The College Network Online

I have talked to you before about the EARN program at The College Network.  It's a great way to help support your education by taking advantage of our referral program.  You really have to appreciate the value in $200 for each referral and on your 6th referral, having The College Network portion of your program paid for--it is like a full scholarship.

But, I want you to also realize the value in making referrals that has nothing to do with money.  It is also about creating your own network.  I know online education can be difficult for some because they feel that they are working so independently and they sometimes lose focus.  Consider this, most likely, your referrals are going to be friends or colleagues and will also be in your same profession.  

This means that you can create your own study group. You can chose to gather at a specific place (maybe every Saturday morning at your local coffee shop) to go over the Comprehensive Learning Modules or quiz each other for upcoming exams.  It can help to bounce ideas and questions off of someone else and hear their perspective.  Plus, it makes it that much better when you can share your success with your group after you pass an exam.

So, think about who you can create a study community with today.  It will help support your education in multiple ways and you will gain new friends while obtaining your degree.  Feel free to call me at 317-566-2647 to help a friend get started in their degree program.  You'll both be glad you did.  

Happy studying!

Tracia

 

There is quite a bit of data out there that shows that the healthcare field is one that is not only stable, but one that is growing.  And while you might be interested in working in this field, you don't feel that becoming a registered nurse would be a good fit for you.

Have you considered a Medical or Health Services Manager?  As a manager, you plan direct and coordinate medical and health services.  You might manage an entire facility or a specific clinical area or department.  Some also manage practices for groups of physicians.  

And while the majority of these jobs are located in a hospital setting, you can also work in long term healthcare facilities or even insurance companies.   You will be working with physicians and surgeons, registered nurses and possibly medical and clinical laboratory technicians.  

So, what is entailed in becoming a Health Services Manager?  You can work through The College Network to obtain your Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Regis University.  Because of the convenience of an online education, you can continue to work and gain professional experience at the same time.

This program also requires an internship at an approved health care facility of your choice.  When you graduate with your Bachelor's degree, you will have practical experience and the comparative knowledge that you need to be successful.  There are many exciting options available to you with your degree.

Please reach out to us today at (800) 39-LEARN to find out more about your future in Healthcare Administration.   

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.

The College Network would like to extend a special Thank You to all nurses in honor of National Nurses Week! We know how hard you work every day of the year to help other people in need, and your acts of kindness and compassion are truly selfless.

At The College Network, we take pride in helping people work towards their dream career in nursing. Whether you're looking to become an RN or earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing degrees, we've got a program for you.

We work with reputable universities to offer convenient, online nursing degree programs that are fully accredited. When you sign up to earn your nursing degree with help from The College Network, you can begin right away, because with our programs there is never a waiting list.

Thank You, again, to all of the nurses out there for your hard work and dedication to improving the quality of life of so many people. And, for those who would like to join the more than 150,000 nurses who have chosen to advance their education with help from The College Network, we look forward to helping you!

The state of Idaho has recently solicited a bid to computer manufacturers to supply all of the state's high school students with laptop computers (Education News.org). It's obvious the wind of technology is blowing into the world of education and has slowly gotten stronger over the past few years. 

With companies like The College Network setting the trend for incorporating online technology into higher education, the idea has begun to disseminate down to secondary education in many states across the country.  It may have been easy at first to deem online education as a trend, but it's obvious that it's here to stay, grow, and shape the future of all levels of education.

If interested in earning online degrees from top univerisities, visit The College Network's web site.

There is a great debate between those who see the value of a college degree and those that feel you will never get your money's worth by having your degree.  It is an ongoing discussion, but here are some facts and opinions about having a college degree.

If you look simply at your earning potential by having a degree, the median weekly salary for someone with a college degree is $1053 versus someone with some college but no degree as $719.  If you add that up, there is a difference of almost $17,000 a year.  You also have to keep in mind that you will probably have better benefits offered to you in a salaried position.  

Unemployment has been high in the last couple of years as we all know.  If you look at the difference between someone with a degree, the more educated you are the lower the employment rate, and someone with a diploma you will also see that having an education does help.  If you look at the chart below from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you will see both points illustrated.  

At The College Network, we can help you with your online education so you can gain your degree.  Whether you are pursuing your Bachelor's, Associate's or continuing your education by obtaining a professional certificate.  We offer you so many options.  You can graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business from Bellevue University, or become a registered nurse with your Associate of Science in Nursing.  You can even become a certified Project Management Professional. 

