nurses' groups say they can help ease a physician shortage. Last week, a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges said that in 2015, there will be a shortage of nearly 63,000 doctors across all specialties in America."
However, doctors argue that nurses don't have the same medical training and are therefore unqualified to perform the same tasks as doctors. "Doctors maintain that even with an advanced degree, these nurses do not have the same education that physicians get in medical school and residency programs and that patient safety could be compromised. They are also wary that their practices could see significant patient losses if the nurses were allowed to practice more independently."
But like it or not, changes are already happening across the country. "Colorado, for instance, recently became the 16th state to allow nurse anesthetists to work without a doctor's oversight. In Michigan, nurses are pushing for legislators there to allow advanced practice nurses to prescribe drugs. Other fights over scope of practice for registered nurses loom in Kentucky, North Caroline, Iowa and Minnesota."
The battle continues to wage and it will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out.
So tell me, how do you feel about about the topic? Would you be okay with an advanced practice nurse having the same role, or nearly the same role as a doctor?
The College Network offers several online nursing programs through leading universities to help nurses reach their goal of advanced education while they work. If you are interested in learning more about earning an inexpensive nursing degree such as LVN to BSN programs, accelerated RN to BSN, RN to MSN bridge program and online paramedic to RN program, contact The College Network at 1-800-395-1014 today.
Unlike many nurses, Stefanie Nickles didn’t dream of having a career in the healthcare field her whole life. “I actually got a business degree in college and started out in the business world. I found I didn’t like it very much. My mom was a nurse and I’d taken some anatomy and physiology classes in college that I really liked, so I decided to make the career change to nursing,” she said.
First becoming an LVN, she quickly decided that she wanted more education. “Being an LVN was not sufficient in my area of work,” she said. After researching options that provided what she wanted, she decided The College Network was right for her. “I was looking for something online with flexibility—something I could do on my own time. The College Network gave me all of that. I found The College Network affordable and readily available to start my education right away.”
Stefanie urges future students to make a realistic plan and stick to it. “I planned out exactly what my goals were and as I was going through the program, I frequently assessed my initial plan and compared it to how I was doing year by year. At the beginning of my program, I sat down with a counselor from Indiana State University. I wanted to see what I could do faster and what needed to be done slower. I ended up sticking to my original plan pretty closely,” she said.
Since receiving her degree, Stefanie has moved from an LVN role to an RN role. She also has big plans for her nursing future. “I plan to continue my education by taking the BSN I’ve earned and turning it into a nurse anesthetist certification,” she said.
But conditions aren’t just calling for more RNs --many 
I decided to become a nurse when I was in high school, so I enrolled in the ROP program.
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