LPN to BSN @ Indiana State U...here is the info i got!!!

kstoerger · Nov 2, 2011

The BSN program she is attending is 16 months. She started in January of this year and will graduate in May of 2012. She completed all her Gen Eds prior to entering the program, as have I. I once you in this program, how long does it take to complete?

She is attending Lakeview College of Nursig in Danville IL

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Nov 2, 2011

i once you are in this program, how long does it take to complete?

you need to contact isu. there are two programs distant leraning programs at isu for their lvn to bsn. one authorized by the calif bon which requires that a student take only 1 clinical per semester. outside calif that is not the problem. i only know the calif program.

for us, there are 6 clinicals and 8 didactic classes (if you already have all your geds done or have a previous bachelors). so, for calif students--if one started jan 2011, then graduation would be dec 2012 or june 2013, depending on how it works out. for those students outside calif, you may be able to matriculate faster.

there are other issues that may affect when one graduates: will the school offer summer classes? will it be only one summer class or two? during the first semester, some students take only the transition/pharm class the first semester and second semester they take the assessment class with the lab class. after the first 2 semesters, they take the clinical with the didactic portion together after that. this will extend the time it takes to graduate.

remember that this is a distant learning program. those non distant learning nursinng programs may be able to matriculate faster.

kally24d · Nov 7, 2011

HI Lady scrubs,

ITs me again , with my questions ...lol they approve my proctor this week, so im getting ready to take the first challenge exams NUR106, now i just wanted to know how many questions those exams have and also once i get into the program do i still need a proctor to do my final exams for each nursing class? or how does that work to do your test or exams in those classes?

kally24d · Nov 7, 2011

i once you are in this program, how long does it take to complete?
you need to contact isu. there are two programs distant leraning programs at isu for their lvn to bsn. one authorized by the calif bon which requires that a student take only 1 clinical per semester. outside calif that is not the problem. i only know the calif program.
for us, there are 6 clinicals and 8 didactic classes (if you already have all your geds done or have a previous bachelors). so, for calif students--if one started jan 2011, then graduation would be dec 2012 or june 2013, depending on how it works out. for those students outside calif, you may be able to matriculate faster.
there are other issues that may affect when one graduates: will the school offer summer classes? will it be only one summer class or two? during the first semester, some students take only the transition/pharm class the first semester and second semester they take the assessment class with the lab class. after the first 2 semesters, they take the clinical with the didactic portion together after that. this will extend the time it takes to graduate.
remember that this is a distant learning program. those non distant learning nursinng programs may be able to matriculate faster.

hi lady scrubs,

its me again , with my questions ...lol they approve my proctor this week, so im getting ready to take the first challenge exams nur106, now i just wanted to know how many questions those exams have and also once i get into the program do i still need a proctor to do my final exams for each nursing class? or how does that work to do your test or exams in those classes?

ineedachange1, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

Hi Everyone,

I am in deperate need of some information. I am thinking of applying to ISU LPN to BSN accelerated online program. While all the informaton that Lady Scrubs has provided is FANTASTIC (thank you Lady Scrubs :yelclap:) I live in New Jersey and would welcome some insight/information from anyone who has completed or still going thru the program before I consider this program.

When contacting ISU directly - they mentioned going through TCN to get all the materials needed to take the challenge exam and they were not specific regarding clinical hours for students in NJ - any insight from someone who is currently in the program or completed the program from NJ would be greatly appreciated!

thanks!

