**(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.
Not a problem sparkle823tami! I had the privilege of having clinicals at Loma Linda which is a wonderful teaching hospital. Their RNs are very used to have students because the University has a BSN program, med school, NP program, MSN program, dental school, you name it! The nurse manager assigned the preceptor based on their experience and ability to work with students. I was so extremely lucky!!!! I had the most wonderful RN on the planet!! He was patient, understanding, knowledgable, great teacher, wonderful personality, and always allowed me the opportunity to learn new skills. He was required to fill out 2 evaluations and look over the syllabus and skills required to pass clinical. The preceptor really does not have that much work to do, except watch or follow you. It was just like LVN school, except I had my own personal teacher at all times. Personally, as a registry nurse I have had LVN students on my unit and I love having students so if you find the right facility you will be just fine.
Thanks so much, I'm starting to feel a little better. Who do you contact at the hospital? For example in Chicago, ISU lists the Jesse Brown VA hospital as already approved, who would I ask for to see if they could set me up with a preceptor? Do you just call the hospital and ask if they would be willing to allow a student from a distance learning program? Then of course you would have to get that site approved. I asked Joelle at ISU and she replied that the students usually know an RN that is willing to preceptor them. Problem is I work LTC and most co-workers are LPN's. I just want to make sure I know what I'm asking for before I start calling... and I'm not even accepted into the program yet. Thanks again for your valuable information, it's so nice to have contact with someone who is in the program and is succeeding.
Thanks so much, I'm starting to feel a little better. Who do you contact at the hospital? For example in Chicago, ISU lists the Jesse Brown VA hospital as already approved, who would I ask for to see if they could set me up with a preceptor? Do you just call the hospital and ask if they would be willing to allow a student from a distance learning program? Then of course you would have to get that site approved. I asked Joelle at ISU and she replied that the students usually know an RN that is willing to preceptor them. Problem is I work LTC and most co-workers are LPN's. I just want to make sure I know what I'm asking for before I start calling... and I'm not even accepted into the program yet. Thanks again for your valuable information, it's so nice to have contact with someone who is in the program and is succeeding.
The facility I used did not have a contract yet so I had to call and ask questions before I received the correct person. I started with Nursing Administration and explained to the woman what I needed and she was able to tell me who I needed to speak with. I actually called about 5 hospitals before Loma Linda and just explained what I needed and all but 1 facility were helpful and polite. Try asking your co-workers and friends who they know, you would be surprised how many people know a RN.
Thanks so much, I'm starting to feel a little better. Who do you contact at the hospital? For example in Chicago, ISU lists the Jesse Brown VA hospital as already approved, who would I ask for to see if they could set me up with a preceptor? Do you just call the hospital and ask if they would be willing to allow a student from a distance learning program? Then of course you would have to get that site approved. I asked Joelle at ISU and she replied that the students usually know an RN that is willing to preceptor them. Problem is I work LTC and most co-workers are LPN's. I just want to make sure I know what I'm asking for before I start calling... and I'm not even accepted into the program yet. Thanks again for your valuable information, it's so nice to have contact with someone who is in the program and is succeeding.
Hi sparkle,
just wanted to share a little bit of my sister's experience with you concerning finding a clinical preceptor in IL. My sister is an LPN and lives in Chicago, IL. She signed up with TCN for the ISU program. Completed all the ISU challenge exams. But was not able to find a preceptor. She contacted the so called "approved sites" and didn't get encouraging answers. She got responses, like "we don't know, of such program." “Nobody has done anything like that here.” She also contacted one nursing home listed called Meadowbrook in Bolingbrook, she spoke to the DON of the facility, who said she did not know of any such program.
Then, she contacted TCN, and then TCN asked her to contact the school directly. My sister, then called the school, and spoke to the guy that does the contract. My sister narrated her experience, he confirmed that the list TCN gave her was an updated approved sites. He then advised my sister to contact other nearby hospitals/nursing homes/doctors clinics, to arrange for new contracts. Now here's the problem. IL BON requires a preceptor with a MSN standing for the ISU program. IL BON also requires each clinical site to be approved, meaning you have to have the site approved at least 6 months before start of clinical. My sister was frustrated with the whole idea, then decided to relocate to Indiana, to complete the program. The question for the so called "approved sites" remains a mystery. Its unclear if these sites were ever used, or if these sites were used by students who applied for the ISU RN-BSN program. Overall, the ISU program seems to be a decent program. Depending on the state, finding a preceptor can be a daunting task. I hope it all works well for you:) Good Luck!
Are you sure that ISU has (had - don't know how long ago your sister's issue occurred) a contract with Meadowbrook because they don't seem to appear on ISU's approved or even pending list at http://www.indstate.edu/nhhs/contracts/agencylist.asp#current-contracts ? Are the names of the other agencies on that list?
Thanks so much, I'm starting to feel a little better. Who do you contact at the hospital? For example in Chicago, ISU lists the Jesse Brown VA hospital as already approved, who would I ask for to see if they could set me up with a preceptor? Do you just call the hospital and ask if they would be willing to allow a student from a distance learning program? Then of course you would have to get that site approved. I asked Joelle at ISU and she replied that the students usually know an RN that is willing to preceptor them. Problem is I work LTC and most co-workers are LPN's. I just want to make sure I know what I'm asking for before I start calling... and I'm not even accepted into the program yet. Thanks again for your valuable information, it's so nice to have contact with someone who is in the program and is succeeding.
I know exactly what your sister went trought. I went trought the same thing, lost too much time and money...
I was so disapointed, I also called Meadowbrook and got the same answer. How is your sister doing? I wish her best of luck in Indiana.
