Distance learners in Iowa

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

I'm an Iowan! :up:

Okay, so I made it through Excelsior's program until I failed the CPNE. Excelsior College is a viable option for an Iowan to get an RN. So is Indiana State University, if you want your BSN. A problem I can see is that the smaller towns in Iowa are not in the nursing shortage crunch that bigger cities may be in, so the jobs are quite tight. The jobs that are available would very likely go to the nurses who either graduated from the local colleges and had clinicals in those facilities because of the unfamiliarity and/or misconceptions with the distance or online learning degrees. I wasn't planning on returning to clinical nursing anyway, so it was a degree just to do for me. Another problem is that states are becoming increasingly not cool with Excelsior College and not accepting their graduates for licensure. With Indiana State, you will have to set up your own preceptors, which may be quite the headache, but they do have clinicals in the degree.

I don't know if you are from a small town or a really small town (is there anything else in Iowa?), but keep that in mind if you are from a dinky area. I would probably wait for the local program, honestly. Which program are you eyeballing?

neuronurse15 · Mar 26, 2009

I'm so glad there's another from Iowa! :wink2: I live in Cedar Falls and RN's can pretty much get a job at multiple places here, at least I think so. The community college here just changed their admission requirements and are admitting based apon a point system, it's very confusing. The waiting list is quite long, I did just apply to Kirkwood to see if I would even be accepted, I guess if I would have to drive down there I would but I had a guy from the college network come by and talk to me about their program but I made sure not to sign anything until I checked into this a little more. where are you from and what degree/license do you have?

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

I went to Kirkwood for my LPN, but I live in southern Iowa now near Ottumwa. I don't work in nursing now. I went to medical transcription, which I adore.

Whatever you do, stay away from the College Network. You did an excellent job staying out of signing their stuff. The College Network is an overpriced publisher and a pain in the rear, so I've heard.

When I was at Kirkwood, it took me 2 semesters to get in. Granted, that was 9 years ago, but hey, you never know. If you are an LPN now, it might be faster for you to get in.

Good luck!

JDA64052 · Mar 26, 2009

If you live near Ottumwa, have you checked out Indian Hills Community College? It is my understanding that they now offer an online LPN to RN, with local clinicals. I read something about this on KTVO's website, a few months ago. I'm not sure about the details, but you might want to check it out.

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

If you live near Ottumwa, have you checked out Indian Hills Community College? It is my understanding that they now offer an online LPN to RN, with local clinicals. I read something about this on KTVO's website, a few months ago. I'm not sure about the details, but you might want to check it out.

I've heard some about this. I see on their website that they have some online supporting classes in the degree, but not all of the theory courses yet. They also have the part-time (and full-time!) LPN-to-RN program with the classes at the local satellite sites, which I did years ago for a few classes until I hatched with daughter #2. Indian Hills will be my option if I ever decide to return to nursing. That's where hubby went, and they made a good nurse out of him. :)

The cost of going to another CPNE with travel and EC fees will equal doing the Indian Hills LPN-to-RN program. Tuition is cheap at IHCC!

The only issue is that my area seems to be saturated with nurses with very few jobs available. The few jobs that are available will no doubt go to people who graduated from colleges that the local employers are familiar with. However, with the OP being in Cedar Falls, there are probably many more jobs around that area than here, so the options are more open (I imagine) with the distance learning and finding a job.

Sorry for the ramble.

DKEA · Mar 26, 2009

Are you in open to the idea of doing your schooling based out of MN? I'm not sure where Cedar Rapids is or how far you are willing to travel for clinicals but there is an online program through MN-West that I am currently enrolled in. I applied and was in the next semester. I'm currently in my LPN year and we have clinicals two days a week but i'm told clinicals are only one day a week during the RN year. There are students in my class who commute 3 1/2 hours, two days a week because this was the only immediate option for them. THe program is based out of Worthington but there are clinical sites all over Southern MN. My current clinical site is about 15 minutes from the Iowa border.

omotzury · Apr 11, 2009

HEy yall.....just wondering if anyone in this room goes to Ihcc........im startting this summer and im looking to c if i can meet anyone........Thanks....

anabell100 · Jan 18, 2011

I also live in iowa. I have taken all of excelsiors theory tests and am currently working on my FCCA. I have applied for the CPNE but do not have a date yet. I don't think there is any problem with excelsior college students getting jobs in Iowa. As long as you pass your NCLEX and have RN behind your name you will be able to find a job. On another note...has anyone done the FCCA yet?? I am having trouble figuring out what they want me to put on it. My email is [email protected] if you can help in any way it would be much appreciated. I have been staring at it for days trying to figure it out.