College Network

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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I have an appointment with College Network Rep. this week. I was wondering if anybody has graduated from the program. I am an LPN trying to get my RN. If anybody has any information I would greatly appreciate it.

The contract that you signed...can't be cancelled. Do you still have a copy of your contract? Read it.....i have mine and i made sure to read it completely before i signed it. There's a 3 days cancellation period.

It's like buying a car, buying a home, or signing up for regular courses....if you start classes on campus, or buy a home, or buy a car...you can't just expect to stop paying for them six months later. You signed a legal and binding contract. My fiancee is an Accountant and he read the forms too... Well, you can stop making the payments, but your credit will get hit. Is is really worth it?

Like I, as well as many others have stated....this is a good program for some people. you get out of it what you put into it. just bite the bullet, use the study guides that you purchased and get through this. So, you bought new study materials....so what? Aren't you using the academic support and the website to talk to other students in the program?

You have to look at the outcome of this....you will become an RN and make $10,000-$20,000 more a year. I bet when this is done and over with...you won't be complaining then....

So, refer people into the TCN program/Excelsior...for each person that you refer and they start, you get a $250 referral bonus. After 6 referrals, TCN pays off your loan.....it's true....i did it. Now, i have 7 other people doing this and we have our own study sessions together.

good luck and just focus....you'll get this done.

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The contract that you signed...can't be cancelled. Do you still have a copy of your contract? Read it.....i have mine and i made sure to read it completely before i signed it. There's a 3 days cancellation period.

It's like buying a car, buying a home, or signing up for regular courses....if you start classes on campus, or buy a home, or buy a car...you can't just expect to stop paying for them six months later. You signed a legal and binding contract. My fiancee is an Accountant and he read the forms too... Well, you can stop making the payments, but your credit will get hit. Is is really worth it?

Like I, as well as many others have stated....this is a good program for some people. you get out of it what you put into it. just bite the bullet, use the study guides that you purchased and get through this. So, you bought new study materials....so what? Aren't you using the academic support and the website to talk to other students in the program?

You have to look at the outcome of this....you will become an RN and make $10,000-$20,000 more a year. I bet when this is done and over with...you won't be complaining then....

So, refer people into the TCN program/Excelsior...for each person that you refer and they start, you get a $250 referral bonus. After 6 referrals, TCN pays off your loan.....it's true....i did it. Now, i have 7 other people doing this and we have our own study sessions together.

good luck and just focus....you'll get this done.

Hi...I'm just curious. How do you have a study session on a condensed self study module? I'm interested in enrolling in the college network guides. I am trying to tap into as many resources as I can. Just wondering how you guys are going about it. Are you doing it online? If so, how are you conducting it? Can you tell me how far along you are and what state?

I have searched ebay inside out and was unsuccessful finding the course modules that I needed. Yes, you can save money here and there but you may not find all of the CLEP materials needed. I would rather save time and find the information and all the resources that I need in one stop. After all, time is money right? The real focus here is education = time and momentum.

I have checked some of the free links on this post. Some...I find completely useless and very time consuming to adhere to. Just want to caution everyone, filtering for free information like this can be a big waste of your time and hurt your finance if you are taking the CLEP based on materials that were not designed for it. Some of us are not super cheap genius! Who can get good information from thin air...e.g. these free websites provided brief one paragraph explanations on some of the body systems in A&P. So I find it hard for someone to CLEP out based on these materials. I'm referring to the same cheap genius, who I believe did not even bother reading some of the materials on these free web course.:monkeydance: Yet you post them like TCN mods are beneath you. I think you are full of it laizure! All I can say is...not all information are good information.

You are right critter1972, you get what you pay for. :bow: I am from Illinois. Any info. on LPN to BSN at ISU through TCN will be appreciated. What kind of questions did you ask TCN about there program? I have an appointment with a TCN rep next week...best regards.

