"Whatever they say about not being able to teach an old dog new tricks, it is patently untrue. Old dogs may not learn as quickly as they did when they were young, but with time and patience, most older dogs can be taught to do anything that a young dog can."
It's a common idiom, but in recent years we've seen it proven to be more of a myth - with 40-year-old women competing in the Summer Olympics, to retirees earning advanced degrees. Instead of aging according to an out-dated saying, age like a fine wine - get better with age.
Let The College Network help make all of your years, not just your youthful ones, be ones of knowledge and learning. Defy convention and don't just aspire; achieve what you're capable of. Research The College Network and take the opportunity to learn something new every day.
For college students and most high school students across the nation, May is a month of stress and intense studying; it's the month of the infamous final examination. Questia, an online research tool for students, has recently released a series of tips to help prepare those studying for their final examinations. The list can be found here: http://www.educationnews.org/higher-education/questia-gives-advice-to-make-finals-a-breeze/.
For those taking exams with The College Network, it is invaluable to plan ahead, ask plenty of questions, and to take your time. TCN understands these important aspects of preparing for examinations, so that is why we have an entire department devoted to providing academic support - that knows how to identify different learning styles and helps working adults on their way to earning advanced degrees. Research The College Network to learn more about how you can advance your education.
Americans have ranked nursing as the number one most honest and ethical profession on the Gallup annual poll once again, out of twenty one possible professions to choose. This has happened every year since the inclusion of nursing in the poll in 1999, with the exception of 2001, when firefighters were selected.
Nurses recently shared their reflections on the honesty and ethics inherent in the nursing profession. I am honored to feature a couple of the reflections on The College Network's Nursing Blog; they appear below. To see what other nurses had to say, read the article on Nurse.com.
Michael Willie, RN
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, Baltimore
"Nursing is the most trusted profession because we deal with patients, their families and friends on such a personal level. We often need to be emotional, spiritual and physical with those we tend to. Every day, nurses remain genuine while balancing different patients with distinctive needs.
The ability to alleviate the stressors of our patients and soothe their anxieties without them feeling slighted gets a sincere response from our patients, and that’s how a bond is formed."
Martha Lefferts, RN
Clinical Nurse 1, NICU • University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore
"Trust — in its simplest definition — is the reliance on the integrity, strength and ability of a person or thing. It is no surprise that nursing has been recognized by the public once again as the most trusted profession in America. Nurses not only are present with patients in their most intimate and vulnerable moments of illness, but also they are there in the strongest and most joyful moments of recovery. As nurses, we seek to be the ultimate advocate for our patients, taking an active role as part of the healthcare team. Evidence-based research and patient outcomes drive our practice at the bedside in order to provide the highest level of care for patients and families. It is the combination of science, leadership and compassion that allows nurses to foster a therapeutic and trusting relationship with patients, which ultimately demonstrates the high level of commitment we feel to those we care for."
Writing an article for the New York Times, David Brooks questioned the ever-increasing tuition in many American universities.
There’s an atmosphere of grand fragility hanging over America’s colleges. The grandeur comes from the surging application rates, the international renown, the fancy new dining and athletic facilities. The fragility comes from the fact that colleges are charging more money, but it’s not clear how much actual benefit they are providing. (Education News.org)
I think he makes a valid point; if you're going to school to earn an advanced degree, do you really want to be paying for new construction projects and athletic facilities? The price tag of an advanced degree used to include things like that, but you don't have to subject yourself to the gross expenditures of institutions interested in increasing their prestige.
The College Network's Comprehensive Learning Modules are designed to give you all of the information you need to earn college credit, without having to foot the bill for a university's desire to increase its land holdings or improved athletic facilities - things that most students, especially working adults, won't be able to take advantage of.
Research The College Network and learn more about how much you can save money and earn an advanced degree or certificate.
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.
The negative things you have seen across the Internet, they are not indicative of what our company is about. We have successfully helped almost 180,000 students further their education, and unfortunately some have given up on their dreams and blamed us because of it. The main chunk of our business is for people completing nursing degrees online where we supply them with the educational material they need to test out of their college courses. We also partner with schools: Boston University, Purdue University, The George Washington University, Indiana State University, Regis University, and Lake Superior State University and even professional organizations to help people enroll into their professional certificate programs and/or online degree programs.
