Online Degrees from Leading Universities

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 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. 

Although the unemployment rate increased slightly in October-going from 7.8% to 7.9%-the United States still added 171,000 new jobs. Amongst the top industries contributing to these new jobs was health care with 31,000 new positions added.

If you are unemployed or just looking for a more stable career, health care is an excellent choice, and The College Network can help get you started down this new path. We have several different programs for you to choose from to earn an online degree in the health care field:

Associate's Degree Programs

• LPN/LVN to RN
• Paramedic to RN

Bachelor's Degree Programs

• LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• RN to BS in Nursing
• Health Care Administration
• Health Information Management
• Healthcare Management

Master's Degree Programs

• RN to MS in Nursing
• MS in Nursing

The College Network offers academic support for our portion of these degree programs from leading universities, so when you enroll with us, you are never alone. Your success is just as important to us as it is to you, and we will work with you as much as you need our help to ensure that you master the knowledge you are learning. There has never been a better time to begin a career in the healthcare industry, so if you would like more information on our online degree programs call 1-800-395-1014.

As a new mom to a four month old baby boy, I have learned a lot about adapting to life with children. There is no longer such a thing as a set schedule in our house. We basically do everything on the baby's schedule-which all parents know, and pretty much changes on a daily basis. 

I, like many of you, still have to work full time. So, between driving to and from the baby sitter's house in the morning and evening, spending my days in the office and taking care of our nightly duties of cooking, feeding and bathing our son and getting everyone ready for the next day, there really isn't a lot of "free" time. Can you relate?

This very scenario is the motivation behind The College Network's convenient online degree programs from leading universities. We know you're busy. We know you want to advance your education. And, we want to make it possible for you to do just that.

Our degrees are self-paced. What this means is you can earn your degree in as little or as much time as you need. You can work on your degree from any place you have access to the Internet and during any time of day. It really doesn't get any more convenient than this.

Keep up with your personal life. Earn your degree on your time. It's that simple. For more information visit our website or call 1-800-395-1014.

The Apple takeover isn’t limited to your office, your pocket and your living room -- according to a recent study from the Archives of Internal Medicine, Apple's latest gadget is facilitating change in the healthcare industry as well. Findings from the study show that iPads can actually help doctors do their work more efficiently than ever before.

Researchers gave iPads to 115 internal medicine residents at the University of Chicago to measure the device's effect on daily workflow. The iPads gave residents access to electronic patient records, medical reference publications and the hospital’s paging system for making requests. After four months of use, most of the residents reported using the iPad on a daily basis to serve patients. Nearly three quarters of residents said the iPad reduced delays in patient care, and over 75% claimed they saved about an hour a day by using the device. Aside from housing patient records and facilitating requests, the device lets doctors and patients view reports and x-rays by the bedside.

The concept is already widespread, with 62% of U.S. doctors reporting they currently use an iPad for professional purposes. As for the future, medical publication PMLiVe predicts that two-thirds of all U.S. physicians will be using the device for patient care by 2013.

If you’re anxious to start working on the hospital floor, technology from The College Network can help you get there. We’ve created a series of online programs that can help you earn your degree from a leading university while you're on the go. Contact The College Network at 800-395-1014 to speak with one of our knowledgeable Program Advisors and get started today.

There are people just like you who have some of the same questions about The College Network®.  We thought we would give you the top five questions to help you learn more about us.

1.  Is The College Network a school?  No, we are not a school.  We are an eLearning company that has developed Comprehensive Learning Modules™ to help our customers learn the material they need to pass equivalency exams for college credit.

2.  How long will it take for me to earn my degree?  This answer is different for everyone.  You see, you study at your own pace and it is up to you to schedule your exams when you are ready.  You can move through your program as quickly as you want to--it is in your hands.

3.  How do I take my exams?  Will I have to go to a testing site?  Not necessarily. The College Network now offers proctored online testing so you can take your exam from anywhere you have an internet connection depending on the degree program you choose to pursue.

4.  How does it work?  Once you enroll you will receive an academic guidance call.  We will work with you to help you determine your learning style and develop a study plan.  You will have access to our Online Resource Center™ where you can access your Comprehensive Learning Modules™ for your courses. You can also communication with our Academic Support Team via chat, and utilize a lot more learning tools to help you in your studies.

5.  Will my degree come from a university or college?  Yes, definitely.  You degree will be awarded from one of the leading universities that accept credits from our programs. And, you are even invited to attend your graduation ceremony.

Do you have more questions for us?  We will be happy to answer them for you.  Call us today at 800-395-1014 and we'll discuss the programs that can help you achieve your goals.  

Let's talk about the number 6. It's my lucky number. But it's also much more than that. Here are some very interesting facts about the number 6.

Did you know?

• 6 is the smallest perfect number.
• 6 is the atomic number of carbon.
• The cells of a beehive honeycomb are 6-sided. 
• There are 6 strings on a standard guitar. 
• LeBron James wears the number 6 on his jersey.
• Every Braille cell is made up of 6 dots.
• John Quincy Adams was the 6th president of the United States.
• Insects have 6 legs.
• 6 points are scored for a touchdown.
• The standard term of office for a United States senator is 6 years.
• It is said that there are no more than 6 degrees of separation between any two people on Earth.