The truth is that with a college education, you are going to have more options.  To me, it really doesn't seem like there is much a debate.  So, call us today at (800) 39-LEARN to find out more about how to earn your degree.  

The College Network is proud to offer a PMP training program that will help you earn your certificate and properly prepare you for the certification exam itself.  The program comes from Boston University Corporate Education Center (BUCEC), and you can start at any time!

The courses are completely online and self-paced. You have 24/7 access to the materials and no mandatory login times. You truly determine how fast or slow you get the program done.  Each of the 10 courses takes about 10-15 actual hours to complete, so most people I enroll complete the full program in 3-6 months on average, but again, this is up to you.  

You will earn CEUs, PDUs (what is needed education-wise to sit for the PMP), and ACE college credit recommendation with the course.  The ACE credits are equivalent to 10 undergraduate hours, and are transferable to any institution that accepts ACE credit (most do, but again, this is case-by-case).  One thing to keep in mind is that BUCEC is a Registered Educational Provider (REP) for PMI, is on the Global Executive Council of PMI, and we have never had anyone call us back and say they did not pass the PMP Exam after completion of this course.

So if you are ready to take that next step and earn your PMP certification, feel free to let us know and we'll be happy to help out!

Kevin Burton, Program Advisor, kburton@collegenetwork.com, 1-800-307-1006 Ext. 4734

"Don't let schooling interfere with your education." It's a common Mark Twain quote heard among those who are disenchanted with the realm of higher education. They proceed to argue that with the cost of college on the rise and the inhospitable job market that investing in something like an advanced degree is not only unwise, but downright contradictory to achieving financial independence. 

What the college naysayers neglect to mention is that without a degree, your career choices will be limited for the rest of your life - your dream of becoming a doctor, or teacher, or nurse practitioner will have to be put on hold permanently. It's a dramatic statement, but the current society demands highly educated workers and the trend shows that more education and advanced degrees are becoming a necessity. 

This doesn't mean that you should run out and sign up for just any form of advanced degree. You should take the time to determine what type of advanced degree is right for you and what type of program will fit your current situation. If you're interested in earning a degree conveniently and cost effectively, you should visit The College Network's web site to learn more about online degree programs from top universities. 

Continuing The College Network Nursing blog's discussion about social media and professional online development for nurses, we now address the topic of LinkedIn. Many professionals tout the website as an indispensable self-marketing and networking tool for individuals, and equally useful for talent searching and candidate comparison for employers. How can nurses use LinkedIn to their advantage? 

A few prominent individuals from the nursing community recently shared some tips on Nurse.com to help nurses best utilize LinkedIn.

Here are a few highlights from the article. You can read the article in its entirety here.

"Your photo on LinkedIn serves only to put a face with a person behind the resume. It only needs to be a head and shoulders photo, nothing more. A great guideline is the photo should look like the equivalent of our employment ID badge photo." -Veronica Lopez, senior nurse recruiter for Continuum Health Partners

"So many nursing positions that open up are now posted on LinkedIn. This is where nurse recruiters are going to find the matches they are seeking to fill vacancies because it’s so easy to do. Everything they are looking for [during] the first step of a hiring process is at their fingertips." -Patrick R. Coonan, RN, EdD, NEA-BC, FACHE, Dean of Adelphi University’s School of Nursing

"If nurses aren’t using the recommendations option for LinkedIn profiles, then they aren’t using the features of the website to its full potential. What makes LinkedIn so beneficial is it also places all of the control in the hands of the user. Any recommendation that has been completed about a person is first sent to that person to approve prior to being added to any profile." -Liza deGuzman-Galido, nurse recruiter, CenterLight Health System

There are many reports that talk about the increasing need for registered nurses.  With the aging baby boomer population, planning for changing healthcare needs will be at the forefront of hospitals and providers across the country.

The registered nursing field is going to grow by 26% by 2020.  If you break that down, it means that there are currently 2,737,400 jobs for registered nurses in the United States.  And, by 2020, that number will be 3,449,300, showing an increase of 711,900.  In comparison to other occupations that are growing by 14%, this field is far and away one that is at the top percentage of growth.  (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition, Registered Nurses) 

So, let's talk about pay.  Registered nurses, on average, make $64,690 a year. When you compare nursing to other occupations that have an average salary of $33,840,  you can see that becoming a registered nurse will offer you a secure, comfortable future.  (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition, Registered Nurses)  

You can easily plan to be a part of the 3,449,300 working registered nurses.  There really is not a better time to gain your Associate Degree in Nursing.  Working through your online program with The College Network is doable, and you can continue to work full time.  Also, you can work at your own pace, on a schedule that fits into your life.