For the Paralegal Certificate program, we do the enrollment and marketing, but the learning material, classes, instructors and certificate all come from the school itself, not The College Network. You will receive a world-class education experience from Boston University online. Don't let negative comments from someone who gave up on their dream discourage you from pursuing your goals, especially when they are most likely referencing a completely different program. Here is a link to some of the success stories from people who have earned their Paralegal Certificate: click here.
Thanks again for your interest in the program, and as always, please let me know if you have any other questions or would like to enroll.
Kevin Burton, Program Advisor, kburton@collegenetwork.com, 1-800-307-1006 Ext.4734
Kristy Purvis had known for about a decade that she wanted to advance her nursing degree. “I knew that I wanted to advance my degree as soon as I graduated from LPN school; however, time got away from me. I looked up one day and realized that I had been a nurse for almost 10 years and still had not gone back to get my RN,” Kristy said.
The desire to obtain her RN was already there for Kristy, but a major change within her role at work is what pushed her to enroll in an Associate of Science in Nursing degree program. “I was also motivated when I was promoted from Assistant Director of Nurses to Corporate Nurse and realized that I had advanced as far up the ladder as I possibly could with my current licensure. I want to be a Director of Nurses, but you have to be an RN,” she said
Kristy chose to earn her advanced nursing degree online with help from The College Network®. She likes that the program is self-paced, allowing her to complete her degree on her own time. She also said the program was more affordable than other programs she researched due to The College Network’s unique financing options.
Read more of Kristy's success story here.
A recent article in the New York Times outlined attempts by national institutions to measure how well colleges do, i.e., how students perform and how much they learn over four years. There were some very interesting points throughout, but what interested me most was how colleges are sometimes ranked. "In the best-known college rankings, by U.S. News & World Report, up to 40 percent of a college's score is based on its reputation among educators and its selectivity in admitting students."
Selectivity in admitting students? It makes the ranking system sound like a fraternity selection process - not a very effective method for ranking institutions of higher learning I think. So before you make a decision about your higher education based on a ranking system do two things: 1) Check how the rankings are structured and make sure the body is legitimate and independent. 2) If you've found that after your researching of universities that you're under whelmed, visit The College Network's web site to learn more about the best alternative to traditional higher education.
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 not just that nursing is becoming a broader field; it's becoming deeper, too.” That is a line from a recent article written by Charles Tiffin, PhD, Provost of Capella University. It certainly provides an opportunity for reflection on what nursing is in 2012 and beyond, and what it means to be a nurse. As contemporary data surfaces and contemporary healthcare evolves, societal notions of what a nurse is evolve in turn.
As Tiffin explains,
"Today's nurses aren't just caring for the sick; they're changing our very notion of modern medicine and health care delivery. Nurses are giving TED talks, publishing scientific research, developing mobile medical applications, and actively addressing health care policy. They're collaborating with their colleagues, from social workers and oncologists to hospital administrators and public safety personnel. The field is growing, and so are opportunities for nurse practitioners, DNP and PhD nurses, nurse educators, nurse-anesthetists, and nurse researchers."
I wanted to share those quotes with readers of The College Network Nursing Blog to inspire some deeper thought about the state of nursing, its place in our society, and the role of nurses. I encourage our readers to check out the entire article.
As we have been mentioning recently on The College Network Blog, nursing is a secure and growing profession that is seeing more men take an interest in a field traditionally dominated by women. I found another article this week that confirms the trend.
Something interesting that I learned in this article is that almost half of male nurses go on to become CRNAs, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. CRNA salaries are generally $160,000-180,00 annually. Stigmas about male nurses are evaporating as both nursing candidates and patients become acclimated to men in the nursing field. Trevor Potts, a nursing student, explains “There are always times when someone says, ‘Oh, another male nurse,’ but it’s usually a positive reaction or more of a surprise than a negative reaction.”
Gentlemen, don’t let opportunity pass you by! If you are thinking about becoming an RN, research The College Network!
The first paragraph of a recent article in the New York Times paints a bleak picture of the current state of higher education in the United States. "As state funding has dwindled, public colleges have raised tuition and are now resorting to even more desperate measures - cutting training for jobs the economy needs most." Why you might ask?
Ronald G. Ehrenberg, the director of the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute and a trustee of the State University of New York system, believes that "there has been a shift from the belief that we as a nation benefit from higher education, to a belief that it's the people receiving the education who primarily benefit and so they should foot the bill."
It's a harsh reality that seems to be going from bad to worse. With traditional education, the dollar doesn't go nearly as far as it used to, but what can one do to remedy this inconvenience, to overcome this seemingly unfair fiscal obligation?
