Top Nursing Programs

I read a fantastic article on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's website that I wanted to share with readers of The College Network nursing blog. Healthcare professionals from metro Atlanta were asked to answer the question of what makes a great nurse. The article also points out that nurses have topped the Gallup poll of the most trustworthy professionals for 12 of the past 13 years.

A few of my favorite quotes appear below. The rest appear in the article, which you can read here.

“Every great nurse I know has the following characteristics: caring nature, detail-oriented, emotionally stable, great judgment, physical endurance and extraordinary communication skills.” - Elaina S. Hall, director, Grady Burn Center, Grady Health System

“The technology has changed and our patients have more complex illnesses, but the one thing that hasn’t changed since Florence Nightingale started the profession is caring. A great nurse sees the patient, not the tubes. She sees someone who could be her mother, her father or her child, and she cares for them as if it were so.” - Sheyla Desir, nurse manager, acute care services, Atlanta VA Medical Center

 “When I think of what makes a great nurse, I’m reminded of the quote from Mahatma Gandhi: ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ A great nurse has to be selfless.” - Karen B. Seagraves, program director, Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center, Grady Health System

"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. 

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.  

 

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

Procrastination - where I'll do it tomorrow becomes I'll do it next week - becomes I'll do it next month - becomes I never do it... Ever. 

You may have noticed that my posts have been lacking lately. Yes. I'm human, and I'm just as much of a procrastinator as the next person. It's something that most (if not all) of us deal with on a regular basis. 

Procrastination can affect us in many ways: We can fall behind in our careers, in academics, or even in our personal lives with family our friends. For as many of us as there are that do procrastinate, you would begin to assume it was actually a good thing.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. WRONG!

Procrastination is a killer. Not always a physical killer (unless you procrastinating your meals or crucial vitamins), but it is almost always a killer of dreams and goals.

You've wanted to become a registered nurse your entire life but now               (insert random excuse) is keeping you from doing it? Do you think there will ever be a perfect time to go back to school and fulfill your dreams? 

NO!

You have to make the time. If you do not work towards your dreams, I'm sad to say that you will probably never see them come true.

So sure, maybe now isn't a great time, but let's realize how small changes in your daily routine can lead to exponential results and help you achieve your lifelong goals.

The College Network offers top online nursing programs that can be completed at your OWN pace. There are no required log in times, no due dates, no penalties for moving too slowly or too quickly. So what's stopping you? Sure, it would be great to devote 6 hours a day to studying but even a half hour will get you to your goals eventually.

Make the change today! Call The College Network to learn how you can achieve your goals at your own pace.

Ein Peck, Program Advisor 

(800) 634-1443 ext 4786   mpeck@collegenetwork.com

 

 

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. 

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.

It's not every day when you can relate one of your favorite childhood (who am I kidding - current) games to furthering your education, but today I'd like to use the series of Mario Kart games to show you that completing your education is as easy as navigating a track named Rainbow Road.

At The College Network, our goal is to allow customers to complete distance nursing programs within the confines of their own goals and abilities. This is very much like choosing your own character/driver in the Mario Kart games.  Some characters like Mario and Luigi are well rounded - they have good speed, good acceleration, and good steering. Customers with these attributes can study in many different ways and at a steady pace to complete their program of choice with our Comprehensive Learning Modules.  Others are like Donkey Kong or Bowser, where they may start slow, but have a great high-end top speed.  Some customers are like this as well, where they have trouble starting, but once they do, they are able to knock their courses out very quickly.  Another way to study would be to do things in quick short bursts - much like the high acceleration of Princess Peach or Yoshi.  And some folks really like to control their own destiny, and keep things very orderly, consistent, and take the most efficient way around the track to finish their program or race, much like Toad or Koopa Troopa.  

Any way you look at it, all of the previous methods can work.  You just have to choose the right path for yourself and know your strengths and weaknesses.  At The College Network, we offer our Academic Guidance Planner and Academic Support Team to help you set goals, find out what learning style is best for you, and give you study tips on how best to be an independent learner.  Basically, we fit your Mario Kart driving style to your perfect Kart and character that drives it!

In my next post, I'll look at how the The College Network helps you navigate your program by using all the extras and resources that come with this type of program.  Watch out for that banana peel!

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

Are you currently enrolled in one of The College Network's distance nursing programs? If so you may be looking for ways to save a buck to help off set the cost of education. Here are some simple tips to help you cut costs and earn a little extra money to put towards your education.

