ISU LVN to BSN program California - Page 4

Register Today!
  1. Jul 10, '11 by
    [quote=franticoola;5359115][quote=ladyinscrubs;5229575]
    Quote from ashso
    ladyinscrubs....
    if you like, i can send you a copy of the semester's syllibus for the last class. this may give you an idea what to expect. send me a email or private message. btw make friends with your calif fall 2011 cohort group because this is the person(s) you can complaint to, whose shoulder you can cry on, and someone you can discuss question/problems with. i had two. both of them did not live close to me but with im, emails, and telephone calls exchanged we became friends. sometimes being a dl student can be isolating....."

    i would like a copy of nurs 208 & 304 syllabus and whatever information you can send. here is my email: franticoola@gmail.com
    the syllibus for our spring 2011 class may give the fall 2011 student an idea what to expect. however, the professors teaching those two classes may have changed and as well as the info in the syllibus.

    if the fall 2011 student is antsy to get started, i suggest buying the recommended pharmacology book. you do not need to buy the book from the isu bookstore but the bookstore has the titles of the required books. start reading/outlining the chapters and working on pearson's free website, my nursing kit.

    review med math as you will be tested.

    reading the transition book is informative, but very few whole chapters are actually covered. the professor seemed to pick and choose pages/chapters from the book.

    you could start reviewing the jarvis assessment book. during the assessment class, you will cover just about every chapter and will write soaps for each section. become comfortable with what is contained in each chapter. your final assessment dvd will be based on the information found on those pages. go to the jarvis book publisher's website. there, for free, you will find chapter highlights, notes, and assessment checklists for each section. while the professor may have a different checklist, it is very close to the checklist the author provides.

    the most important thing you will do is find a bsn who can proctor your weekly lab assessment. you will also need an assessment subject because the proctor must observe the week's assigned assessment. if you cannot locate a proctor, you cannot proceed with the class.

    franticoola, is very right about making online cohort friends. dl can be isolating and having a friend(s) to share ups and downs can be very supportive. franticoola, what part of the state are you located?
  2. Jul 10, '11 by
    [quote=ladyinscrubs;5359353][quote=franticoola;5359115]
    Quote from ladyinscrubs

    the syllibus for our spring 2011 class may give the fall 2011 student an idea what to expect. however, the professors teaching those two classes may have changed and as well as the info in the syllibus.

    if the fall 2011 student is antsy to get started, i suggest buying the recommended pharmacology book. you do not need to buy the book from the isu bookstore but the bookstore has the titles of the required books. start reading/outlining the chapters and working on pearson's free website, my nursing kit.

    review med math as you will be tested.

    reading the transition book is informative, but very few whole chapters are actually covered. the professor seemed to pick and choose pages/chapters from the book.

    you could start reviewing the jarvis assessment book. during the assessment class, you will cover just about every chapter and will write soaps for each section. become comfortable with what is contained in each chapter. your final assessment dvd will be based on the information found on those pages. go to the jarvis book publisher's website. there, for free, you will find chapter highlights, notes, and assessment checklists for each section. while the professor may have a different checklist, it is very close to the checklist the author provides.

    the most important thing you will do is find a bsn who can proctor your weekly lab assessment. you will also need an assessment subject because the proctor must observe the week's assigned assessment. if you cannot locate a proctor, you cannot proceed with the class.

    franticoola, is very right about making online cohort friends. dl can be isolating and having a friend(s) to share ups and downs can be very supportive. franticoola, what part of the state are you located?
    i am located in ca. you?
  3. Aug 5, '11 by
    Let's hear from the Calif ISU LVN to BSN program. Where are you in the program?
  4. Sep 6, '11 by
    Hello all, I noticed a great thread here and want to ask a question or two to get some good feedback. I am just asking would the indiana state university LVN-BSN degree from california endorse to other states without any problems due to the education done via distance learning. I see this degree just as good as any BSN acquired here in california since indiana state university is connected via sonoma state university. I am at a crossroad right now due to new family situation (new child) and wife going to lvn school. I have been an LVN for over 3 years here in cali. So, I tried to get into a private college (LVN-RN)one town away but was denied since my microbiology was too old (2003). So, indiana university looks appealing and from the way things look, seems like I can apply and use my current prerequisites to get in and take the 4 CSM's to see if I can cross first hurdle. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Also, I would love to see an Indiana State University grad drop an opinion to give me more hope. TIA
  5. Sep 6, '11 by
    Quote from yellowsir
    . i see this degree just as good as any bsn acquired here in california since indiana state university is connected via sonoma state university. we in calif are at a disadvantage as isu is the only distant learning school authorized by the california bon. for the program to be eligible with the state bon, it is a joint venture with sanoma state univ and lsu

    i tried to get into a private college (lvn-rn)one town away but was denied since my microbiology was too old (2003). there are some adn community colleges that do not have a restriction on the 5 year rule for lab classes. you have to do your research to find those who will accept your credits. of course, the can be difficult to get into and there may be a wait list. many community colleges take lvn or advance standing students when a regularly admitted students fails out of a lower level class than the classes you would be taking. that opens up a seat for the lvn.