Slash the cost of your advanced degree by using The College Network. At a fraction of the cost of traditional higher education, TCN allows adults to work and learn at a pace that fits their schedule. Visit The College Network's web site to learn more.
A recent article from marketwatch.com stated, "With more than three million nurse professionals in the United States alone, nursing is the largest segment of the healthcare industry and touches every facet of care from the doctor's office to home care to hospitals." With all of the praise that doctors and physicians receive for all of their hard work, it's easy to forget the significant influence nurses have in the healthcare field.
With the advent of improved healthcare technology, the expanding role of the registered nurse has become essential to the functionality of any hospital. "Nurses have been championing quality-of-care improvements, spearheading research innovation, advocating for patient rights and generally challenging the status quo. Simply put, their impact has been enormous and will continue to be so over the coming decades."
If you're considering the field of nursing, there has never been a better time to obtain the education and training necessary. There are myriad nursing schools and online degree programs to accommodate just about anyone's schedule, but there is only one that combines online, self-paced learning with online degrees from top universities.
Since 1992, The College Network has helped hundreds of thousands of people earn certificates and degrees, including thousands of people who wanted to earn or further their nursing degrees. Visit The College Network's web site to learn more and begin the journey to becoming a registered nurse.
Readers may recall that we introduced the Nurses’ Health Study on The College Network Nursing Blog a few months back. Well, the study is now looking for 100,000 nurses and nursing students to participate in various studies. Yes, you read that correctly—100,000 nurses and nursing students are sought! Female RNs, LPNs and nursing students aged 20-46 who live in the US or Canada are eligible to apply. This is the first time nursing students have been eligible for the program.
"Nurses were originally recruited for their expertise in accurately reporting health data," explains Dr. Walter Willett, the study's lead researcher and Chair of the Nutrition Department at Harvard School of Public Health. "Their involvement has been invaluable, and their dedication is remarkable—an astounding 90% of them are still enrolled, decades later! The new group, NHS3, will allow us understand how today's lifestyle and environment affect a woman's health in the future."
For more information, check out NHS3’s website and Facebook page. Information from a PR Newswire found on Sacramento Bee’s website.
According to
U.S. News and World Report, "Students graduating with a bachelor's degree in nursing entered the workforce to the tune of nearly $50,000 in 2011—the average starting salary for new grads was $48,100—making it one of the top-paying professions for new graduates outside of engineering and information technology." It's difficult to ignore a statistic like this, especially when nursing is a career field struggling to reach its recruitment numbers.
If you're an LPN making 18 dollars an hour (that's $37,000 dollars a year if you're working full time), the salary jump between degrees is enormous. Think about what you could do with over $10,000 more a year. If you got your RN license and worked for 30 years with it, you could possibly make over $300,000 more than you would if you were just an LPN.
When you do your research, you'll realize that there is a plethora of distance nursing programs available to choose from. What can The College Network offer that makes it unique? Partnerships with some of the nation's top universities; personal, friendly academic support; effective Comprehensive Learning Modules; etc.
To learn more about what TCN has to offer, visit our
web site.
Ian Stewart became a paramedic in 2010. Although he loves his job, a life-changing event has led him to consider a new career. “My wife is pregnant with our second child. I’m a paramedic now, and I like the work. I’m proud of what I do, but it simply doesn’t pay very well. Using my certifications as a springboard to a better paying job just seemed logical,” he said.
Ian decided to pursue his Associate of Science in Nursing degree. After researching various programs, he chose to earn his degree online through Excelsior College® with help from The College Network™. “The College Network offered the most resources for the best rates—not to mention the fact that, with this program, I don’t have to be online at specific times or write papers. It’s a no-nonsense, streamlined program,” Ian said.
To Ian's surprise, earning a degree online has proved to be very efficient and productive. "I didn't realize prior to this course of study how much time in class is occupied by things not related to actual learning - roll call, class breaks, having to settle a class down, even time spent while the teacher answers other student's questions. That all adds up. With the self-paced learning, you can move a lot faster," Ian explained.
Continue reading Ian's success story here.
After a long career as an LPN, Cecilia Portillo made the decision to go back to school and advance her education in an effort to move up the career ladder. “I have been an LPN for 20 years and knew that it was time to get my RN. I have procrastinated for many years but made a promise this year to start the program.”