1. Brown bag your lunch and eat your breakfast and dinner at home. Often, people don't realize how much eating out, even if only a few times a week, adds up. You can save a lot of money by cooking all your own meals. I always set a weekly budget for groceries of $60 for myself and my spouse (that's for a weeks worth of breakfast, lunch and dinner). We are able to get fresh fruits and vegetables and do not eat frozen or processed food. It's all about buying what's on sale, making a list and sticking to it! AND, never go grocery shopping while you are hungry!
2. Skip the expensive coffee shops in the morning and brew your own coffee at home. If you are set on a certain coffee shop brand, many times you can buy it in bulk at wholesale stores for less money.
3. If you have extra stuff collecting dust at home (let's be honest-most of us do) sell in on eBay or craigslist. You'd be amazed how easy it is to sell items on these sites. 
4. Following along the lines of item number three, why not have a garage sale? It's coming up on that time of year again, and garage sales are great ways to clean out your space and make some extra money doing so.
5. Limit your frivolous spending. If you're on a budget or trying to save money, don't go out and buy a new pair of jeans...no matter how good of a deal they are! Every little bit of spending adds up.

The bottom line...it's all about prioritizing. Your education is one of the most important things you will ever do for yourself, so why not make it a priority? That's the great thing about The College Network's online programs. You can earn your nursing degree from a top university, entirely online at a fraction of the cost of attending a brick and mortar school. You can learn more about our programs here.

 

 

 

Nursing homes, a stronghold of LPN jobs, may become progressively less so. Illinois, for one, is attempting to instate a new law requiring 20% of nurses in nursing homes to be RNs. The change would cost the state $122 million annually, but Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, as well as local advocacy groups, are pushing for the change because they believe that care from RNs prevents hospitalization. This information comes from an article on the Progress Illinois website.

If you are an LPN and you want to take action now to avoid worries about job security, do not fret. Give The College Network a call at 1-800-39-LEARN to find out how you can work towards obtaining RN status while continuing to work full time as an LPN through our online programs from top universities. 

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.

 

 

U.S. News & World Report has issued its picks for the top ten jobs for 2012. Perhaps not surprisingly, Registered Nurse came in at the number one spot! Economist Michael Wolf, quoted in the article, says that in the next decade nursing will grow 26% and add 712,000 positions.

What are you waiting for? Take charge of your future today. In addition to the service RNs provide to others, their median salary is $64,690. Since 1992, The College Network has been enabling people to advance their careers in nursing through our online programs with top universities. If you think you can handle the #1 job, call 1-800-39-LEARN today.

For more information from U.S. News & World Report on the Registered Nurse job, click here; the entire list of top jobs appears here.

While it is a fact that the nursing field is dominated by women, there are many great male nurses as well. 

The Delaware Chapter of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing(AAMN) has set out to lessen the gender gap between men and women in the nursing field with their "20x20: Choose Nursing" campaign. The goal of the campaign is to have 20% of the nursing workforce consist of male nurses by 2020. The efforts of the campaign include local chapters of the AAMN reaching out to junior high and high school students to try and encourage more men to go into nursing. 

Currently, in the United States, male nurses make up about 5.8% of all nurses which is about 168,743 total nurses. This number is growing about 2-3% each year and if it continues to do so, that would make the total population of male nurses more than 20% by 2020.

If you're a man who is thinking about a career in nursing, I encourage you to purse your dreams. As we know, the future outlook of nursing is extremely positive with job growth expected to skyrocket over the next several years. Nursing also has a reputation for paying extremely well with starting salaries averaging between $25-$30 per hour for registered nurses.

If you are already in a nursing career but it's your dream to advance to a higher level, The College Network can help! We offer online degrees from top universities. Our nursing degree programs are accredited, and there is never a waiting list to get started. Plus, they are all self-paced so you can earn your degree while continuing to work. For more information, visit our website, or call us at 1-800-395-1014.

Sources: nurse.com, malenursingscholarships.com

SuperScholar.org recently released their list for the top 25 schools for online nursing degrees, and The George Washington University and Indiana State University, two of The College Network's partners in education, ranked number 3 and 15 on the list - an outstanding accomplishment that is a testament to the high-quality education both universities provide.

The College Network is proud of these rankings and firmly reaffirms the outstanding programs both universities offer. To learn more about either The George Washington University or Indiana State University's online nursing programs, you can visit either school's web site or visit The College Network online. 

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.

After months and months of depressing statistics, the unemployment rate has finally begun to rise in the U.S. According to the U.S. Labor Department, the unemployment rate dropped to 8.5% in December with the addition of 200,000 new jobs.

