I am an LPN currently enrolled in EC and am working towards my first exam (Lifespan Development). Since I have only just started, I was looking into ISU as well but wanted to see what the pro's and con's of each were?
I understand you need to pass a CPNE with EC, but clinicals are Local with ISU. Is there a major cost difference? Are the classes the same? I understand both are approved in Florida.
Do they both off 'on your own pace' classes?
Any thoughts or suggestions from attendees of either would be great.
Ahhh! So ISU should take longer because it cannot be done at my pace ... it's based on an X Week Semester? How are exams handled online with ISU? Or are those taken through Pearson Vue or some other testing center?
Chaxanmom is the expert on ISU. You can check her posts on this thread if she doesn't respond to you in a timely matter. I think most of us on this thread are EC graduates/hopefuls/students. Hope this helps!
Florida looks like it's on the list, so I should be okay. I'm very curious as to how a sample class works with them (testing, assignments, period, etc)?
I have no idea. Chaxan should know because she is deep into it. I notice FL says something about 2nd app. Call your BON to double check ISU and ask if you will be able to get a preceptor for clinicals. Also if you do EC, there are sooooo many RB to BSN programs...just a thought.
I am an LPN currently enrolled in EC and am working towards my first exam (Lifespan Development). Since I have only just started, I was looking into ISU as well but wanted to see what the pro's and con's of each were?
I understand you need to pass a CPNE with EC, but clinicals are Local with ISU. Is there a major cost difference? Are the classes the same? I understand both are approved in Florida.
Do they both off 'on your own pace' classes?
Any thoughts or suggestions from attendees of either would be great.
Thank you in advance!
Hi Jasmine,
I'm on faculty with ISU in the BSN program. As an EC ADN and ISU/BSN grad, I can honestly say that ISU and EC are two entirely different educational paths to obtain your RN. EC operates by validating previous knowledge in the form of cognitive and psychomotor exams. The premise here is that you already have the knoweldge and skill and this needs only verification in the form of examination. ISU provides an educational product incorporating education previously obtained with current education provided by ISU's College of Nursing, Health and Human Service.
Consequently, education is provided by ISU is term-based. The format provided at ISU in which courses are diseminated is the blackboard format. Assignments are given, tests are administered and reading lists are provided all through this mechanism. For course work that involves clinical, you obtain your preceptor through local community resources. Since ISU has both RN-BSN and LPN-BSN, there are two different mechanisms provided for course negotiation. I'm not that familar with the LVN deal, but I do know it involves testing through ATI.
As far as general ed course work, there are several mechanisms for obtaining this credit. First, ISU will accept credit from any regionally accredit instituion. I know there was some discussion on this thread about how some credit will not be accepted. I found ISU to be very generous and liberal regarding this issue, so long as the school is regionally accredited by a US dept. of ed recognized accrediting body. Second, you can go through DANTES and take tests, to which ISU will provide credit. For more information, contact ISU transfer central for a list of DANTES tests and courses where the credit transfers in.
Third, you can take coursework directly through ISU. Although limited, ISU is getting better about adding distance ed general ed courses.
Forth, once you enroll in ISU, you can enrol in the Indiana State College Network (not the same as the college network). This network proides hundreds and hundreds of courses that ISU will accept from Indiana Colleges such as USI, IU, Purdue, etc. All of which are via distance.
Fifth, the University of Iowa has approximately 100 general ed courses, all of which can be taken online via distance.
As far as approval, ISU is approved in Florida. Unfortunately, ISU only has a few people in place who are in charge of applying with each of the fifty states BON's--all of which are like dealing with DMV, accept not as pleasant. ISU has always recieved approval in states where an effort has been placed. The states on the pending list are a work in progress. California, Georgia and Florida remain the most challenging states to work with and they all have approved ISU.
For more information, do give Kim Cooke a call at ISU. She is a wonderfull resource. Also, double check on the cost of the tuition. I read on this thread that the price is $500.00 per unit. That may be, but two years ago, I was paying around $280 or so. It might be different now though.
Ahhh! So ISU should take longer because it cannot be done at my pace ... it's based on an X Week Semester? How are exams handled online with ISU? Or are those taken through Pearson Vue or some other testing center?
It's based on, I believe, a 13 week semester. I'd have to look at a syllabus to say for sure but it's 13-15.
Exams depend on the class. We do ATI so those you need a proctor for. Unit exams are basically always done independently at home and are timed. Finals are either like that or done with a proctor. I've found that things that *really* matter in nursing practice are proctored. Like med-surg final is proctored, research is not. I use a community college testing center for my proctored exams.
Just an FYI, all of the ISU faculty already have advanced degrees completed. The prof for N450 is Dr. Gregory.
All professors on tenured track have MSNs or higher. Here is a list at least 7 of the 18 adjuncts who who don't. There might be more. The exception for adjunct faculty made are those of us, like me, who are marticulated with MSN programs.
All professors on tenured track have MSNs or higher. Here is a list at least 7 of the 18 adjuncts who who don't. There might be more. The exception for adjunct faculty made are those of us, like me, who are marticulated with MSN programs.
