The College Network

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.

I was (and proudly still am) a huge nerd growing up. I loved to read anything I could get my hands on that was remotely fascinating. During my sophomore year of high school, I became obsessed with education and learning as I set my sights on teaching. I stumbled upon Howard Gardner’s book, Multiple Intelligences and became enthralled with his theories. I always knew that I was intelligent in some areas more than others (Do not ever ask me for math help, your third grader could help you more than me!) and I liked how Gardner explained and recognized this theory.  Below is a synopsis of his theories and applicable study tips to help you with your program from The College Network:

Word Smart (Linguistic intelligence) – Word smart people are good with words, letters, and phrases. They enjoy activities such as reading, playing scrabble or other word games, and having discussions. If you’re word smart, these study strategies can help:

• make flashcards
• take extensive notes
• keep a journal of what you learn

Number Smart (logical-mathematical intelligence) - Number smart people are good with numbers, equations, and logic. They enjoy coming up with solutions to logical problems and figuring things out. If you’re number smart, give these strategies a try:

• make your notes into numeric charts and graphs
• use the Roman numeral style of outlining
• put information you receive into categories and classifications that you create

Picture Smart (spatial intelligence) – Picture smart people are good with art and design. They enjoy being creative, watching movies, and visiting art museums. Picture smart people can benefit from these study tips:

• sketch pictures that go along with your notes or in the margins of your textbooks
• draw a picture on a flashcard for each concept or vocabulary word you study
• use charts and graphic organizers to keep track of what you learn

Body Smart (Kinesthetic intelligence) – Body smart people work well with their hands. They enjoy physical activity such as exercise, sports, and outdoor work. These study strategies can help body smart people be successful:

• act out or imagine the concepts you need to remember
• look for real-life examples that demonstrate what you’re learning about
• search for manipulatives, such as computer programs, that can help you master material

Music Smart (Musical intelligence) – Music smart people are good with rhythms and beats. They enjoy listening to music, attending concerts, and creating songs. If you’re music smart, these activities can help you study:

• create a song or rhyme that will help you remember a concept
• listen to classical music while you study
• remember vocabulary words by linking them to similar-sounding words in your mind

People Smart (Interpersonal intelligence) – Those who are people smart are good with relating to people. They enjoy going to parties, visiting with friends, and sharing what they learn. People smart students should give these strategies a try:

• discuss what you learn with a friend or family member
• have someone quiz you before an exam
• create or join a study group

Self Smart (Intrapersonal intelligence) – Self smart people are comfortable with themselves. They enjoy being alone to think and reflect. If you’re self smart, try these tips:

• keep a personal journal about what you’re learning
• find a place to study where you won’t be interrupted
• keep yourself involved in assignments by individualizing each project

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.

In a previous post on the Nursing Blog, I introduced the idea of career fairs as a viable job search strategy for nurses. Since writing that post, I have discovered another invaluable resource. Nurse.com has an entire section of their website dedicated to career fairs! The nationwide listings are staggered by date, offering nurses looking for the next step in their career time to plan ahead for job fairs both regionally and nationally. Becoming an RN is a huge accomplishment, but afterwards of course you have to find a job, and attending a career fair is a great opportunity to network and potentially acquire employment. Here are a few upcoming nursing career fairs from the site:

April 24: Oakbrook Terrace (Illinois) Career Fair 

April 26: Nursing Fair in East Central Georgia (not from Nurse.com)

July 20: San Diego Career Fair

August 23: Los Angeles/Universal City Career Fair

September 17: Tampa Career Fair

For more dates and locations, check out the website. 

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. 

In a previous post, we featured the 2011 DAISY Awards recipients on The College Network Nursing blog. We are now proud to add the first quarter 2012 recipients to the mix! 

Here the story of one nurse from 2012's first group of recipients; to view the full group, visit Nurse.com.

Joe “Jo Jo” Long Jr., RN • ED • Winter Haven (Fla.) Hospital

On Dec. 4, 2011, a patient from a nursing home was brought to the ED by EMS for changes in mental status. We were extremely busy, but Jo Jo focused on this patient to see what he could do to expedite her care. He overheard the physician and the nurse obtaining an evaluation on the patient. They were about to begin a full workup on her to see what was causing her change in status. Jo Jo wondered if the patient might have a hearing problem and questioned if this was related to her change in status. Jo Jo not only assessed the patient, but he started looking for hearing aid batteries in the department. When he could not find them, he took the time to go to Walgreen’s and buy a replacement battery for hearing aids. It worked; the patient was able to hear great and had no other complaints. Jo Jo didn’t just help this patient; he offered his own time and money, which saved this patient an extensive workup. We are happy to have Jo Jo as a charge nurse. 

