Indiana State University BSN students

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Here's a new sticky for students involved in online/distance BSN programs through Indiana State University. Enjoy!

I met with TCN they gave me a written list of all the pre classes, who offered the testing to cover them and when in the program they are due (there are 10 "first" ones that have to be done before any nursing courses can be taken.) The rest can be done before graduating. I purchased as many TCN modules as I could off Ebay -paid $20-$50 each, but have just slowly got one here and there until I've just about the whole set. Now I have started scheduling the tests, that's pretty easy- each place has it's own site to schedule..excelsior,clept ...A couple I'm going to take at the CC. I'll go back and sign up with TCN when I have done as much as I can on my own.

Good Luck

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Yeah I second the suggestion of meeting with TCN to get the list of pre-reqs. It's all spelled out nice and neat for you and takes the legwork out of finding out what CLEPs, etc are available. Just make a pact with yourself before the meeting that you won't sign anything at all at that first meeting. Helps you avoid signing on an impulse because they are good salespeople. :) Then you can always go back and use them if you need to but you aren't locked into a contract then.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi!

Glad we have this forum!

I have read each and every post here and I wanted to just add some information which I didn't think I read anywhere ...

Like some stated Phase I is the general ed requirements taken "predominatly outside of ISU" while Phases II and III are a combination of general ed electives and nsg courses "predominantly taken at ISU"

After completing Phase I you then apply to ISU and have your official transcripts sent to ISU Admissions Office.

OK!

Other requirements:

LPNs will take the TEAS exam for entrance into the Nursing Program. This will begin for the Spring 07 Semester. Your exam scores will need to completed by Nov. 1st and sent with your College of Nursing application. http://www.indstate.edu/site/nurs/3240.html For more information on the TEAS exam and ATI Testing, please e-mail Michele Pantle at: [email protected]

Other Info:

All nursing courses are completed online. Even though the courses are online and self-paced, they are within the traditional Fall and Spring semester time frame and taught by on-campus faculty members.

Clinicals will be done in the state where you reside, with a preceptor at a local facility. This link is the FAQ for the delivery of clinical education for the LPN-BS Distance Education

Track: http://www.indstate.edu/site/nurs/pdfs/faq-lpn-bs-clinical.pdf

In regards to the TEAS exam, once you complete Phase I (general ed requirements) you will purchase the web-based test from ISU book store. You will need to have a Preceptor who monitors the exam. This person must be approved by ISU. You must score between a 38-40%. This is based off of 100 nursing students who take this exam. The exam is said to be 11th grade level of English, reading, math, and science.

OK!

I also thought it would be important to note that you need to take ATI test after each nursing course before you can enroll for the next nsg course/class:uhoh3:

More info:

Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI)

ATI's Comprehensive Assessment and Review Program has been adopted by the College of Nursing for pre-RN licensure students to strengthen the student's knowledge base throughtout the nursing program and prepare students for the NCLEX-RN state licensing examination. A portion of the program will be utilized in identified courses to enhance mastery of nursing content, assess students' strengths and areas of deficiency, and to remediate as needed. Scores on proctored examinations for nursing content areas falling below the 60th percentile rank for BSN programs nationally will require proof of remediation and retesting for successful completion of the course.

I recently passed my boards. I have most of the pre-reqs from colleges/univ I attended prior to lpn school. So really, I was just waiting to get my lpn license, which I now have. But, I am still considering this route, the ONLY draw back for me at the moment is this ATI testing which the ISU school of nursing have adopted. My lpn school had that as well, and I didn't quite do as well on those tests. ATI is really not my favorite type of exam. Other than that, based on the research and the information I have to date I really think the ISU program is a good one, which requires full dedication

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

For those of you sho are doing ISU. I know you can get a list of cllass requirement through TCN. Who do you go through to set up the tests, and if you do not want to purchase the TCN modules and want to try and buy them on ebay or use text books can you later go back to TCN and just purchase what you have not been able to find? Guess my main question is can you just purchase a little here and there or do you have to buy a package from TCN? I have read so many different threads and posts.

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For those of you sho are doing ISU. I know you can get a list of cllass requirement through TCN. Who do you go through to set up the tests, and if you do not want to purchase the TCN modules and want to try and buy them on ebay or use text books can you later go back to TCN and just purchase what you have not been able to find? Guess my main question is can you just purchase a little here and there or do you have to buy a package from TCN? I have read so many different threads and posts.

You can just purchase a little here and there. For Excelsior tests you go through them, same thing with CLEP and Dantes tests but I forget the links for them. You can google though.

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

I woulnt be doing excelsior as CA BON does not accept it only option I have is SSU/ISU for distant learning.

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I woulnt be doing excelsior as CA BON does not accept it only option I have is SSU/ISU for distant learning.

I know. But some of the tests (A&P, Micro, Patho, etc) are Excelsior exams. Excelsior is a school but it's also a testing provider like CLEP or Dantes. I'm doing ISU as well. :)

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

Oh ok I understand so I wouldn't be enrolled in Exclesior just testing with them through ISU. Are any of the test on line or do you go to a testing center?

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Oh ok I understand so I wouldn't be enrolled in Excelsior just testing with them through ISU. Are any of the test on line or do you go to a testing center?

Right but you won't be testing *through* ISU. Just independently like with CLEPs. You go to Pearson Professional Center to take those tests.

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

Ok so they would just send the results to ISU that the courses were completed and ISU would credit them. I read that part on clep web page.

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Ok so they would just send the results to ISU that the courses were completed and ISU would credit them. I read that part on clep web page.

The difference with Excelsior versus CLEP and Dantes is that rather than saying send my results to ISU you have to request a transcript from them. I waited until I did all the pre-reqs I needed to from Excelsior and then requested the transcript so I only had to do it once. It's like $12 I think.

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

Thanks for the tip, and for all the info you have given I appreciate it so much.I'm gonna call tomorrow the number I have that was listed on the CA BON to get info. Wich is the best place to get a list of all the courses needed and where to test for them ( excelsior, clep dante)?

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