    so, indiana university looks appealing and from the way things look, seems like i can apply and use my current prerequisites to get in and take the 4 csm's to see if i can cross first hurdle. sounds easy, doesn't it. before you can apply, you must have all your prerequisites complege. you will be applying to a university for a bachelors degree and in addition to the nursing classes, you will also have to take general ed classes for your bsn--this is over and above the nursing classes. you may want to take as many classes transferrable gen ed classes at the local community college as you can, it will cut down on the cost of your isu degree. some ged classes you can clep out of or you can go to another distant learning community college authorized by isu and take online classes. if at all possible, take transferrable courses at the local community college--any dl class will be far more expensive.

    any advice will be greatly appreciated. also, i would love to see an indiana state university grad drop an opinion to give me more hope. tia
    if there are any isu grads, you will not find them on the student section of an. go to the general area and post your questions for isu grads there. you may have more luck.

    the major hurtle, as with the isu program outside the state, is placement. while isu will place its calif students, we are to give the placement liaison (aka millie) our suggestions for placement (aka the map for success). it is only millie who does the placement contact but she is only one person and there are many in each class. plus she answers questions on the 800 # information line. essentially, she is spread very thin and she cannot cover every thing. that means things slip through the cracks, and it could be detrimental to you. however, this is the only dl program authorized by the calif bon. millie has stated that it is easier to get student placements at smaller facilities and far more difficult to get placements in the larger metro areas--sd, la, sf. you may have to drive some distance to get to your placement.

    the cost of isu is the cost of the nursing program (the university factors in a surcharge for distant leaning programs.), you will also have to pay additional charges for the clinical classes (pay $300 to isu and $200 to sanoma state. this is not a tuition fee but a clincal fee. there are 6 clinicals.

    the other issue is finding a proctor who wil monitor your tests (this is not that hard as there are distant learning educational associations who recommend registered proctors) and you will need to get a preceptor. this is very important as one of the first classes at isu is the assessment class. you must be proctored by a bsn for the assessment lab. it is easy preceptoring as the bsn does not teach but watches you do the assessment assignments and signs off that you did it.

    i will not mislead you, it is not easy but even with all the costs factored in, the cost of your bsn is far less than if you took it at a calif state university. the nursing program is far more rigorous than if you took it at a brick and mortor bsn school. the great benefit is you do not have to go to the university to sit and listen to a lecture. that in itself saves a huge amount of time and energy. because we are a dl program, you must be comfortable with a computer and writing -- this is how we communicate with the professor and other students. there are written assignments every week and if you are not comfortable with the english language, then that would be a problem. if you have more questions, feel free to ask.
  6. Sep 6, '11 by
    Was it very hard for Millie to find you a clinical site. I sent in my clinical map for success and was wondering how long she took until she called your two clinical choices. They must have a way to make a deal with the hospitals, i know a lot of ppl who say its hard because we dont have an instructor on site. This is the only prt of the program that worries me.
  7. Sep 6, '11 by
    Quote from AshSo
    Was it very hard for Millie to find you a clinical site. I sent in my clinical map for success and was wondering how long she took until she called your two clinical choices. They must have a way to make a deal with the hospitals, i know a lot of ppl who say its hard because we dont have an instructor on site. This is the only prt of the program that worries me.
    I doubt she called my clincal sites. I clled her 2 weeks before start of class and I asked her about my placement. I will let you know when I get one. So far all I have gotten is assurance.
  8. Nov 27, '11 by
    There has not been any posts in a few months. For those of you who are in the ISU/Sanoma State Calif program or thinking about the ISU/Sanoma State Calif program, what are your thoughts, experiences, wishes.
  9. Dec 7, '11 by
    For those of you in the ISU LVN to BSN -- where are you in your classes?

    Have you been able to keep in touch with those in classes ahead of you so you can see the syllibus for upcoming classes?
  10. Dec 9, '11 by
    I am almost done with the first semester. It has been tough, but I did it! whew! I am looking forward to my first clinical experience next sem. How was yours?