RN Salary

Most of us have considered going back to school at one point or another. I want go back to school to get my master's degree. I, like you, research programs to see what will work best for my lifestyle. I will need to continue to work my full time job and run my household, while I obtain my degree. The reasons that we decide to go back to school as an adult are much the same--no matter what degree that we pursue. 

So, let's talk about my top 5 reasons.

1. Career Advancement--Earning your associate's or bachelor's degree will open up more career opportunities for you. If you earn your Associate Degree in Nursing online, you can move forward in your career to become an RN. If you earn your Bachelor's degree in Fire Science, you can advance into higher ranks and move into a leadership role. But whatever degree you pursue, earning it will lead to more options for your career. 

2. Earning Potential--By advancing your education and earning your degree, you increase your earning potential. The easiest example of this is the difference in pay between an LPN and an RN. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average salary for an LPN at $40,380 and the average salary for an RN at $64,690. That is a remarkable difference!

3.Expanding Your Horizons--Learning opens us up to all kinds of experiences. I think we can rediscover our love of learning and how much we enjoy the challenge of finding answers. It can spark a lifelong love of new adventures.

4. Achieving Your Dream--By earning your degree, you will accomplish a milestone in your life. It is one that will take hard work and dedication. There might be times along the way when you feel like giving up--but you can push through to keep going. Thinking about how your life will change can help to motivate you to stay on track.

5. Inspiring Others--Most people don't realize that by reaching their goal, they inspire others to take a chance and follow their dream too. You will impact those around you with your success and will be a role model for those that are contemplating taking the next step in their career.  

I'm sure after reading these reasons, you might even have more reasons to add to your list. If you're ready to discover more about earning your degree online through The College Network and one of our partner universities, call us today at 800-395-1014. Or you can request more information here. 

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!

Very best regards,

Joel Kimzey

Did you know as a Paramedic, you can earn your Associate Degree in Nursing degree in as little as 18 months and continue to work while you do it?    

As a paramedic, you are used to working long hours.  Oftentimes, you might be on call for 24 hours straight.  Being an registered nurse will afford you the opportunity to work on a set schedule and usually 40 hours a week (some nurses work more hours if they want to pick up extra shifts).  

Now, let's talk about your salary.  Registered nurses earn on average twice as much as paramedics. While according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics both fields will grow between now and the year 2020, as a paramedic to RN you have more job opportunities and will be able to earn more.  

I spoke to one of our customers about his experience, as a paramedic who earned his associate degree from a leading university using The College Network to move into a nursing role. It gave him a great foundation and helps him in his current role as an emergency room nurse working with critical patients.  You can read more about William's story here.  

If you want to learn more about the paramedic to RN program, please check out our website.  Or you can always call one our Program Advisors at 800-395-1014 for more information. 

Did you know that moving to a new city can mean a big raise in pay? If you're an LPN/LVN or RN, keep in mind that certain locations offer higher salaries than others. Of course, it's always wise to do your research before a move -- your final pay depends largely on the cost of living in your new city and the type of healthcare institution you are looking for. Salaries tend to decrease as you move away from major cities. 

With the help of Scrubs Magazine and PayScale.com, we've dug up some stats on the highest-paying destinations for nurses. The country's major cities hit the top of the list -- but a few of these high-paying places might surprise you:

  LPN/LVNs (Annual Salary): 

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!

• A salary increase
• Personal growth and satisfaction
• Job security
• Career advancement
• Improved customer/patient care
• An RN license

Margaret McGraw initially tried to go back to school to earn her RN several years ago. But, like so many working nurses, she couldn’t seem to find the balance between work, school, and home.

“I had young children at the time, and it didn’t seem to work trying to schedule classes around my work schedule and worrying about my kids at the same time. Something had to give, so I quit school to focus on work and family.”

Margaret continued her work as an LPN—still having a strong desire to complete her degree both for the salary increase and because it was something that she had always wanted to do.

Two years ago Margaret saw an ad for The College Network online and, having known people who used The College Network and were happy with the experience, she decided to try it as well.

“The children that I worried about taking care of the first time around were grown, so I only had my work to consider. I studied whenever I could find the time, even when I could hardly keep my eyes open. It was hard work, and I’m not sure I would have done it if I’d known how much work it was going to be, but I can say I’m very happy that I did. There was even one point when I thought I might not be able to do it, but I just kept pushing forward—believing in myself the whole time. The whole experience has been very positive for me.”

Part of what kept her going was The College Network staff. “They’ve always been so helpful in answering questions. Every time I call with something I need help with or have a question about, they’re always very patient and either get the answer for me or find someone else who can help. I believe I did a lot better with The College Network than I would have using a traditional school.”

So what does Margaret enjoy most about her new knowledge? “I work in mental health, and I enjoy being able to better understand my patients and what they’re going through. I understood the basics before, but now I’m learning the specifics of mental illnesses and it makes it easier to associate with my patients,” Margaret said. “In turn, this gives me more self-confidence to do a good job and be a better nurse, which to me is priceless.”