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

lol they approve my proctor this week, so im getting ready to take the first challenge exams nur106, now i just wanted to know how many questions those exams have

sorry, i don't remember how many questions there were on the exams. it has been too long and i have taken too many isu exams since.

once i get into the program do i still need a proctor to do my final exams for each nursing class? or how does that work to do your test or exams in those classes?

it depends on the professor some professors have proctored tests or proctored finals and some don't. in the first semester--the transition class (which indlcludes studying a complete pharm book), you will need a proctor for the ati critical thinking ati test.

you will have to buy the $325 ati nclex prep program that you will use through the program and you will take a proctored test for the subject to show you know the work. you are graded on how well you do on those ati semester tests.

you will also need to pay for the ati critical thinking test, which is proctored but not graded. they will use this info for ati's own internal info to support info about how students are doing in the program and how well they do at the end of the program (you will take the same test the last semester).

in the assessment class you will need a preceptor to watch you practice your assessment. that is all the preceptor does is just watch. you can refer to the book while you are doing the practice assessment. the final comprehensive asseessment you can't use your book and the proctor will check you off. after that, you will do a dvd of you doing an assessment and submit it for a grade.

the mental health class in the 3rd semester has 2 proctored exams. the usual ati test for the subject and the final exam.

the exams are fair. this is how i am maintaining an a in the courses: i use:

- professor's notes and the powerpoints

- read the book and answer the end of the chapter questions

- go to the book's cd and answer the corresponding chapter questons

- go on line to the book's publisher. there you will the book's find student info for (notes, vocab, highlights) and more chapter 's questions.

review everything often, and you will have a working knowledge about the subject so that you can write the numerous discusson board info, the term paper, as well as the quizzes and exams.

the first semester, i highly suggest you take only one class (the transition class). you will be reading for that class as well as reading the separate book for the medication test. there will be lots of other reading with the book's separately bought my nursing lab chapters (this nursing lab is bought through the publisher's website if it the price is not added on to the base price of the book). my nursing lab has its own quizzes on the subject. the nursing lab is a good resource but there is so much reading that i highly suggest you do not take the assessment class the first semester. if you take both the transition and assessment class the first semester but you will be off the 2nd semester as this is when those who have not taken both classes together will take the assessment class. be kind on yourself, take only the transition test the first semester--but it is your choice. everyone meets up again in the 3rd semester for mental health.

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

i am thinking of applying to isu lpn to bsn accelerated online program. isu lpn to bsn is not an accelerated program. it is a distant learning program but you study at your leisure. weekly you are assigned and must submit via blackboard specific assignments/tests. you will be in a dl class with others who go through the program with you.

i live in new jersey and would welcome some insight/information from anyone who has completed or still going thru the program before i consider this program. be aware that isu has 2 lpn to bsn programs. one for calif residents and one for everyone else. while the course is the same there are some differences. for calif students, they can take only one clinical a semester. this is not true for other students.

when contacting isu directly - they mentioned going through tcn to get all the materials needed to take the challenge exam and they were not specific regarding clinical hours for students in nj - any insight from someone who is currently in the program or completed the program from nj would be greatly appreciated!

please read what others have said about tcn (the college network). for some potential isu students, this is the only option open to them. however, that is not true for other potential students. you can clep out of gen ed courses. if you do not understand what clep is do a google search on "clep." for the clallenge exams, you do not need the expensive tcn study guides (some buy them thinking that the guides are a magic bulllet to enable them to pass the exams). the truth is the challenge exams are what i would call "finals" for those in the regular course. the challenge exam covers everything that is taught in the course. you can easily buy a lippincott study guide about the subject; buy a comprehensive rn nclex book that has questions and condensed study guide; as well as buy the book that isu suggests you read to prepare you for the course.

when you are ready to consider studying for the exam, you pay 1/2 of the cost up front. the nursing program will send you a study guide with objectives that you should review to pass the course. if you go through the objectives and answer each, you will be prepared for the exam. make sure you answer the questions found in the nclex book as it will give you opportunity to take exams and it will give you the rationale behind the answer for the question.

clinical hours and your preceptor is set up by you. note that isu does not provide you with clinicals or preceptors (in the calif program the bon requires that isu set up the clinicals and preceptors for the calif isu students--and the calif students pay an extra $300 for this opportunity). if you read some of the an blogs, students have had difficulty finding clinical space/preceptors and the some have not have difficulty. your clinical is arranged around your preceptor's schedule.

the first clinical (mental heatlh) is only 45 hours --5 of which must be one with 2 aa type community programs). the amount of the hours change and increase each semester. the last class is a capstone class and you must have over 135 preceptored hours.

