**(this is the email i got back from ISU regaurding their LPN to BSN degree, and approved states)***some one may want to sticky this!
Thank you for your interest in Indiana State University's distance programs. The LPN to BSN program is a bachelor degree-completion program via distance learning .
ISU has an exclusive contract with The College Network so as to provide the study guides for the initial phase of the program. There are three phases to the LPN-BSN Track.
Phase I are Gen Ed requirements that will need to be completed with The College Network or a local college in your area. When acquiring Gen Ed requirements, 50 credit hours need to be at a 300 or 400 level course. Some of these courses are available at ISU. If you have a previous degree, some or all of the credits may transfer into the College of Nursing. After completing Phase I you then apply to ISU http://www.indstate.edu/join_us/admissions.htm. You will then fill out a second application with the College of Nursing http://www.indstate.edu/site/nurs/pdfs/con-admission-application.doc
Enrollment requirements include: (due by Nov 1st for Spring Semester) (due by June 1st for Fall Semester)
Send all the below Supporting Documentation to Kim Cook by FAX or MAIL:
Ø Come in with 2.5 minimal GPA. Maintain a 2.25 GPA throughout your courses.
Ø National Criminal background check. A new and easy service is provided to you by http://www.CertifiedBackground.com Your Package Code is: ND57 Send copy.
Ø Must be licensed as a LPN. Send copy of license with line marked thru.
These entrance copies will be kept in your file at the College of Nursing/Student Affairs Office, 749 Chestnut St., Room 328, Terre Haute, IN 47809. All nursing courses are completed online. Even though the courses are online and self-paced, they are within the traditional Fall and Spring semesters and taught by on-campus faculty members.
Then clinicals will be done in the state where you reside, with a preceptor at a local facility. This link is the FAQ (frequently asked questions) 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
Please take a moment to subscribe to Distance News at help you start and complete your distance courses.
Our LPN-BSN distance education program has been RECOGNIZED or APPROVED in the following states:
Alabama
Colorado
District of Columbia
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois (need to approve each clinical site)
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John)
Virginia
Wisconsin
We are continuing to work with the other states in supplying them with the required information for their recognition or approval
If you have further questions, please let us know.
Can someone please PM me (I can't figure it out!) on the info with ISU? I am desperate to find an online LPN-RN program, and TCN and Exselsior have had such bad reviews.. I really don't want to get screwed over, but I need to be able to work my full time job AND work on my degree!! Is there any way to go through ISU and NOT through TCN? Thanks!!
can someone please pm me (i can't figure it out!) on the info with isu? i am desperate to find an online lpn-rn program, and tcn and exselsior have had such bad reviews.. i really don't want to get screwed over, but i need to be able to work my full time job and work on my degree!! is there any way to go through isu and not through tcn? thanks!!
yes you do not need tcn or excelsior. excelsior is different from isu for it has no clinicals and you study at your own pace. at isu, you must do clinicals in your area and you must take the lecture class with the other online students--you study on your own but have goals to reach each week, etc. go to the isu nursing website for the lpn to bsn program. it will list the prerequisites and the general educational classes you must have to apply to the program. (those classes can be taken at a local community college). once you apply, you will need to pass 4 challenge coursees. then you are admited on an interim basis till you pass the first two courses at isu.
Specializes in Long term care, orthopedics, med-surg..
Lady in Scrubs....I've applied to ISU....I've got a question though..you put that you can take your General Education requirements at your local college. I also know that ISU has a partnership with Ivy Tech. Are you able to take your prerequisites through them online? I also know that ISU accepts Straighterline courses, too....Thanks!
Lady in Scrubs....I've applied to ISU....I've got a question though..you put that you can take your General Education requirements at your local college. I also know that ISU has a partnership with Ivy Tech. Are you able to take your prerequisites through them online? I also know that ISU accepts Straighterline courses, too....Thanks!
