Indiana State University BSN Thread for Current Students

Aleisha and others looking into ISU, PLEASE remember that you absolutely do NOT have to buy the modules from The College Network to get into or complete the ISU LVN to BSN program! The 4 nursing modules would be very beneficial because the test questions come from many of the review questions in the module. I just started my senior year and have utilized the Distance Education Office to help me find online courses to complete any GE courses. All you have to do is call and let them know what classes you need and then you will receive an e-mail with the courses they have found for you. Many of the GE classes are offered online through Ivy Tech, community College in Indiana. Your financial aid takes care of these classes and your transcripts show that all classes are from ISU.

Hello everyone. I just applied to the LPN-BSN program at ISU to start this summer and I think I just need 1 more prereq, but I haven't got my transcript evaluation yet. I hope I'm not repeating a question here, but on phase 2 do you have to do that all through TCN and pay them or can it come out of your ISU financial aid? and if anyone knows about how much phase 2 costs that would be great too.

Thanks a lot!

Phase 2 - I believe you are talking about the ISU 4 challenge tests? No--the challenge tests has nothing to do with TLN. If you want to buy TLN readiness courses, they would be happy sign you up to provide for the online book or provide you a book (if you prefer) for each challenge test. Should you sign up for the readiness courses you will pay TLC $1800-2000.

You can study on your own using your own books, notes, NCLEX study info, etc. Once you pay 1/2 of the charge to ISU for a challenge test, the distant learning program will give you access to the ISU blackboard. At that site, you will find the syllibus for the test you chose to challenge. You will NOT get access to the syllibus untill you pay half of the test tuition..so pay early to get test syllibus/content.

Don't get too excited, the syllibus is not that informative. It will give you some general guidelines. It will not tell you what to study or the areas of study. For instance it may say: the syllibus may say, by the end of the course the student will understand:

Patient assessment;

will able to prepare a nursing diagnosis for (some problem);

will understand the symptoms of ABC disease.........

The syllibus will give you general course info. From what I have seen (from paying for TLC challenge readiness courses, the info TLC covers reflects info covered in my previous nursing classes for that subject and what is in the text book. Other than the mental health TLC readiness course for mental health, the other 3 readiness courses have 30-40 chapters to read and absorb.

Financial aid: You qualify for financial aid only when accepted into the distant nursing program and are taking nursing classes. You do not qualify for financial aid when during the 4 challenge courses because you are not a student. Once you pass the 4 courses, you can then apply to the nursing dept for admission. If you do not have a bachelors degree and depending on your financial status, you may qualify (the FASLA determination will tell you your student financial responsibility. If you have a bachelors already, you may not get financial aid (school grants, etc)---other than borrowing money.

Clearly, it is important to get an assessment of your transcripts by ISU.

Best to you :redpinkhe

Is it possible to finish phase 2 in 1 semester? I am hoping to finish it in the fall semester if I can and hopefully be fully admitted in the nursing program in the spring.

Wow thanks for that info guys. Kinda sounds like this isn't going to be as easy as I thought, but thanks for the good info. I just got my acceptance letter from the school and am waiting on them to evaluate my transcripts so I am hoping I only have 1 prereq to take and I can get started on phase 2 in the fall.

:redpinkhe

Is it possible to finish phase 2 in 1 semester? I am hoping to finish it in the fall semester if I can and hopefully be fully admitted in the nursing program in the spring.

You are in distant learning; the challenge tests are taken at your own speed. If you know the info, take the challenge tests without study. How long it takes will depend on you ability to pass and move on to the next challenge test. A semester...are you discussing 20 weeks? That may be possible - 20 wks/4 tests = 5 weeks to study each test. Sounds workable to me. It all depends on the amount of time you put into studying.

I started early Jan 2010 and am now studying for the 2nd test.

It would be nice to hear from others. :redpinkhe

Hello everyone. I just applied to the LPN-BSN program at ISU to start this summer and I think I just need 1 more prereq, but I haven't got my transcript evaluation yet. I hope I'm not repeating a question here, but on phase 2 do you have to do that all through TCN and pay them or can it come out of your ISU financial aid? and if anyone knows about how much phase 2 costs that would be great too.