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now that i'm doing the TCN program, i have access to their online chat rooms...in these chat roms, there are other students that i can talk to about what i'm reading. we have each others emails and we set up times to be online at the same time. So, if we agree to read Chapter 5, we can get online and talk about what we read and learned. Plus, the Advisors from TCN can answer questions for you if you need help.

have you found that when you mention using TCN's study materials, people rip you a new one? LOL...it's like some sin that you spent the money to get the materials directly through the place that ISU recommends. I've had people even call me a troll in one of these forums! In fact, i hardly get on this website much any more. It seems like this site is for people who want to complain about something or tell us what we should and shouldn't do. I don't mind advice, but that's all it is and always will be. i'm a grown adult and i can make decisions on what is best for me....and i did and i'm glad that i made the choice i did. I just encourage everyone to make their decisions based on their own wants and needs. These people telling me (us) that our decisions are bad.....well, will i ever meet you, will you be someone making an impact on my life? I know that this sounds harsh and i apologize...but, if someone is taking my comments personal....maybe you are one of these people. too many people can dish out comments and tell everyone else what they should and shouldn't do....but.....i know that in 3 years, i'll be a BSN....where will they be? will they still be complaining that they are doing the work of an RN and not getting paid for it? Life is too short to complain about something...you have to do what it takes to make improvements in life. yeah, it may be hard, but life isn't easy..you get out of lilfe what you put into it.

You're right though....it takes WAY too much time going from site to site to link to link to search for materials to read. I was worried that i'd spend too much time looking for something that i wasn't sure would prepare me. That's why i went through TCN and got their materials. I knew that i had academic support, online and phone, i knew that i could chat with other students, i learned about the gaurantee, I READ THE PAPERWORK that i signed....i knew what i was getting into. I met with an advisor who i met with at a starbucks...we talked about everything, what the clinical requirements were, where i would do them. I took my transcripts with me so that the advisor could look through them and give me a rough estimate of what i would still need to take (gen eds).

once i started, TCN pulled my official transcripts and the Academic Advisors reviewed them. I ended up needing a few more than what we originally went through, but that's okay, that's part of it.

Anyway, i'm very pleased with my decision. Yes, there are days when i don't want to study, so i don't, but i make it up. I know what my goals are and i know what i have to do to reach them.

good luck to all.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Telemetry, Mom Baby, Hospice, Rehab, LTC.

Critter1972, continue doing what you're doing. You are a very positive person. Don't let any negative comments discourage you. Only you know what decision is best for you. I think its a shame how people can be so harsh when giving their opinion. It's really not that necessary. Good luck with your journey to your BSN!

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Hey Critter,

I admire you for your decision and because of that decision I too decided

to sign up with CN.

I wish you all the best in your endeavors, stay positive and stay focus.

I BELIEVE IN YOU. YOU WILL PASS. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR BSN.

Think this always and remember their are people who are rooting for you.

Good luck

By the way, when you do take your exam, can you write back and tell us

of your progress.

trolldoll:balloons: ;)

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Beware, it has been confirmed that the LVN to BSN course offered by Indiania State University and Sonoma State University is still pending with the California Board of Registered Nurses. The board is to vote on approval/denial of the program on Feb 16th, 2007.

Has anyone heard any other official information from the BRN about this program. It would be a real shame if the College network is taking advantage of this.

Also, there is no official listings on either Indiana State or Sonoma state websites that I can find. It makes me wonder if this is really a fishy marketing campaign from the college network.

Someone correct me with some more information and the I can verify!

I am thinking twice about the whole thing right now. I am so confused College Network, via Indiana State University. oh god I don't know what is exceped later on I am thinking about going to California as well

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Well I personally haven't enrolled in any program whatsoever yet, but some of the "opinions" which have surfaced on this thread do not surprise me in the least having dealt with some local health care facilities .

Unfortunately what you have here as always is what I see over and over again. People being catty for no reason whatsoever.

IF what you're trying to do is sit for the RN Licensure examination well then you need a couple of things... First off you need a sponsoring institution.. Me personally considering this is a second "career" of sorts I would support an arrangement whereby you would be permitted to take the test and let the best candidates prevail....

