LPN to RN c College Network?

pitahanurse · Jan 28, 2009

I am really confused about this Excelsior or ISU thing. If I go through ISU do I have to go through TCN and purcase their material to pass nursing modules. I am LPN and I thought that I could get credit for being LPN and not go through those same classes AGAIN. Anybody who knows, please advise.

Thank you.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Feb 2, 2009

Thread moved to Distance Learning forum, as that is the appropriate forum.

Pitahanurse: you can do a search here regarding TCN- you'll find tons of info in this forum.

solnce · Feb 6, 2009

I am one of multiple victimes of College Network. This publishing company steal from you and lies to you. Be careful and know that their very mediocre textbooks would cost you about $400 ea. instead $150 for the new very well illustrated last edition textbook (I never used last editions.I was bying them from e-bay $50 the most). Besides stealing your money for books that are very poorely written wothout any illustation with extremly difficult explanation that they repeat from one textbook to another one (for exampe biology and microbiology) they also lie to you when they recrute you.They tell you that you will be able to accomplish the program within 1 year. Do not believe it! If you start from zero and do not have any credits - it is impossible! Yes, the nursing program itself is not that difficult. I completed it less that in 1 year. But other courses took me forever only because I did not know how to get to them.They promise to assisst you on the phone if you have problems and never do it. I tried to call them many times. Instead to refer me directly to my college for help they were giving me useless advices. You know how much time I lost because I was misled and did not know where to get the right information? Years! I finally completed Excelcior and regret tremendeously that once I decided to start online program and contacted College network.

raiderz1973 · Feb 7, 2009

Hi..I've been back & forth & back again wondering if signing with TCN is the best thing for me to do at this point in time..of course the no wait list, at your own pace on your time is very attractive..I'm a F/T employed LVN, single mother of 3 living in sunny OC, CA..well we have enjoyed some rain the last 3 days..our economy sucks & beautiful Cali Caliente is broke as a joke right now..I obviously can't afford to quit my job or cut my hours to P/T..I know TCN is just the middle man...how can I cut them out? Do I have to go through TCN to get into ISU? I've also read that going through TCN doesn't necessarily guarantee my acceptance to ISU..I believe that ISU is the only distance learning program accredited by the BRN & accepted in my state..I've only completed a couple of pre-reqs..if the nursing shortage is so bad, why does this have to be so complicated? All the traditional college nursing programs also make it very clear that you cannot work F/T and be in the nsg program..and suggest working no more than 15 hrs/wk...uh..reality check people...if anyone has any advise/answers...please help..:smackingf:confused:

solnce · Feb 7, 2009

Yes, you have to continue your education. Consider LPN as a intermediate step toward your nursing degree. Avoid any TCN and request infirmation directly from the college you are planning to go. Find out what prereq's ISU accept. Most of online programs accept CLEP examinations that you can study yourself and just go and pass them and you dont have necesserely to be enrolled into the college until you do all your prereq's. This way you will save some money not paying enrollement fee ev. year. Online programs have their benefits. I did not recommend them because it took a lot of time for me to get prepared myself instead following traditional college schedule. But I also lost a lot of time because College Network did not want to reveal right info for me. If I knew to call directly to Excelsior instead College Network and spoke with academic advisor I would save a lot of time. So, consider my mistakes and do not repeat them. Do not get involved with any TCN companies. Call your college of choice and speak to them. If you dont understand something - call again. The educational system in this country is so compicated that is difficult to understand how it works.Ask questions and do not be affraid to look stupid. It was my mistake and I paid a big price to it. I've just completed Excelcior, and went through all process of studuing with 0 preq's at the beginning. Ask me any question. I will help if I can. Irina

raiderz1973 · Feb 8, 2009

My apologies to all that have had a bad experience..Honestly, I feel guilty for learning from your mishaps...but, thank you for all your replies & posts, you've all been very helpful...and I don't think TCN will be hearing from me again...I've read some other positive posts about TCN, but it only takes a couple to share their misfortunes to confirm my worst doubts...