ISU is associated with Ivy Tech. I do not know which classes they offer--you need to check with Ivy Tech/ISU. As far as gen ed classes, you can take them at a community college for less money that you will pay at the univesity level. As far as the prerequisites, you may be able to take non-lab classes, but I don't know if you can take lab classes (chem, A&P, Micro, and??) You certainly could take psychology, sociology, humanities courses, foreign language, English, etc. through Ivy Tech or your community college. I do not know if ISU will allow you to CLEP out--aka study at your own rate and take a challenge test for the class. Contact a counselor with ISU or contact the nursing dept directly (do not rely on what TCN tells you).
Once you get all your prerequisites done, you still need to apply to the university, take the 4 challenge exams as well as any general ed courses required to graduate with a bachelors. Finally, you must take the nursing courses.
ISU is associated with Ivy Tech. I do not know which classes they offer--you need to check with Ivy Tech/ISU. As far as gen ed classes, you can take them at a community college for less money that you will pay at the univesity level. As far as the prerequisites, you may be able to take non-lab classes, but I don't know if you can take lab classes (chem, A&P, Micro, and??) You certainly could take psychology, sociology, humanities courses, foreign language, English, etc. through Ivy Tech or your community college. I do not know if ISU will allow you to CLEP out--aka study at your own rate and take a challenge test for the class. Contact a counselor with ISU or contact the nursing dept directly (do not rely on what TCN tells you).
Once you get all your prerequisites done, you still need to apply to the university, take the 4 challenge exams as well as any general ed courses required to graduate with a bachelors. Finally, you must take the nursing courses.
Hi Ladyinscrubs, i am really interested to get into this program next august 2012. As i noticed you are in the program, if dont mind i would to ask you a couple of questions. I am planning on taking the challenge test beginning this december but im not sure if i should get the college network study guide or i can just review from the LPN books i have for the designated tests and chapters i am going to have the test? Also what level of difficulty those tests are? And I am a little confuse about the tuition since college network told me and im in florida , im not sure how much the tuition will be? Since you are in the program what type of advise would suggest to have, how determined you need to be and dedication, basically what is the content and how is the program itself? maybe some of your experience would really help me in my decision. Anything you would think and advise will greatly appreciate.
I just want to take the time out to thank all of you who have personally taken the time out to tell me about your experiences. I have met with an ISU counselor on Tuesday and we will be meeting again today Thursday. I am all over him well informed with a couple of etra dollars in my pocket thanks to your advice in this thread. WOOHOOO!
i am planning on taking the challenge test beginning this december but im not sure if i should get the college network study guide or i can just review from the lpn books i have for the designated tests and chapters i am going to have the test? allnurses has had numerous discussions about the tcn study guides. they are expensive and they change the guides once a year. i don't advise the tcn guides because they cost about $525 each.
when you are ready to contact isu about the challenge exams, and pay half of the cost up front for the first test, the nursing department will provide you a study guide about what to study. the isu test study guide is similar to a final exam study guide the professor gives you. it will highlight areas that might be on the test. that study guide should be enough to help you. what i did was go though the study guide and fill in the info from my nursing textbooks.
i advise getting the nursing texts that the school uses for that class...of if you have a rn nursing text for the subject, that helps. i used a comprehensive subject and test nclex refiew book as well as lippincotts review books for the subject of the test. even if you bought all the nursing books and nclex study guides new, you would pay less than the $525 charge. however, if you do not pass the exam the first time, isu will make you buy the isu study guide before they allow you to pay for the test again and take it. you can fail the tests 3 times. if you don't pass on the third try, you are no longer a candidate.
i studied every day and was able to take an exam every 3 weeks or so..and i passed each the first time. it was hard work, though.
also what level of difficulty those tests are? they are very similar to taking a final exam. if you review the rn nclex book, you will have a good idea what the questions are like. the first and last test was easier. second average, and third the hardest.
once you pass the challenge exams, you must pass the transition class and the assessment class (which is a clinical). when you do, you are admitted as a student into the program and will be given credit for the challenge classes.