Thanks a lot!

As long as you dedicate study time you can complete the 4 CSMs by the fall. You do not have to purchase the study modules from TCN to take these exams, however, they are very helpful. You are responsible for paying for the modules, testing fee, and proctor fee if it applies. I would advise checking with a local university for a proctor since they ususally have a testing center. That is what I did and they only charged $35 to proctor an exam. The test fee is based on the units for each course and the tuition that ISU charges.

To reiterate, you DO NOT have to purchase any study modules from TCN, The College Network. There are sales reps that will tell you this and it is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE!!!!!

So has anyone graduated from this program yet? Are the online courses more difficult compared to in classroom? I took the first semester of my nursing school online, but classroom for the rest so I'm a little familiar with how it all works, just wondering how those 300/400 level classes are online.

Thanks

[color=#002060]1. “so has anyone graduated from this program yet? yes. the distant learning staff indicated they just graduated their first distant learning (dl) nursing class last december 09. the amount of students who passed versus who started the program (retention) was not discussed. nor was a comparison of how the di students did with the regular nursing students.

[color=#002060]2. are the online courses more difficult compared to in classroom? no, the challenge courses are similar to what i studied in a regular bsn program. i bought the challenge prep books from the college network (tcn), and the books follow the regular rn nursing textbooks. the prep tests in tcn prep book conformed to the challenge test (they were not the same but tlc questions were similar to the rn nclex prep books for the same subject.) however, you do not have to buy tlc challenge prep courses to take the challenge exams. if you wish, save money. buy used nursing books for the same exam and something like lippincott’s “how to get a’s in ____ (med/surg, peds, psych, or mother/child—to name a few of these types of books).

[color=#002060]3. i took the first semester of my nursing school online, but classroom for the rest so i'm a little familiar with how it all works, just wondering how those 300/400 level classes are online.” i wish i could give you info. since i attended a bsn program at a regular university, i wanted info. you are asking the same info i asked of the dl administrative staff. they could not give me any info especially about the model the nursing school follows; what is required of their care plans; or, how what is required in the class and in clinical, etc. possibly if more students asked these questions, we could get more info—hint, hint..then share with the rest of us... possibly there is a isu di student here who could answer the question.

however, i was told that there is no difference in the work or study between the dl and regular students. we take the same classes along with the regular students. i do not know if we will be matched up with regular students—such as doing work via blackboard. that should be interesting if we were. of note, once you are in the program, there is a student nurse website where students can chat about various informal topics.

the one thing i like about di is it will cut down on my commute and increase my study time. here in los angeles there was a recent study that people waste a min of 84 hrs a year sitting in traffic. when i was in the rn bsn program, i spent a minimum of 3 hrs each day commuting and i was going 3-4 days a week (at a minimum). imagine those lost study hours.

for those of you facing the monster snow, di would keep you warm and safe and off the roads---at least until we start the clinical. think about the isu students who are stuck in the snow trying to get to their classes…or have had class cancelled—which means the professor will have to double time the instruction or the student will have to study on their own. di works for me.

stay warm and safe

So has anyone graduated from this program yet? Are the online courses more difficult compared to in classroom? I took the first semester of my nursing school online, but classroom for the rest so I'm a little familiar with how it all works, just wondering how those 300/400 level classes are online.

Thanks

The online courses are the same course as the students on campus. They aren't more difficult. They do require you to stay motivated since you generally have a full week to complete tasks and assignments, which can allow for procrastination. There is more writing in some classes since we aren't actually in clinical with our instructors. Some clinical classes require a clinical log describing the activities and skills completed during clinical. I'm taking 2 400 level courses this semester and they have a lot of work but nothing that can't be handled. You just have to make time to study and do your assignments. Hope this helps.

Thanks guys. You give a lot of good info. I have 1 pre-reg to take this semester and then it will be time for phase 2 so I'm ready to get started and this program would be great for me so I can work full time since the program here at the community college requires so much of your time to be on campus or here or there for clinical

Where can you get the study modules other than the TCN?

Phase II cost $66 per credit hour. You pay half to register for the test and the other half when you pass it.