However state boards of nursing have determined that it is in the public's best interest that a sponsoring educational organization of some sort prepare you prior to allowing you to sit for licensure.

The "college" network portion of it is insignificant... If I decide to buy a "barron's" study guide ? and I pass the test ... who really cares at that point.

Frankly, after having seen everything associated with this supposed nursing shortage I have my doubts.... What I see here is a burgeoning business based on people who think they might want to .. maybe.. at some point... get a job... And let's get real... many facilities i've been around have person on top of person falling over each other complaining about this or that...

It's about doing what you believe will help YOU the best get the piece of paper you need to do the work YOU wish to do.... For anyone to say well I believe that you're dumb to do this or that is just silly...

It's like the guy who drives a Benz having an argument with somebody who drives an 81 honda... sure the Honda's got great gas mileage .. sure the payment's smaller.. sure they get to the same place ... but hey if you want to buy the Benz... go get it... Who's to say anything different... Everybody wants to be in everybody elses pockets these days... To me like I said you should be able to demonstrate academic proficiency in an objective manner without a sponsoring institution always necessary at a base "licensing" level... but come on now you can go into any major health care facility and find plenty of people working in jobs within the facility who don't have the licensing but do know the cousin in HR...

And let's get real.. what is any of this going to get you? It's going to get you an "opportunity".. What you do with the opportunity.. whether you like your job.. whether you spend your time reading charts or filling up cokes in the Caf is entirely up to you...

I personally think the College network is quite expensive but don't fully understand what people are saying... I can buy the College Network's study materials off ebay ok? .. then I can go to a sylvan learning center and take a test... ok .. then let's say I do that for the 7 "UNITS" i need to sit for my NCLEX-RN.... Who the heck is going to tell the state of new jersey that I'm qualified to sit for the test? And even if I pass who's going to guarantee that I'll even get a job out of it that pays more than my local contractor or wawa?

Christ the UMDMJ is under indictment in this state already... lol... it's all kind of confusing BUT Much better than the local community college route where they are trying to tell me that I'd have to retake basic chemistry.. hilarious.

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Well I personally haven't enrolled in any program whatsoever yet, but some of the "opinions" which have surfaced on this thread do not surprise me in the least having dealt with some local health care facilities .

Unfortunately what you have here as always is what I see over and over again. People being catty for no reason whatsoever.

IF what you're trying to do is sit for the RN Licensure examination well then you need a couple of things... First off you need a sponsoring institution.. Me personally considering this is a second "career" of sorts I would support an arrangement whereby you would be permitted to take the test and let the best candidates prevail....

However state boards of nursing have determined that it is in the public's best interest that a sponsoring educational organization of some sort prepare you prior to allowing you to sit for licensure.

The "college" network portion of it is insignificant... If I decide to buy a "barron's" study guide ? and I pass the test ... who really cares at that point.

Frankly, after having seen everything associated with this supposed nursing shortage I have my doubts.... What I see here is a burgeoning business based on people who think they might want to .. maybe.. at some point... get a job... And let's get real... many facilities i've been around have person on top of person falling over each other complaining about this or that...

It's about doing what you believe will help YOU the best get the piece of paper you need to do the work YOU wish to do.... For anyone to say well I believe that you're dumb to do this or that is just silly...

It's like the guy who drives a Benz having an argument with somebody who drives an 81 honda... sure the Honda's got great gas mileage .. sure the payment's smaller.. sure they get to the same place ... but hey if you want to buy the Benz... go get it... Who's to say anything different... Everybody wants to be in everybody elses pockets these days... To me like I said you should be able to demonstrate academic proficiency in an objective manner without a sponsoring institution always necessary at a base "licensing" level... but come on now you can go into any major health care facility and find plenty of people working in jobs within the facility who don't have the licensing but do know the cousin in HR...

And let's get real.. what is any of this going to get you? It's going to get you an "opportunity".. What you do with the opportunity.. whether you like your job.. whether you spend your time reading charts or filling up cokes in the Caf is entirely up to you...

