Anyone did the Indiana State University LPN to BSN online?

Nursing Students Indiana (ISU)

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I'm thinking of getting my RN online and looking at doing it through excelsior college or indiana state university? Alot of people been giving advice about excelsior but does anyone know anything about indian state university and there program?

xLaurax said:
@caliotter3, I've been reading on previous threads that TCN should be avoided. Do you have experience with ISU? I'll more than likely just tell ISU that I'm not going to deal with TCN if it's not needed. I don't need a middle man, I just want to get my RN and be done with school for awhile.

I was interested in ISU, but when I called to talk to someone about it and have my questions answered, I was (almost rudely) referred to TCN, even when I insisted that I had no desire to deal with TCN. That made my decision for me. I haven't looked at ISU since, but I still get inundated with ISU and TCN spam email.

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caliotter3 said:
I was interested in ISU, but when I called to talk to someone about it and have my questions answered, I was (almost rudely) referred to TCN, even when I insisted that I had no desire to deal with TCN. That made my decision for me. I haven't looked at ISU since, but I still get inundated with ISU and TCN spam email.

Just wondering, to whom did you settle for an LVN to RN program?

I have contacted ISU lately and so far, they have been informative. The only thing that they mentioned is that if you failed the challenge exams, you would have to go through ISU, which could be a deal breaker.

I have most of the prereq's, just have to take chem, but looking for a school in Northern Cali.

Like almost everywhere else, wait lists here are ridiculous, and as time goes by, I fear that there will be additional

requirements (ie. more classes, recentcy requirements) that might be tacked on.

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I am currently looking at . Unlike ISU, they provide clinical placements. And there is no mention of TCN anywhere on their website or printed info.

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deemonee said:
Hello,

Im completing the prereqs as what ISU wants but I am having difficulty trying to find a proctor for exams. Does anyone know of a proctor service that is provided in California?

BTW, its great to hear that you are enjoying the program so far, gives me confidence that I am going in the right direction. I also had distance learning in the past and am very comfortable with it.

There are colleges who will proctor your exam. There is a distant learning association that will provide the names of the schools and/or facilities who will proctor. These schools and their proctors charge anywhere from $25 an hour or $35-50 for the entire test. Some will do it for a nominal price. If all else fails, go to Pearson. They will be more than willing to take your money. Libraries often proctor--but it must be by someone on their staff. Finding a proctor for your exams sounds daunting but it is not that difficult.

Hope this helps

1 Votes
deemonee said:
Just wondering, to whom did you settle for an LVN to RN program?

I have contacted ISU lately and so far, they have been informative. The only thing that they mentioned is that if you failed the challenge exams, you would have to go through ISU, which could be a deal breaker.

I have most of the prereq's, just have to take chem, but looking for a school in Northern Cali.

Like almost everywhere else, wait lists here are ridiculous, and as time goes by, I fear that there will be additional

requirements (ie. more classes, recentcy requirements) that might be tacked on.

If you fail a challenge exam, you can retake it (and pay another fee) once again. If you fail it at that time, ISU states that you MUST buy TCN book that corresponds to the failed exam. The cost is about $500 for the corresponding E-book. Most people prepare before signing up to take the exam and do fine.

1 Votes
caliotter3 said:
I was interested in ISU, but when I called to talk to someone about it and have my questions answered, I was (almost rudely) referred to TCN, even when I insisted that I had no desire to deal with TCN. That made my decision for me. I haven't looked at ISU since, but I still get inundated with ISU and TCN spam email.

Regretfully I don't think you where on the actual indstate.edu site.

The college network has a site that has the name Indiana State posted all over it but the contact info is all TCN.

I found the site to be a little deceptive since it is not obvious that it isn't the ISU website.

When I requested info from the actual Indiana State University site I just got an email from them and no marketing from TCN.

Dennis

1 Votes

Oh, I was on the phone. And I made certain it was ISU, I was talking to. Why I called them. I made certain that it was not TCN I was talking to. That is why I was so surprised that they would so rudely refer me to TCN.