So, why bring up the number 6?  Did you know that with our EARN program, when you refer 6 people to The College Network who enroll into a degree program, we will pay for your remaining TCN loan balance? It doesn't matter if you are currently obtaining your Associate Degree in Nursing, Bachelors in Business, or any other degree offered through The College Network and our leading university affiliates online--you can take advantage of the EARN program.

Here's how it works. When you refer someone to The College Network and they become a customer, you receive $200 for that referral after 90 days from when they started in their program. Then you continue to receive $200 for each referral you make after that. If you add it up, 5 referrals=$1,000.  Then when you reach your 6th referral TCN will pay for your remaining contract portion of your program. Or if you have already paid for your program in full, we will pay for 75% of your contract amount. Pretty amazing, isn't it? Click here to review the full program guidelines. 

Take advantage of the EARN program and you'll see why 6 is a magic number too. (And, you can still refer someone after your program is paid for and continue to EARN $200 for each referral.) If you're ready to start adding up your referrals, feel free to contact me at 317-566-2647 or email at tfernkas@collegenetwork.com.  

You may have heard about the nursing student education dilemma that's currently happening in the U.S. There are more student's applying to nursing programs at brick and mortar schools than these institutions can accommodate. As a result, many of the students are getting turned away.

Did you know that with The College Network's distance nursing programs, you can begin working towards your degree whenever you are ready? That's right, with our nursing programs from leading universities there is never a waiting list to get started!

Once you enroll, you can complete your degree in as little or as much time as you like. Our online nursing programs are designed with you in mind, and with the understanding that life happens. You should be able to earn your degree on your own time, and with our programs that's exactly what you can do.

We offer fully accredited online Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's in Nursing degrees from top nursing schools. If you would like to learn more, visit our web site or call and speak to one of our Program Advisors at 1-800-395-1014.

Did you know that as an adult learner, the way you learn is completely different from how it was when you were younger?  If you are like me, you never thought about it before--but it makes sense. When you are in grade school, you are led by the adults around you, will most likely accept information without questioning it and are more subject-oriented.

Dr. Malcolm Knowles developed the concept of andragogy to describe adult learning styles specific to adults.  Adults are more results oriented, self-directed and usually prefer to try out new information before accepting it. They also seek out education that relates or applies specifically to their needs--that is timely and appropriate for their current lives.

At The College Network, we help adult learners find what educational needs they have and help them reach their goals by earning an online degree from leading universities. But, you as the adult learner have to take ownership of your program and know that it is going to be your responsibility to move through your program.  Self-paced and self-directed means that we can be here when you need motivation, need help with a module or have a question about your degree; but you have to be the one that is studying. 

And we also know that as an adult learner, you most likely have a job where you work 35 or more hours a week and a family. We understand that it is going to be a big commitment to earn your degree.  But, you can do it. We have the tools that you need to be successful, including a learning styles assessment that will further help you know the best way for you to understand material as you study.

So, become an adult learner!  Call us at 800-39-LEARN. 

“I have always wanted to be an RN,” says Alecia Howard, who is a customer of The College Network and working toward her Associate of Science in Nursing degree program. For Alecia, earning an advanced degree means increasing her knowledge base as well as her earning potential, but her biggest inspiration is her family.

“I needed to secure our future a little better,” says Alecia. “Our kids like seeing me study because they see that grown ups have to study to learn too. They do not whine about doing their homework anymore because they know that even adults do things that they don’t want to.”

Part of Alecia’s recipe for success in the program is finding the right balance between studying and her other responsibilities. By doing this, Alecia doesn't have to sacrifice work or family time.

Read more of Alecia's success story, or call 1-800-395-1014 to find out more about convenient online degree programs that can be earned from leading universities with the help of The College Network.

Can you believe August has already rolled around and the start of fall semester is right around the corner? It seems like just yesterday we were all talking about our New Year’s resolutions and what we wanted to achieve this year. Now here we are, 8 months into the year with 2012 coming quickly around the bend.

All of this brought to mind some words I heard when I was a kid. I used to spend a lot of time with my grandmother and her friends. I guess I was one of those kids who was a bit older than my years. Anyway, I remember one of my grandmother’s friends telling me that as we grow older time seems to go by faster. At the time this made absolutely no sense to me. The words fell on young and confused ears.

But as I grow older I’m beginning to understand. A week is still a week and has the same number of days and hours but my how they fly by now that my time is stretched between so many commitments and responsibilities. As a kid, a month used to feel more like three months; but now feels like only two weeks.

Hhhhhmmmm, a month; what could I accomplish in a month?

I recently watched this brief video of a gentleman named Matt Cutts talking for a few minutes about the value of 30 days and how he changed his life by challenging himself 30 days at a time.

Stop reading and watch the video…you won’t regret it.

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Did you watch it?

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What would you like to change in 30 days? Are there things you wanted to achieve this year that have fallen by the wayside?

There are still 5 months left in this year. What could you accomplish in that time? What could you do in just 30 days?

If while reading this post, or watching Matt’s talk you found yourself thinking about your educational goals and the fact that you’d like to complete an advanced nursing degree, become a BSN, or learn more about online degrees from leading universities, call The College Network (1.800. 395.1014).

Challenge yourself. Let’s see what you can accomplish before the end of 2011.

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