isu does not tell you when you do your clinical hours but they must be done and you will have to do papers about your experience.

ineedachange1, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

Thank you for the immediate response Lady Scrubs - I appreciate it. Do you know of anyone (on the board or currently in classes with you) that is in the state of NJ?

kally24d · Nov 7, 2011

lol they approve my proctor this week, so im getting ready to take the first challenge exams nur106, now i just wanted to know how many questions those exams have
sorry, i don't remember how many questions there were on the exams. it has been too long and i have taken too many isu exams since.
once i get into the program do i still need a proctor to do my final exams for each nursing class? or how does that work to do your test or exams in those classes?
it depends on the professor some professors have proctored tests or proctored finals and some don't. in the first semester--the transition class (which indlcludes studying a complete pharm book), you will need a proctor for the ati critical thinking ati test.
you will have to buy the $325 ati nclex prep program that you will use through the program and you will take a proctored test for the subject to show you know the work. you are graded on how well you do on those ati semester tests.
you will also need to pay for the ati critical thinking test, which is proctored but not graded. they will use this info for ati's own internal info to support info about how students are doing in the program and how well they do at the end of the program (you will take the same test the last semester).
in the assessment class you will need a preceptor to watch you practice your assessment. that is all the preceptor does is just watch. you can refer to the book while you are doing the practice assessment. the final comprehensive asseessment you can't use your book and the proctor will check you off. after that, you will do a dvd of you doing an assessment and submit it for a grade.
the mental health class in the 3rd semester has 2 proctored exams. the usual ati test for the subject and the final exam.
the exams are fair. this is how i am maintaining an a in the courses: i use:
- professor's notes and the powerpoints
- read the book and answer the end of the chapter questions
- go to the book's cd and answer the corresponding chapter questons
- go on line to the book's publisher. there you will the book's find student info for (notes, vocab, highlights) and more chapter 's questions.
review everything often, and you will have a working knowledge about the subject so that you can write the numerous discusson board info, the term paper, as well as the quizzes and exams.
the first semester, i highly suggest you take only one class (the transition class). you will be reading for that class as well as reading the separate book for the medication test. there will be lots of other reading with the book's separately bought my nursing lab chapters (this nursing lab is bought through the publisher's website if it the price is not added on to the base price of the book). my nursing lab has its own quizzes on the subject. the nursing lab is a good resource but there is so much reading that i highly suggest you do not take the assessment class the first semester. if you take both the transition and assessment class the first semester but you will be off the 2nd semester as this is when those who have not taken both classes together will take the assessment class. be kind on yourself, take only the transition test the first semester--but it is your choice. everyone meets up again in the 3rd semester for mental health.

thank you so much for your info. i guess i will contact the lady responsible for the challenge test and see if she can tell how many questions are on those tests. also do you know anybody that live in florida that in the program?

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

thank you so much for your info. i guess i will contact the lady responsible for the challenge test and see if she can tell how many questions are on those tests. also do you know anybody that live in florida that in the program?

does it matter how many questoins are on the challenge exam? i believe the amount of questions are between 50-80. the exact # excapes me. as to how many questions--well it doesn't matter. you must take the test and pass the questions if you want into the program. if there are more questions, it is better because if there are 10 and you miss 2 questions that means you get an 80%. if there are 50 and you miss 2 that means you got 96%. if there are 100 questions and you miss 2 then you got a 98%. all that matters is if you passed. you will not get a grade but only the opportunity to be admitted on an interim basis into the lpn to bsn program.

as anyone being in the state of florida, you need to post a note requesting info from people in the isu lpn to bsn program from florida. possibly that will give you info.

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

Thank you for the immediate response Lady Scrubs - I appreciate it. Do you know of anyone (on the board or currently in classes with you) that is in the state of NJ?

Sorry, I don't know anyone from NJ who is in the program. I will advise you the same as the person from Florida--post a request for people in the ISU program who are from your state. Possibly that may help.

2brn09 · Nov 8, 2011

There are 65 questions on all 4 challenge exams.