2 Votes
Specializes in Addiction, Psych, Geri, Hospice, MedSurg.
woody9314 said:
Thanks for the input and info on ISU's LVN/LPN to BSN program. I am BSN student at ISU and am just finishing my first semester. The program is very good. As others have said, it does require a lot of self discipline and use of goof time management skills. I think the eduction is very similar, if not the exact same, as what you would receive in a 'in class' BSN program. The only flaw with the program, from my experience, is that you must maintain your LPN or LVN license while completing clinicals. When I started ISU's BSN program I was living in CA and working as a LVN. I received my LVN license through CA's military challenge option, as I was a prior Corpsman. I've recently move to WI, and found out that WI will not let me transfer my LVN license here, because I did not attend an accredited LPN/LVN program. So now, I may not be able to continue in ISU's program because I will not be able to get a WI LPN license. This seems very odd to me. If was not a LPN/LVN and applied to any BSN program as a generic entry student, I would participate in clinicals as a BSN student, not as a LPN/LVN. Very frustrating to say the least.

This is because you will be acting as your own pre-ceptor and doing clinicals on your own. If you were a student, you would be doing it on the instructor's license... Are CA/WI compact states? If so, your CA license would/should be sufficient to practice under in WI. That is pretty crappy that they won't recognize it because it was done through the military programming and not a "college." Have you contacted the board directly? There may be some sort of provision if you hand in your military documentation, they usually do for military.

I know this is an "out there" suggestion, but one I am sure you are used to since you were military (I am a military spouse), and one you may have thought of. In the immediate future, if WI won't recognize your license, is there a way to move to another state to get credit for that (LPN school credit) year, because any transition program you go through in WI is going to require you to have your license. Even if you can only do so for a year, you can do an LPN to RN bridge, get your license, then WI will recognize that one as you go on for your BSN.

Good luck. I sure hope you can find a way around that, or that the board will be able to assist you.

1 Votes
Specializes in Addiction, Psych, Geri, Hospice, MedSurg.

Here is the link to the ISU information: https://www.indstate.edu/online/undergraduate

While they SUGGEST you take the 4 TCN classes, I would NOT! You can clep out, or even take the classes with your community college. TCN charges are astronomical - even if you buy their books on ebay... rediculous. That said, I've known many people who have gone that route, since they are one of only a few that provide online LPN to RN.

I was so excited to find ISU... and find a way around TCN. But, looking into it, it actually got me motivated enough to start with my pre-reqs both online with another community college and in-class classes with my community college. One thing led to another and I will be starting my local college bridge program for the RN.

In my circumstance, it is more convenient, easier (no worry finding proctors or finding my own clinical sites), and more cost effective (instead of 2 years, I will grad in 1, have my RN degree so, I will be getting paid as an RN while I finish up with my BSN) to just go now and get my RN done straight away.

Good luck!!

1 Votes
deedbr said:
Regretfully I don't think you where on the actual indstate.edu site.

The college network has a site that has the name Indiana State posted all over it but the contact info is all TCN.

I found the site to be a little deceptive since it is not obvious that it isn't the ISU website.

When I requested info from the actual Indiana State University site I just got an email from them and no marketing from TCN.

Dennis

Dennis, just google Indiana State University+LPN to BSN nursing

that should get you to the ISU nursing dept website

1 Votes
Specializes in OB/GYN.

I am just about finished with my LPN program. TCN was at the hospital I was doing clinicals at, and they gave me a bunch of paperwork. I then did some research and found out it was a lot cheaper to just deal with ISU directly.

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The info you received is accurate. However, I do wish TCN would put the following in bold

"ISU has established a partnership in education with The College Network (TCN) to offer this progressive Bachelor of Science in nursing program for busy nurses. TCN is a national leader in publishing educational materials for several colleges and universities and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. This organization does not award credit or degrees. They offer Comprehensive Learning Modules (CLMs) that prepare students for equivalency examinations for general education courses that they have not previously completed and are not available online through ISU."

The process of entering into the ISU distant nursing program sound daunting. However, the only thing you need to do is: first--apply to the university, which will give your your student ID, and submit your transcripts to admission; second --arrannge for and pass the 4 nursing challenge exams.

Once you have passed these exams, you are required to provide all the documentation to the nursing department--the requirements are outlined. When all the paperwork is completed, and you are accepted into the program by the dept, they will send you a letter inviting you to join the next class. You can accept, decline or postpone and wait another semester.

Essentially, TCN has provided you the same information that is available on the ISU lpn to bsn distant learning site. Again, you do not need TCN to transfer to ISU.

1 Votes
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