Nursing Educators

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)!

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!

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.

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. 

May is upon us, which—here in the great city of Indianapolis, where The College Network is headquartered—means it's time for the 500 Festival! The 500 Festival is a month-long celebration that culminates with the Indy 500 auto race. One of the most popular festival events is the Mini-Marathon, which is the largest half marathon (i.e., 13.1-mile foot race) in the country. Each year, the Mini-Marathon draws people from around the nation and the world who are looking to accomplish a goal. Some people simply want to complete the race, while others want to run a personal best time.

On May 4, I will join thousands of other runners as I participate in the Mini-Marathon for the second time. I have been training for the past several months, and I'm hoping to run a personal best time on the course. I enjoy training for half marathons because I can set a goal and work toward it. Training for a half marathon is a lot like studying to advance your education. It takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance, and you often have to push outside your comfort zone. Additionally, much like successfully completing a degree program, finishing the race and accomplishing the goal is extremely rewarding.

Are you an LPN ready to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an RN ready to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)? Let The College Network help you race toward a new degree or a new career goal! The theme of this year's 500 Festival is "TurboCharging Indy," and we can help you turbocharge your education this May!

To learn more about the nursing degrees you can earn with assistance from The College Network, click here. It's never too late to start working toward a new goal! On your mark. Get set. Go!

World Health Day was observed on April 7 to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO was established in 1948 to serve as the authority on global health concerns, and each year, World Health Day comes with a theme to bring attention to one of these concerns. The theme for 2013 was hypertension (HTN), or high blood pressure.

The WHO web site reports that one of every three adults worldwide has elevated blood pressure. According to The College Network's Pathophysiology comprehensive learning module, "HTN causes narrowing of blood vessels by causing the contraction of the smooth muscle cells lining the vessel wall and also by inducing the hyperplasia of these cells. In the heart, increased blood pressure leads to left ventricular hypertrophy. In the kidney, small blood vessels may be obliterated as a consequence of HTN. HTN is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease, leading to stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, MI, aortic aneurysm, and kidney failure."

It is widely known that increased stress and anxiety can lead to significant spikes in blood pressure. If you're feeling the stress of trying to balance work, life and education, let The College Network put you at ease. We can help you complete nursing school prerequisites (like Pathophysiology) through self-paced education and training. We offer full-course modules as well as supplemental interactive content.

To learn more about The College Network and what we have to offer, click here.

Did you read today’s article in the Times-Herald on the increasing nursing shortage in the state of Georgia?

In this article, Dr. Grams, the Dean of the University of West Georgia, is predicting that there will be a shortage of nurses in Georgia that equals 20 percent by 2015, and that number could be as high as 260,000 nurses by the year 2025.

The shortages in nursing are due in part to our aging population, not enough quality nursing instructors and the limited amount of space to accommodate nursing applicant. Dr. Grams explained that her campus offers “a very competitive admissions program” and out of 350 RN applicants, most of them have to be turned away because her facility can only sit about 120.

Since 1992 The College Network has been offering great alternatives for working adults to earn their advanced nursing degrees online. We allow nurses to get started immediately with general education and elective courses. Nursing programs offered vary by state but include: LPN to RN (associate degree), LPN to BS in Nursing, RN to BS in Nursing, RN to MS in Nursing, and BSN to MS in Nursing.

If you or someone you know could benefit from an advanced nursing degree and have been considering alternatives, I would strongly encourage you to visit www.collegenetwork.com or contact Reggie Theodore, Atlanta area Program Advisor for The College Network, by calling  646-271-9617.

To read the article in its entirety, click on the link below:

http://www.times-herald.com/Local/20-percent-nursing-shortage-expected-by-2015-35675

In a recent post, I presented a list of the advanced nursing degrees you can earn with help from The College Network. But what are your options once you earn one of those degrees? You may be surprised to learn how many different directions your nursing degree can take you.

DiscoverNursing.com, the online leg of Johnson & Johnson's Campaign for Nursing's Future, offers a searchable list of 104 nursing specialties that might spark your interest. The list includes the name of each specialty, the broad category (or categories) under which each specialty falls, the education required to pursue each specialty and the main characteristics of each specialty. You can view the entire list, or you can explore the list by category or characteristic.

The specialties are grouped into the following nine broad categories:

1. Advanced practice
2. Clinical
3. Community
4. Emergency
5. Family
6. Management
7. Psychological
8. Surgical
9. Women's health

They are also grouped by the following nine characteristics:

1. Multifaceted
2. Patient-facing
3. Independent
4. Managerial
5. Structured
6. Research-oriented
7. Fast-paced
8. Behind-the-scenes
9. Multilingual

Johnson & Johnson's list of nursing specialties is a beneficial tool that can help you explore several healthcare areas that you may never have considered otherwise. For example, you can be a nursing writer, author or historian or a telephone triage nurse if you have an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). You can be a flight/transport nurse or a home health care nurse if you have an RN diploma (ASN or BSN).  And you can be a health policy nurse or a nurse educator if you have a BSN and an MSN or a PhD.

Don't limit yourself! Let The College Network help you earn your degree, and you'll be on your way to one of 104 nursing specialties!

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.

Would you like to help individuals achieve advanced education? This is your opportunity to help nurses achieve the increased professional recognition and financial rewards that come with earning 2 and 4 year degrees. Helping people earn their college degree is a rewarding and fulfilling experience!

·         Appointment Coordinating 

·         Information Technology

The College Network provides full time employees with a comprehensive benefit package including: medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401(k), disability and life insurance. If you are interested in a pursuing a career at The College Network please apply directly on our website!!

https://collegenetwork.tms.hrdepartment.com/cgi-bin/a/alljobs.cgi?qty=25&older=jobs.timedate%20DESC

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. 

For us who nurse, our nursing is a thing which, unless we are making progress every year, every month, every week, take my word for it, we are going back.
~ Florence Nightingale

Well known as the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale advocated for continued advances in healthcare and nursing throughout her life. And although she died over a century ago, her famous words about forward movement in the nursing field still ring true. In order to keep up with the ever-changing healthcare industry, nurses must continue to grow in their profession through the pursuit of advanced education. 

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Initiative on the Future of Nursing highlights eight recommendations for nurses, and three of those recommendations push nurses to attain higher levels of education. The following educational recommendations aim to prepare nurses for improved patient care and continued advancements in the nursing field:

• Increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020.
• Double the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020.
• Ensure that nurses engage in lifelong learning.

If you're ready to improve the future of nursing by moving forward in your career, The College Network can help you take the next step. We offer the following online associate's, bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs:

• LPN/LVN to RN (associate's degree)
• Paramedic to RN (associate's degree)
• LPN to BS in Nursing
• RN to BS in Nursing
• RN to MS in Nursing
• MS in Nursing

Make Florence Nightingale proud, and decide to advance your nursing education this week, month and year! For more information about the online nursing degree programs available through The College Network, visit our nursing degrees page.

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.

To learn more about the LPN to BS in Nursing program from Indiana State University, watch the video below.

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.