I personally think the College network is quite expensive but don't fully understand what people are saying... I can buy the College Network's study materials off ebay ok? .. then I can go to a sylvan learning center and take a test... ok .. then let's say I do that for the 7 "UNITS" i need to sit for my NCLEX-RN.... Who the heck is going to tell the state of new jersey that I'm qualified to sit for the test? And even if I pass who's going to guarantee that I'll even get a job out of it that pays more than my local contractor or wawa?

Christ the UMDMJ is under indictment in this state already... lol... it's all kind of confusing BUT Much better than the local community college route where they are trying to tell me that I'd have to retake basic chemistry.. hilarious.

I agree what you are saying about College Network.. Yes you can buy the material off of Ebay for half the price. The most important piece to this pie is Accrediation and accredibility of the school or this so called College Network and it's partners. I have decided to go to a local college it has less BS involved with it.

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Good day how did you hear about the California Ruling regarding Indiana State and College Network? I do know that Excellsior is in question in California and Colorado. In the State of Colorado you have to do 350 hours of perceptorship and in California you have to do 800 hours of it. The states want to make sure you are practicing safe patient care

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Beware! The College Network is not an LPN-to-RN program. The College Network is nothing more than an overpriced publishing company engaged in the business of selling materials that eventually lead to an Excelsior College degree. Therefore, Excelsior College is really the school you're dealing with.

Most people are able to earn their LPN-to-RN bridge degree from Excelsior College without going through expensive publishing companies such as the College Network and RUE. Buyer beware!

This is very true! I spoke to Excelsior today. They told me that the program set up by College network is not set up to follow thier course outlines.They are unsure where CN gets the format for the course. Having spent $$$ on the course thru CN I now found out I could have done it all thru Excelsior. Visit excelsior.edu or call 1-888-647-2388 and speak to them directly before you make your mind up. Good Luck in your courses!

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This is very true! I spoke to Excelsior today. They told me that the program set up by College network is not set up to follow thier course outlines.They are unsure where CN gets the format for the course. Having spent $$$ on the course thru CN I now found out I could have done it all thru Excelsior. Visit excelsior.edu or call 1-888-647-2388 and speak to them directly before you make your mind up. Good Luck in your courses!

Ok this is understood ... so if I say have another degree ... in a different field... and I don't want to relocate.. I'm in South Jersey now... Can I obtain what basically amounts to an ATT by taking the basic nursing courses in a distance learning format through Excelsior?

I've shot them off an email where I'm sure I'll get my answer but I'm not sure if you understand my situation..

I have a degree in another field. I want to get the most basic "licensing" to allow me to enter the "profession" whereby I would intend to enroll in a more advanced "accelerated 2nd Degree BSN"... Can this or can this not be done through distance learning?

To me when you think of how they allow foreign nationals to test if qualified.... I would have to be completely direct in stating my "desire" or intention is solely to obtain and ATT for the NCLEX-RN and go from there.

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Ok this is understood ... so if I say have another degree ... in a different field... and I don't want to relocate.. I'm in South Jersey now... Can I obtain what basically amounts to an ATT by taking the basic nursing courses in a distance learning format through Excelsior?

I've shot them off an email where I'm sure I'll get my answer but I'm not sure if you understand my situation..

I have a degree in another field. I want to get the most basic "licensing" to allow me to enter the "profession" whereby I would intend to enroll in a more advanced "accelerated 2nd Degree BSN"... Can this or can this not be done through distance learning?

To me when you think of how they allow foreign nationals to test if qualified.... I would have to be completely direct in stating my "desire" or intention is solely to obtain and ATT for the NCLEX-RN and go from there.

Oh and something else which really baffles me after having met with a College Network rep... I was told that during the "clinical" portion of the program , students do not have any actual patient contact... it is merely an evaluation of whether you understand the procedures , etc....

This blows my mind ... So basically you can become licensed to be a practicing R.N. by never once having treated or dealt with actual patients?

Even in the local Phlebotomy course I took through the Community college we had weeks and weeks of actual physical patient contact.... Without which I would think It would be nearly impossible to have any proficiency whatsoever.

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