Learn more about our nursing programs here or call us today at (800)-39-LEARN to reach one of our Program Advisors and plan for your future.  

What if you could travel in time? According to Einstein and his special theory of relativity, it's impossible to travel backwards through time - a conundrum for alternative history lovers but a relief for historians. So if we oblige Einstein and stick to future time travel, would you want to see your future? Everything that you had spent the years working for, the events that shaped your existence, where you lived, your career, etc. are all visible to you. 

Now this is a theoretical situation, but if you could base your future on where you are right now, at this very moment - take a minute and think about yourself 10 years from now based on your current situation. Is it a satisfying thought? If no, why? Something about your current situation is not meeting your existing needs and that, in turn, creates an unsatisfying dream of the future. 

The great thing about hypothesizing is that there is no right or wrong, so you can take a situation and figure out how/if it would work differently. So let's assume that you're unsatisfied with your level of education, i.e., 10 years from now you want to be more educated and have an advanced degree on your resume. If you work and have many obligations, like most people do, it may seem inconvenient and improbable to achieve such a goal, but it doesn't have to be. 

With The College Network's online Resource Center and newly developed Lesson Plans, earning an advanced degree has never been more affordable or convenient. TCN recognizes the different types of learning styles and will speak with any one interested in pursuing higher education. "All choices take you somewhere; bold choices take you where you're supposed to be." Make the bold decision for your future and visit our web site to learn more.

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.

A recent article in The Huffington Post contained a paragraph that does a fantastic job of summing up what the last decade of nursing has been. "The nursing role is rapidly evolving as nurses are tasked with an even wider range of health care responsibilities. Caring for the sick has certainly gotten more complicated. Hospitals are understaffed. Budgets are tight." 

As technology has changed and improved, the job requirements for nurses have expanded to include proficiency with electronic methods of doing things that used to be done by hand, e.g., blood work, ordering medication, medical records. Becoming familiar with current and future technology will be essential to getting a job and remaining employed. 

The great thing about this is that there is a way to both become more technologically savvy and also earn your nursing degree at the same time. With The College Network's online Resource Center, you can learn the information for passing your exams online  and also become more comfortable with online/electronic technology. 

Visit The College Network's web site to learn more about eLearning and the difference it can make in helping you earn a degree and start your career in nursing. 

“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,” says Associate of Science in Nursing degree customer Cecilia Portillo.

“I received an email from a friend with The College Network information attached. When I called and met with Krista, it seemed very clear to me that this was the way to go,” Cecilia says of her decision to enroll in the online 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.

Cecilia did it and so can you! Read more of her inspiring story or call 1-800-395-1014 to speak to a Program Advisor today.

Online rehabilitation and medical supply company RehabMart.com has recently launched an online experience for nurses based on the concept of brick and mortar trade shows. To mesh with nurses’ busy schedules, the new NurseShow online trade show requires no travel. Opportunities to learn about new products, services, opportunities, market trends and job postings are all a part of NurseShow. Nurses are also invited to contribute blog posts to the virtual trade show website.

“We are thrilled to introduce NurseShow.com to the world via the Internet,” said Hulet Smith, founder and CEO of Rehabmart. “As a practicing pediatric OTR/L, I can very well relate to the challenges in keeping up with the latest changes in functional design and the technological advances of Nursing information, products and services. It has not always been simple nor realistic to attend these kinds of physical trade shows for our connected professions. We are so pleased to have created this innovative nursing professional trade show online to enable every professional Nurse to keep up with of the latest news and trends, which in turn will directly impact their own practice, ensuing in a positive effect on their patients.”

This is the first time The College Network Nursing blog has featured an virtual nursing trade show. It will be interesting to see if this website will start a new trend.

Information for this post came from timesunion.

Within the past several years, eLearning has gone from upstart enterprise to mainstream educational method. It's easy to see how its convenience and cost effectiveness have made it so popular in the world of higher education, and the idea is beginning to trickle down to secondary education as well. In the state of Virginia, a bill has been passed to require students to take and earn online credits in order to graduate high school. Governor Bob McDonnell, committed to expanding virtual education, has said that the requirement will help prepare students better for the 21st century job market (Education News).

This huge step in the world of higher education is a vindication of how valuable and effective eLearning is and the significant role it will play in the future. Here at The College Network, we have been providing hundreds of thousands of people with access to our online Resource Center where working adults can learn entirely online. Visit TCN's web site to learn more about how you can earn an advanced degree conveniently and cost effectively. 

