Indiana State University LPN-BSN, Recommended or not??

chaxanmom · Mar 10, 2009

There are several of us here that are current students and have posted pretty extensively about it. :) In order to avoid being redundant and posting the same stuff over and over and over I'll just refer you to the ISU threads. There's 3 or so on this forum.

caliotter3 · Mar 12, 2009

I am not going through them because the school does nothing to provide the student with preceptors and clinical sites. Also, I don't like how they attempt to shove The College Network down the student's throat. Their program can be completed without the expense of TCN. This info is not emphasized to the student. I would not have known it had I not read about it in one of the threads on this site.

chaxanmom · Mar 13, 2009

That is not true that they do nothing to help with clinical sites. You decide where you want to go and they arrange the contract. Look, it's a school with students all over the country. Do people honestly expect them to set up thousands of contract all over the country *just in case* a student MIGHT go there someday? That's silly. You HAVE to be proactive in a distance program. That's just part of the gig. I completely understand wanting to ensure a site before forking over the money. That makes sense. However, I'm really not sure what people are expecting from ISU in this regard. My experience has been that they are remarkably helpful in arranging the contracts and very very open from the get-go about it being your responsibility to have a site that will take you. If you live somewhere where the hospitals don't want you, what specifically are you expecting ISU to do about that? Know what I mean? I get the impression from some posts that some are saying ISU is somehow neglectful or unhelpful if you are unable to find a site and I'm not sure what the expectation is.

caliotter3 · Mar 13, 2009

The expectation is that the school will do what it is being paid to do. Silly should be applied to specific examples of behavior and not used as a blanket response to an incorrect assumption.

chaxanmom · Mar 13, 2009

So exactly what is the school not doing that it is being paid to do? It is being paid to negotiate contracts with clinical sites that you submit info for. No more, no less. I'm still not sure where the problem is here. Would you mind clarifying what your issue is? The statement that you made regarding the school doing nothing to help with clinical sites is incorrect. Are you the one who had a problem getting a site in Chicago or am I totally thinking of someone else?

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 16, 2009

It's very common, even for some trad BSN programs, to have to set up your own clinicals, and have the school handle the contract.

ivanh3 · Mar 18, 2009

I had to set up all my own clinical sites, both undergrad and grad. Once I found the sites, the school and the site liaison hammered out the actual paperwork, but I did all the door knocking and legwork. That is pretty much the norm for distance programs. For grad school it is getting to be the norm for even the brick/mortar schools at least as far as advanced practice goes. In Atlanta, three of the big universities here require you to find your own preceptor/clinical site. They have a list they can give you of sites used by previous students, but they give everyone that list and so it can be competitive. I found two of my sites while doing a clinical and running across students from other programs. In some cases I literally printed out a bunch of resumes, put on a coat and tie and hit the street. So be forewarned: if finding your own site is not for you then I would not recommend distance learning.

sparkle823tami · Aug 11, 2010

I am pleased to report that I have tried Indiana State University online LPN to BSN pregram and it working out wonderfully. I am 2 -3 semesters away from completing the program. I was worried about the clinical arrangements, but this semester I am taking two clinical courses and the school provided me with an extensive list of contracted sites which I have made arrangements with already. Some of the hositals were not so eager to help, but it is possible to find a hospital and preceptor willing to help. I was so worried because of some previous post of students in the Chicago area not being able to get a preceptor for clinicals. For one of the clinicals I might have to travel 1 1 /2 hours away, but the nursing educator at the site said I could do every other weekend 12 hour shifts, so I will just spend those weekends there and get the 90 hours done in 4 weekends. I was able to set up the mental health clinical at a Chicago hospital, but they want me to do all 45 hours within a week or two, which is acceptable to my instructor. So just wanted to post beacause I know when I started out I was concerned and was looking for somebody to report their experience. It is an online course, which has it's pros and cons. I miss the classroom setting and the relationships you build with fellow students. For me though, trying to balance work and children, the online way is the only way possible to complete my RN BSN. Good luck to all, I will try to post again. Hopefully soo I will post graduated from program and passed RN Nclex!

janelles · Aug 11, 2010

I am pleased to report that I have tried Indiana State University online LPN to BSN pregram and it working out wonderfully. I am 2 -3 semesters away from completing the program. I was worried about the clinical arrangements, but this semester I am taking two clinical courses and the school provided me with an extensive list of contracted sites which I have made arrangements with already. Some of the hositals were not so eager to help, but it is possible to find a hospital and preceptor willing to help. I was so worried because of some previous post of students in the Chicago area not being able to get a preceptor for clinicals. For one of the clinicals I might have to travel 1 1 /2 hours away, but the nursing educator at the site said I could do every other weekend 12 hour shifts, so I will just spend those weekends there and get the 90 hours done in 4 weekends. I was able to set up the mental health clinical at a Chicago hospital, but they want me to do all 45 hours within a week or two, which is acceptable to my instructor. So just wanted to post beacause I know when I started out I was concerned and was looking for somebody to report their experience. It is an online course, which has it's pros and cons. I miss the classroom setting and the relationships you build with fellow students. For me though, trying to balance work and children, the online way is the only way possible to complete my RN BSN. Good luck to all, I will try to post again. Hopefully soo I will post graduated from program and passed RN Nclex!

Di you go through the College Network? How much did the program cost you? Is ISU a seperate cost? Are clinicals extra?

TashaLPN2006RN2012, ASN, RN · Aug 11, 2010

A friend of mine is doing the ISU lpn to rn and she was told she could do all the prereqs and undergrad credits through Ivy Tech which are all online! might be another option other than using TCN

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2010

Sounds like a HUGE hassle for an undergrad degree. If I am forking over lots of $$$ to a school I expect them to arrange clinicals and tell me where/when to report like Excelsior did for me with my CPNE. They know where I live once I register so they have plenty of time to make it happen. For Advanced practice it makes more sense because you should be an established member of your local medical community already and networking will be germain to your success after you graduate.