Cecilia originally learned about The College Network from a friend and after doing her research decided to enroll in the online Associate of Science in Nursing degree program. “I have had many co-workers who did a self-study, go-at-your-own-pace program. They didn't have access to the online and phone support that The College Network provides. I can call anytime and someone always answers my questions.”
Cecilia admits that earning an advanced degree takes time and dedication. “It is hard sometimes. When you have young children and a full time job you think, ‘Wow, I just can't do it!’ but I have found that when I tell my family I need study time they are more than supportive of me and give me the time I need. I even have my children quiz me with the key words or the objectives.”
The support of her family, along with her dedication, is what is helping Cecilia be so successful in the online nursing degree program. Read more of Cecilia's inspiring story or call 1-800-395-1014 to learn how you can sign up to earn your advanced nursing degree.
In a recent issue of
Popular Mechanics, there was an article titled "The College Bubble" that stated, "As bubbles burst in one economic sector after another, we're now hearing talk of a 'higher education bubble,' in which cost increases, buoyed by cheap government loans, may be hitting their limit. Can technology save the day?" I believe the answer to this question is yes.
You can see it just about everywhere you look: billboards, commercials, print and radio advertising - all are being used as mediums by colleges and universities to announce their commitment to making education more convenient for any one interested in obtaining an advanced degree. What's the one thing they don't advertise? The cost. It's no secret that the cost of most colleges and universities has inflated over the last decade - now to 25% of a typical family's annual income (
Forbes). With no sign of a cost plateau in sight, what is one to do to be most efficient with their time and money investment in earning a degree? Simple answer: research The College Network.
When you do your research, you'll find that the advancements TCN has made in online learning over the past several years surpass many other universities most recent remedies to increase enrollments and decrease costs. Since 1992, The College Network has been making earning an advanced degree more convenient and affordable for working adults, and therefore has years more experience than many other educational service companies. So how do you beat the system and drastically reduce the cost of earning an advanced degree? Visit our
web site to learn how.
A good mind is a terrible thing to waste. You heard it when you were watching television, daydreaming, and now you're hearing it from The College Network. It's easy to spend your free time with reality television and video games, which there's nothing wrong with - in moderation. Taking the time and effort to peel yourself away from something entertaining can be difficult; I know I have a really hard time getting much done on Sundays during football season.
The key is to find something as interesting as what's entertaining you. For instance, I think the Western Civilization and American Literature modules are some of the most interesting modules. They are very well written and are full of page-turning content that has led me to research several different topics contained within. If history and literature aren't appealing, there are a myriad of science and nursing modules on a wide array of topics.
Don't waste a good brain; visit our
web site to learn more about the diverse products The College Network has to offer.
Let's be honest, how much outside of breaking diets, shopping, and surviving family get-togethers do we get done during the holiday season? My guess for most is not a lot; we see the holidays as a time to relax - not just rest, but a chance to stop and reflect on the previous year and focus on how we want to improve the upcoming year.
2011 was a rough year for many of us: unemployment is still high, available jobs are few and far between, and good news is difficult to come by, but there is hope. Compared to 2008, the economy has improved, unemployment numbers have dropped, and the job market is improving - not nearly as well as we would like, but its a start; and a little hope and a good start is what most of us need.
So I have a challenge to those with the luxury of having some time off this holiday season: Use some of that time to figure out how you want your 2012 to be. Will it be a year of improvement or a year of disappointment? The saying in business is that you're either growing or dying, and I think that's true in life, so don't waste time waiting around for something to happen to you because chances are it will never arrive; go and find it for yourself. If an education is something you're interested in pursuing, start by researching The College Network and learn about how higher education online can make 2012 one of the best years in recent memory.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports that there was a 3.9% increase in enrollment for BS in Nursing programs this year. Since the year 2000, there has been an annual rise in nursing school enrollment. from 2009 to 2010, there was a 5.7% increase!
“With the Institute of Medicine and other leading authorities calling for significant increases in the number of nurses with baccalaureate and graduate degrees, moving to prepare a more highly educated nursing workforce has become a national priority,” said AACN President Kathleen Potempa,
quoted on ModernHealthCare.com.
What does this mean to you? If you are an LPN--go for RN status! Associate prepared or Diploma RN? Think about the online BS in Nursing or the RN to MSN program! BSN Nurse? Time for the MSN! The demand for nurses continues to increase, but so do educational expectations. Research The College Network and see how we can help you to become more competitive in the ever-expanding nursing field!
Powered by Compendium