“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.

So, you've enrolled in one of The College Network's distance nursing programs, and you're already to get started. Before you jump into your program, take some time to reflect on why are are doing this and what you hope to accomplish by doing so.

Setting goals is a great way to keep your focus in mind. When you are thinking about what your goals are, try to set SMART goals which will help you define more specifically what you are trying to accomplish and help you get the task done.

SMART goals should be:

Specific—Make sure your goals are specific and well defined. Set a goal to complete your degree in a specific amount of time. For example, set the goal to be finished by two years from your enrollment date.

Measurable—Set a specific time frame for your goals. For example, set a goal of completing one course per month, so at the end of each month you can measure your progress.

Attainable—Be sure the goals you are setting for yourself are realistic. Don’t set a goal to study for three hours every night when you have a full-time job, are a parent and have a home to manage. This is not a goal that would be possible to complete, therefore you would be setting yourself up to fail.

Relevant—Choose goals that matter. If you’re ultimate goal is to become a Registered Nurse, set a goal to earn your Associate of Science in Nursing degree or BS in Nursing degree, now, rather than "some day." You will be that much closer to reaching your goal and having your dream career.

Time Bound—Once you set your goals, commit to a deadline. This will help you stay focused so that your goal does not get lost in all of your other daily responsibilities. If you want to finish one course per month, set a goal to study every evening, Monday through Friday.

Earning a Master of Science in Nursing degree has a purpose for Carla Stevens that goes beyond advancing her credentials. “I intend to travel to third world countries and teach nursing to the locals. Too many times, we send missionaries oversees, and we can teach the people to help themselves. I am traveling to Africa this summer to start the mission,” Carla said.

Carla learned about The College Network® from a representative who visited her office. “He made me so excited about starting and made it so easy for me to start,” she said.

According to Carla, The College Network makes it easier to manage your daily responsibilities and earn a degree. Read more about Carla's experience with The College Network, here.

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.

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.

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.  

U.S. News and World Report stated in a recent article, "As medicine has grown more complex and sophisticated, so have the skills needed to practice it. Pharmacists don't just dispense pills any longer; they develop medication regimens and counsel patients on how to follow them. And nurse practitioners are now for many people the main source of primary care, the experts who diagnose those aches and pains and then write the prescriptions that relieve them."

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

The College Network is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and we are proud to congratulate a local hero! Indiana University Kokomo nursing student Alexis Martin recently received the Indianapolis Star's $3,500 "Salute to Nurses Student of the Year" scholarship. She was the first on the scene of a serious car accident in January, and she dialed 911 and attended to the injured persons until help arrived. 

“Alexis’ rapid, calm response in an emergency is an example of what we hope for from all of our students and graduates,” said Linda Wallace, Dean of the School of Nursing.  “She did us all proud, serving our community in a meaningful manner in a time of need.”

Reflecting upon that fateful day, Alexis remarks “That was confirmation I had it in me to have a positive impact on someone’s life. That was the moment I knew I was meant to be here and to be a nurse.”

Information appeared in an article on kokomoperspective.com.

Recently, I had an interesting conversation with a customer of The College Network regarding her study habits and how she prepares for exams. She had progressed at a moderate pace and is doing quite well with her exams. She is like most of our customers, a working mother pursuing her degree who has to balance her job, family, and schooling.

She mentioned the other day that she found a creative way to study. Apparently, she has her children (who are between the ages of 10-14) read her Comprehensive Learning Module lessons to her while she is preparing dinner or cleaning the kitchen. She divulged that she does this mainly as a “punishment” option; however I advised this is a creative use of time for all!

As I explained to her, while she gains the benefits of hearing the module information (as she is an Auditory learner), her children are also gaining practice with building their reading comprehension and fluency. Winners all around! Not only are there educational benefits, but she is able to spend time with her children.  I also advised that she can keep this practice going with reviewing key terms. She can quiz her children on their vocabulary words and they can quiz her.

Pursuing any education program does take a huge time commitment, however with a little creativity, you do not have to let the other responsibilities in your life fall to the way side.

If you need assistance with other creative study suggestions, please contact our Customer Support department at 1-800-634-1443.