With things slowly beginning to look up in the employment world, now is a good time to look for RN careers. However, if you're like many other people out there looking for a job right now, you may feel a bit overwhelmed and need some guidance as to where to begin.

The easiest and most accessible place to begin is on the Internet. Three popular job websites are monster.com, careerbuilder.com and indeed.com. With each of these sites, you can search by geographic location and desired job type. You never have to leave the comfort of your home because you can submit your resume directly through these sites.

Another great place to look for your desired nursing job is by visiting the website of any company you have an interest in. Most companies will post current available positions directly on their website.

In addition to the above ideas, social media can also be a great resource for the job hunt-specifically twitter. There are tons of great nursing resources on this site. For example, NurseConnect, GetNursingJobs and Nursing_Jobs all continuously post updated nursing jobs from all over the country every day.

It's a touch job market out there and you have to be creative when looking. With the above tips and the positive outlook on the job market, you will have a great chance of landing your dream nursing job. And remember, if the answer to your dream nursing career involves higher education, The College Network is here to help with our top online nursing programs from leading universities!

Is 2012 really already here? 

Where did 2011 go? 

If you find yourself asking these questions then like many people you may feel like you didn't get everything that you wanted to achieve accomplished in 2011. Many people settle for this frustration year after year after year. But you don't have to.

If you have ever dreamed of earning a degree or returning to school MAKE 2012 YOUR YEAR!! Go get that BS in Nursing or finish your Associate of Science in Nursing degree. Earn your Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or explore other online degrees options from top univesities. 

Call The College Network (1.800.395.1014) to learn more about certificate and degree programs that can change your outlook in 2012 and every year thereafter. 

2012 is here and 2013 is right behind it. What will be different in your life at the end of 2012?

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As many of you already know, a new year is a time for new promises. Each year, many people (myself included) set goals or resolutions for themselves which can oftentimes be very unrealistic.

"In 2012 I vow to lose 3000 lbs"
"In 2012 I vow to win the lottery"
"In 2012 I vow to stop watching Jersey Shore"

These goals oftentimes lead to disappointment in one's self at a later date. Hopefully their goals last longer than a month, but some don't even make it past January before they are back to Jersey Shore's GTL routine (Gym, Tan, Laundry).

When I see people (friends & family included) fall short of their goal, even I sometimes feel sorry for them. Why would you set these ridiculous goals for yourself that you would never have a chance of sticking to?

"Okay Ein, what's your point?"

My point is that you don't have to fail in your goals. Start by making your goals realistic in the first place.

"Okay, well how do I do that?"

Let me explain.

Sure, it's easy to want to lose weight but how should you go about it? In a goal like weight loss, your best option is to start small. If you live on fast food, make an attempt to switch to healthier fast food e.g. a salad or even consider not eating that "biggie sized" fry. Eventually your goal would be to cut fast food out entirely, but you MUST start small.

"So what does all this have to do with The College Network?"

The College Network offers you the opportunity to establish realistic goals. Since our online degree programs are entirely self-paced, this gives you the option to start small. Your goal shouldn't be to receive your Associate of Science in Nursing degree by tomorrow. If you are thinking small, your goal should be to establish an understanding of your keywords tomorrow. 

With the help of our talented Academic Support department, you will be able to create a study plan that is customized to your schedule and your needs. We are here to help you reach your goals.

So make 2012 the last year for unfilled promises call The College Network today at 1-800-39-LEARN to learn more about our self-paced online degrees from top universities.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that is. Do you have a nursing degree-perhaps an associates degree, but aren't really sure what your next move should be? If you're like many other nurses you probably love what you do, right? So, how can you stay in the nursing field, but also make a career change? It's simple, earn your bachelors degree in nursing and enjoy the opportunities that will come along with that.

By earning your bachelors degree in nursing you are putting yourself in a category of nursing that will earn a higher salary, have more responsibility and be exposed to more specialized work. Below is a chart indicating the average salary, broken down by years of experience, that nurses who have their BSN make annually.

 


Some of the job opportunities available to BSN nurses are Clinical Nurse Manager, Nursing Director, Nurse Case Manager, Emergency Room RN, Operating Room RN and Nurse Educator. Nurses who have their bachelors degree typically have more job security due to their advanced education and knowledge.

At The College Network we work with several top universities to offer convenient and affordable Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree programs. We have an LPN to BSN program and an RN to BSN program. With our self-paced programs, you can begin working towards your advanced degree with little interruption to your daily life. Most of our customers continue to work full-time, raise a family and still do all of the things the enjoy all while earning their degree.

If would like more information on our online Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, give us a call today at 1-800-395-1014.