and i am a little confuse about the tuition since college network told me and im in florida , im not sure how much the tuition will be? tuition for the lpn to bsn program depends on how many gen ed courses you must take to graduate with your bsn, whether you have taken all your prerequisites (and whether you take it with tcn or at a community college) or whether your transfer with an aa or bachelor's degree. isu lists the tuition price on its financial site. price for each class is based on the # of class hours or credits a class has. additionally, there is an extra charged added each semester on because we are distant learning students. they charge distant learning students about half the tuition that non resident students pay.
there are 2 lpn to bsn programs - one for california and one for the rest of the country. those outside calif will matriculate through the program at a faster rate than those of us in calif because the calif bon requires that calif student take only one clinical a semester. there are 6 clinicals and 8 didactic classes which means a minimum of 2.5 years, if one goes summer. outside calif, you can take more clinical classes per semester.
since you are in the program what type of advise would suggest to have, how determined you need to be and dedication, basically what is the content and how is the program itself? to be honest, the nursing program is nursing school and the distant learning program is more rigorous than regular nursing school because isu must account for the hours we put into the program. if we were in a nursing class and just listening to a lecture, that time is counted. however, because we are not in a class, the school gives us extra work to account for the time we must spend in the program. nursing school is not easy but everyone comes from a different background. i don't know how you study or if you are comfortable writing, have computer skills, etc. writing ability is a high requirement as that is the only way you will interact and provide info to the professor. there will be many research discussion board posts that need to be posted.
maybe some of your experience would really help me in my decision. anything you would think and advise will greatly appreciate. the truth is you will have your hand full if you work full time or have little ones at home. if that is so, then take only one class a semester. it will take longer to get through, but the stress will be less. you must be able to set a schedule to study and do the required work. it is helpful if you have a calendar and write in the times and what you need to cover for each day. that way you can sit down each week and go over what must be covered and allot time.
it is not an easy program, but you do not have to drive to the college and can work at your own rate--given the goals that must be accomplished each week. this is not an independent study program. the professor will give you an outline of things that you must do and turn in for the week. everything is due every sunday.
for those outside calif (the bon requires isu find clinical placements), you are required to find your own placements. sometimes that is difficult and sometime it is not. isu states that it is not responsible for finding your clinicals. some students have had to drive a distance to get a clinical site. it all depends on how much competition there is for a clinical site and whether the clinical site is aware of isu and will allow you to do your rotation there.
I have to change my proctor because i moved recently. What testing centers are you using for exams????????????? My local library had a testing center but now its a bit far to travel. Thanks
Thank you so much , those information will be very helpful, and i am planning on contacting the nursing department to ask about the study guide. I really dont mind the hard work, an d have had online classes before where i have to post discussions every week and more. I also already took my AA, so i have mostly all the prerequisiste, just need a few more as required by ISU. Now you said to get the RN NCLEX book, i only have PN NCLEX books like Saunders and Kaplan and my MEd surg book which contains the chapters of Mental aspects and more. do you think those will works with the ISU study guide. You said the assessment class is a clinical class, so should i already looking for a preceptor and clinical site ( if school provide a list) or is it jus a regular class, where there is lecture and clinical?. WHat about for clinical, does ISU suppose to give a list of clinical site to contact too see they will accept me there or i choose my own site? Again thank you so much for your informations, i really appreciate them.
Thanks I am looking forward but I have a quick question for you or maybe someone else can answer. I met with the rep and I told him I was interested in the program. With the exception of Pathophysiology I have covered all the ge's with my BA and all the other pre reqs. When I told him I was not interested in purchasing the customized materials his whole disposition changed and he confidently stated he was not sure that I could do that so he asked me to call the University and find out. So I did not proceed from there because it is easier for you to keep your money when it's in hand than it is for you to give it back. I called the University today and I have just been receiving voicemails. Any advice or thoughts on what I should do now? I would appreciate any feedback from anyone thanks.
AprilN, BSN, RN
17 Posts
Can someone please PM me (I can't figure it out!) on the info with ISU? I am desperate to find an online LPN-RN program, and TCN and Exselsior have had such bad reviews.. I really don't want to get screwed over, but I need to be able to work my full time job AND work on my degree!! Is there any way to go through ISU and NOT through TCN? Thanks!!