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.

If you are considering a career in criminal justice--The College Network can help you earn your degree with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, Bachelor of Science in Corrections Administration and Management or Bachelor of Science in Security Management from Bellevue University.  

With a criminal justice degree, there are a lot of options that you have depending on your interest and experience.  Maybe you are interested in law enforcement, working as a police officer or a U.S. Marshall.  Or perhaps you are more interested in working within the corrections field as a corrections or parole officer.  You can also move into private security or become a private detective.  You have many options to find the right fit for your skills and experience, you just need an education to match it.

The College Network partners with Bellevue University to offer these online degree programs. You will work through your Comprehensive Learning Modules and then enroll with Bellevue to complete your degree. As with all our online programs, you can study anywhere and anytime that you are able and work at your own pace towards your degree. Bellevue also offers a cohort program so that you will be working with a group of your peers, "cohorts", who are also completing the program so you can build relationships and draw from other's experience.

The best part about obtaining your criminal justice degree with The College Network and Bellevue is that there are no waiting lists; you can get started today.  So call us at 800-39-LEARN and make your future happen.  

There are three main types of learning styles: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Since every person learns differently, it is important for you to understand which style or combination of styles works best for you so that you can be successful in the learning process.

Auditory Learners learn best by listening. These learners prefer to hear things being explained rather than to read about them. Reading material aloud often helps them learn better.

Visual Learners learn best by seeing things such as pictures, graphs and charts. They like to see things written out, but may have a hard time concentrating while listening to a subject being explained to them.

Kinesthetic Learners learn best through hands-on experiences. Touching things or participating in an activity helps these learners retain information. They also prefer to write things down.

If you are a customer of The College Network, I encourage you to log in to our Online Resource Center and take the Learning Styles survey, located within the Center for Learning Empowerment, to find out which style of learning best suits you. This will help you focus better and ultimately retain the information you are learning, which will help you have more success with your exams.

In my last blog post, I discussed the flexibility of our distance nursing programs where different kinds of people and learners are able to complete their degrees using the example of the Mario Kart video game series.  I'd like to continue using Mario Kart as a reference point to show how things you have already done, things we at The College Network can help you with, and things you can do to avoid obstacles in preventing you from finishing your degree program.

In Mario Kart, each character/kart can obtain different bonus items to help their cause in winning the race.  Some of these items are mushrooms (speed boost), turtles shells (wreck the opponent near you), banana peel (make someone spin out), and lightning bolts (shrink your competition).  Each of these can draw a parallel to helping you overcome obstacles in your program.

Mushrooms - a speed boost.  First off, with our Comprehensive Learning Modules, we streamline the test-out process, but we also offer other services to help as well.  Now, for certain prerequisite and general education classes, we offer online testing via a webcam proctor service to help you schedule and complete courses much quicker than a traditional testing center.  Also, by financing your exam fees with the rest of your learning modules, you do not have to wait to budget out test costs, we've done that for you!

Lightning Bolts - shrink the competition.  For those of you that have previous college credit, the good news is that it will most likely transfer in to the program if it is from a regionally accredited school.  By transferring in those credits, you can shrink the size of your program, and save time and money!

Turtle Shells - knock out the competition.  Each of our learning modules arms you with a turtle shell to knock out the opponent (the courses you need).  We guarantee you will pass each exam by using our modules, so whenever you shoot a turtle shell, it will be like a red one that finds the nearest competitor to knock them off.  Use the practice exams in the modules to help make sure you are prepared for your actual exams at the testing center or in the online webcam tests.  All in all, the modules will lead the way to finish your program and each one is a turtle shell to knock off your competition along the way!

Banana Peels - in case you slip.  Banana peels are notorious for being slippery, and the same is true in Mario Kart.  In life, and in these programs it is easy to fall behind, or slip up every once in awhile.  This is why we offer our Academic Support team to help you stay on track.  They are there to help you with curriculum questions, scheduling exams, obtaining exam fee checks, navigating the online resource center, and making sure you properly enroll and complete your top online nursing programs with one of the schools we partner with or recommend.

We at The College Network enjoy serving you to help you complete your education and lifelong goals.  Mario Kart is a great game on all platforms of Nintendo video game systems, and although it may not be the first thing you think of when completing your education, maybe now you can see the parallels between your education and having fun with a game.  So go out, run your race, complete your program, and come away in 1st place!

As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or needs.  Have a great day!

Kevin Burton, Program Advisor, kburton@collegenetwork.com, 1-800-307-1006 Ext. 4734