I'm on faculty with ISU in the BSN program. As an EC ADN and ISU/BSN grad, I can honestly say that ISU and EC are two entirely different educational paths to obtain your RN. EC operates by validating previous knowledge in the form of cognitive and psychomotor exams. The premise here is that you already have the knoweldge and skill and this needs only verification in the form of examination. ISU provides an educational product incorporating education previously obtained with current education provided by ISU's College of Nursing, Health and Human Service.
Consequently, education is provided by ISU is term-based. The format provided at ISU in which courses are diseminated is the blackboard format. Assignments are given, tests are administered and reading lists are provided all through this mechanism. For course work that involves clinical, you obtain your preceptor through local community resources. Since ISU has both RN-BSN and LPN-BSN, there are two different mechanisms provided for course negotiation. I'm not that familar with the LVN deal, but I do know it involves testing through ATI.
As far as general ed course work, there are several mechanisms for obtaining this credit. First, ISU will accept credit from any regionally accredit instituion. I know there was some discussion on this thread about how some credit will not be accepted. I found ISU to be very generous and liberal regarding this issue, so long as the school is regionally accredited by a US dept. of ed recognized accrediting body. Second, you can go through DANTES and take tests, to which ISU will provide credit. For more information, contact ISU transfer central for a list of DANTES tests and courses where the credit transfers in.
Third, you can take coursework directly through ISU. Although limited, ISU is getting better about adding distance ed general ed courses.
Forth, once you enroll in ISU, you can enrol in the Indiana State College Network (not the same as the college network). This network proides hundreds and hundreds of courses that ISU will accept from Indiana Colleges such as USI, IU, Purdue, etc. All of which are via distance.
Fifth, the University of Iowa has approximately 100 general ed courses, all of which can be taken online via distance.
As far as approval, ISU is approved in Florida. Unfortunately, ISU only has a few people in place who are in charge of applying with each of the fifty states BON's--all of which are like dealing with DMV, accept not as pleasant. ISU has always recieved approval in states where an effort has been placed. The states on the pending list are a work in progress. California, Georgia and Florida remain the most challenging states to work with and they all have approved ISU.
For more information, do give Kim Cooke a call at ISU. She is a wonderfull resource. Also, double check on the cost of the tuition. I read on this thread that the price is $500.00 per unit. That may be, but two years ago, I was paying around $280 or so. It might be different now though.
Thank you very much! Can you provide a PM with Kim Cook's contact information? Also, if I take tests at EC for General Education (Life Span, Microbiology, etc), can those be transferred into ISU?
What is ATI? Are they like a Pearson Vue? I've also seen quite a few references to DANTES -- what exactly is that? Is that also like a Pearson Vue?
What is the average length of a term? 8 weeks? 16 weeks? If I only take a class at a time, a 16 week semester would likely mean it would take me several decades to finish an LPN - BSN Track, no?
Thank you very much! Can you provide a PM with Kim Cook's contact information? Also, if I take tests at EC for General Education (Life Span, Microbiology, etc), can those be transferred into ISU?
What is ATI? Are they like a Pearson Vue? I've also seen quite a few references to DANTES -- what exactly is that? Is that also like a Pearson Vue?
What is the average length of a term? 8 weeks? 16 weeks? If I only take a class at a time, a 16 week semester would likely mean it would take me several decades to finish an LPN - BSN Track, no?
No worries. Kim's number is 888.293.4842. Tell her you were referred by a friend from Folsom State Prison (inside joke). She is such a wonderful person and ultimately the reason why I chose ISU over the other 15 or so distance ed programs.
I forgot to mention, before you take ANY gen ed courses for ISU requirements, run each course by your advisor or Joe Taylor at transfer central. He is quite the busy dude, but he was a savior back when I was completing the BSN. He will say yea or nea for any course that you propose to transfer in. This will save you a bunch of time and money.
Also, when you talk with Kim, ask her about the ATI deal for LVN-BSN, as I'm not sure how this works. I think (and could be wrong) for LPN's it is a mandatory measurment of program progress as you go through the course work and it is only for the LPN-BSN students.
Also, before you enroll, have a good idea of where your clinicals will be. Clinicals remain the biggest challenge. If you are in California and you enroll in ISU and have difficulties, let me know.
As far as the terms, there are three per year: Spring, Summer and Fall. Spring and Fall are 16 weeks, and the summer terms could be 6, 10 or 12 weeks, depending on the course you select (those numbers might have changed a bit for summer, so do inquire).
As far as DANTES, first get a list from ISU transfer central related to which tests transfer in for which courses, then Google DANTES for exam specifics.
As far as how quick you can negotiate the process, it depends on you and your time schedule. I finished the RN-BSN in 16 months, but I still think that's a record. I will say, for N450-community nursing, I strongly recommend that you not take any other coursework with this class. Its brutal, but extremly worth the time you put into it.
Some students take many years to complete. Some finish quite quickly. As an example, there are students in the course I teach at ISU that were the same students I started with as a student in the BSN program. It all depends on your time frame and goals and what is realistic for your schedule.
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
No, EC's BSN program has been around for years. And there are a LOT of online BSN programs - clinicals stop being an issue.