Hi novavida,
Sorry to hear you had lost too much time and money in the process of finding a clinical preceptor. My sister is doing OK now, but she had no choice but to relocate to Indiana. This was a hard choice she had to make. I know part of her decision to relocate to Indiana was because of the contract she had already signed with TCN, there was no way for her to come off the contract. Besides that she had already spent a lot of money in repayments. She's hoping to graduate in December '09, all things being equal.
Are you sure that ISU has (had - don't know how long ago your sister's issue occurred) a contract with Meadowbrook because they don't seem to appear on ISU's approved or even pending list at http://www.indstate.edu/nhhs/contracts/agencylist.asp#current-contracts ? Are the names of the other agencies on that list?
I'm positive that Meadowbrook was listed as one of the approved sites for IL in 2007. What state are you from? The list that are sent to students, are tailored to the individual's state of origin. The link you have attached to your post shows other states, this is not the same list my sister had. I know this for a fact, because when she found out she could not get a MSN clinical preceptor here in IL, she was very upset and frustrated with the whole idea. At that time my sister shared her frustration with the family. As a family, we supported her idea of relocating to Indiana. This was a very hard choice for everyone. Are you in the program? Do you represent TCN here on allnurses?
We will soon know if it is really possible to complete the ISU program in Chicago area. I have too much time, money, energy invested in this program to give up. I am going to do everything possible to set up clinicals and then will report on here exactly what happened. ISU wants students in their program, otherwise they would not be using TCN to market their distance program, so I have to assume they will do everything to help set up clinicals. How would it benefit them if they get students, but do not end up collecting tuition, because all the students drop the program? Any other Chicago applicants on here looking to start Spring 2010... keep in touch so we can help eachother please.
I'm positive that Meadowbrook was listed as one of the approved sites for IL in 2007. What state are you from? The list that are sent to students, are tailored to the individual's state of origin. The link you have attached to your post shows other states, this is not the same list my sister had. I know this for a fact, because when she found out she could not get a MSN clinical preceptor here in IL, she was very upset and frustrated with the whole idea. At that time my sister shared her frustration with the family. As a family, we supported her idea of relocating to Indiana. This was a very hard choice for everyone. Are you in the program? Do you represent TCN here on allnurses?
Was that approved list from ISU? Sounds like maybe not...which if not on ISU's list, woudl explain why the folks didn't know anything about the ISU program....was it from TCN? Not in the program and don't represent TCN. Are lists sent out to each student of approved agencies in the student's state? I thought the list changed all the time...so that would be really difficult to keep current?
Was that approved list from ISU? Sounds like maybe not...which if not on ISU's list, woudl explain why the folks didn't know anything about the ISU program....was it from TCN? Not in the program and don't represent TCN. Are lists sent out to each student of approved agencies in the student's state? I thought the list changed all the time...so that would be really difficult to keep current?
I had to contact my sister so I can get the facts right! OK, is not clear to me IF you represent TCN. But the link for the list you posted sure appears so. Here's what I know, the link for the list you posted is the same list TCN sent to my sister in a pdf file, about 15 pages, showing “different” states with approved clinical sites. When she contacted the folks, she did not get encouraging response. She then called TCN. TCN advised her to call the school directly. When she called, she spoke to (moderator edit of name), who then directed her call to (moderator edit of name). (moderator edit of name) is the guy that sets up the contract. (moderator edit of name) then sent a pdf file about 6 pages in length, mainly showing IL approved sites. So, as far as whether changes has been made since 2007 is irrelevant in this case, since my sister's application to begin phase 3 of the ISU nursing program had Meadowbrook listed as one of the "approved clinical sites” for contact. It must be known that my point of contributing to this thread is not to debate whether ISU through TCN is the way to go for any student. I was only trying to let a fellow IL resident know of my sister's difficulty in trying to find a MSN clinical preceptor in IL.
I had to contact my sister so I can get the facts right! OK, is not clear to me IF you represent TCN. But the link for the list you posted sure appears so. Here's what I know, the link for the list you posted is the same list TCN sent to my sister in a pdf file, about 15 pages, showing “different” states with approved clinical sites. When she contacted the folks, she did not get encouraging response. She then called TCN. TCN advised her to call the school directly. When she called, she spoke to (moderator edit of name), who then directed her call to (moderator edit of name). (moderator edit of name) is the guy that sets up the contract. (moderator edit of name) then sent a pdf file about 6 pages in length, mainly showing IL approved sites. So, as far as whether changes has been made since 2007 is irrelevant in this case, since my sister's application to begin phase 3 of the ISU nursing program had Meadowbrook listed as one of the "approved clinical sites” for contact. It must be known that my point of contributing to this thread is not to debate whether ISU through TCN is the way to go for any student. I was only trying to let a fellow IL resident know of my sister's difficulty in trying to find a MSN clinical preceptor in IL.
The link I posted was from ISU's web site..not from TCN. I don't represent TCN..just using web info trying to get accurate info out to those looking for clinical sites. I don't think (moderator edit of name) is at ISU any more...at least no one listed as their employee on http://www.indstate.edu/nursing/personnel/personnel.htm by the name of (moderator edit of name).
sparkle823tami
14 Posts
Thanks so much, I'm starting to feel a little better. Who do you contact at the hospital? For example in Chicago, ISU lists the Jesse Brown VA hospital as already approved, who would I ask for to see if they could set me up with a preceptor? Do you just call the hospital and ask if they would be willing to allow a student from a distance learning program? Then of course you would have to get that site approved. I asked Joelle at ISU and she replied that the students usually know an RN that is willing to preceptor them. Problem is I work LTC and most co-workers are LPN's. I just want to make sure I know what I'm asking for before I start calling... and I'm not even accepted into the program yet. Thanks again for your valuable information, it's so nice to have contact with someone who is in the program and is succeeding.