Lpn to RN online

NC Girl BSN · Mar 25, 2009

Go to the distant learning forum. There is some ISU threads over there.

LA_StudentNurse · Feb 1, 2010

luvmy3babies, I just recently signed up for the ISU distant learning program through Sanoma State/ISU.

I had all my nursing preprequisites done from another college as well as having a bachelors in social work. While I have not started the program (other then taking 1 nursing challenge course), this is what I have learned:

1. It is cheaper to take pre requisite courses through the community college (if necessary nights, etc); if that does not work, then do it via the College Network. I do not know anything about the quality of their prereq classes.

2. Talk to the ISU telephone specialist who is the liaison between TCN/ISU and the nursing distant learning dept. She will send out the info about the program. She will want to set you up with the TCN area representative, and he is a salesman designed to sign you up. He/she will push you to sign the contract right then and there. Don't. Sleep on it, read the contract and make sure what is on it reflects what you know and the representative said. You can always have the representive come out or if he/she does not want to come out to you, you can call TCN directly and sign up that way (via filling out the forms and faxing them back). REMEMBER: you are the consumer. DO NOT LET THEM PRESSURE YOU. The program will be there in the future. Take your time as the program is expensive.

3. However, once you have all your nursing prerequistes done, you have to take 4 challenge course tests (psych, adult med, family med, maternity). The cost for the review course from tCN is about $2000 and sometimes they give you a scholarship and the cost would be about $1500-1800. NOTE you do not have to take TCN courses for the challennge test. Get out your RN NCLEX review book, your notes from school, and take the review questions...as many as you can. There is no secret what is on each challenge test (the challenge test questions are like the NCLEX)--the only thing you don't know is the questions. I took the psych test and found it very easy. The questions were NCLEX type and straight forward.

4. To take the challenge tests, you must apply to the university. You cannot take the callenge tests until you have a university ID...which means you have to apply to the university and be accepted. You can have a delayed start if you tell them you are distant learning. There is a $25 fee to apply and you have all your transcripts sent directly to ISU. Make sure you check with the admission office to see that the transcripts were received. I had a problem with 2 colleges who did not send the transcripts. Until they are all in, you will not be reviewed and given admission.

5. The TCN is out of the picture; you will have to pay for the ISU nursing challenge exams--anywhere from $300-$500 (+/-) Then, you will have to arrange for a proctor (ISU has published their proctor requirements.) There is a distant learning association (I think that is the name) and they have names of colleges that do distant learning proctoring--otherwise it may be difficult to find a proctor. Out my way it is UCLA and some other local colleges...the college will charge a nominal fee for the proctoring. UCLA is $25 an hour; some colleges charge $30 for the test (not an hourly fee); some charge $15 an hour.

6. You pay ISU 1/2 up front and can take the test 3 times. You get about 3 hours to take each challenge test--more than enough time. If you fail three tests, then you have to show ISU that you purchased the TCN course for the challenge test before you can pay again and take the challenge test again...I think that is the what they said. When you pass, you pay the rlast 1/2 the challege fee. After that is all done, you repeat the rest of the courses.

7. ISU requires you will have to take the ATI test (I believe it is a readiness for college exam)...in fact, ATI has a NCLEX review that is comparable to Kaplan's and ISU requires every nursing student who is going to take the NCLEX to purchase the ATI review. NOTE: TCN will try to get you to pay out money for their TCN NCLEX review course. That is an extra expese that you do not need as when you are ready to graduate at ISU you will have to show ISU you paid for the ATI NCLEX review course. Don't waste your money buyig the TCN NCLEX review!! They will push hard to sell you this.

8. Once you have jumped through all the hoops, then you apply to the ISU Nursing program to be admitted.

9. What is next is reading the distant learning nursing course work and simultaneously doing your clinical--which is arranged for you via ISU distant learning dept. If you have a clinical proctor who will work with you, you can ask that they be your clinical proctor . Otherwise, you the clinical they give you. In Los Angeles, there is no problem getting a clinical

site. For smaller cities, it could be a problem.

10. ISU just graduated their first distant learning LVN (LPN) to BSN class. Do not know if the distant learning NCLEX pass rate is separate form the regular ISU nursing NCLEX grad pass rate. If so, it would be interesting to see the pass rate for distant learning.

11. Remember: when doing distant learning you must be dedicated. It is hard work as one can always find something else to do rather than study. For me, I have a 90 yo bed bound, frail mother and just work nites part time. Otherwise, I have lots of time on my hands. Going to an established college/university program would be difficult. I always felt that all nursing programs should be offered as a regular program and also a distant learning program. After all, how difficult is it to tape lectures and enable the students to see them via the web. With the cost of gas now, it makes sense to offer distant learning to nursing students.

I would be free to talk to anyone about what I know. Remember: you are in charge. Do not let anyone put pressure on you to sign a contract. Take the paperwork and think about it. The program will be available when and if you want to sign on the dotted line.

Best to all

"Can anyone who attends Indiana State University BSN program online give me some information about their program? Do they think it works for them, are they learning anything ,meaning the classes are online,a are they having a hard time finding the clinical sites, and the entrance exam is it any study modules avaliable before a person takes the exam, and is there a long waiting list to be accepted. I am trying find all my options because right now its kind of hard for me to attend a traditional school right now. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Also,I have taken most of preq at another university and have maybe the rest of this semester and summer or fall left to take preq. :nurse:"

thmsdngsn · Apr 5, 2010

Thank you LA SudentNurse. I'm new to this site so I don't know if this is how you go about asking a new ? but: I currently work @ UCLA Med Cntr as a Sr LVN & have finished all the reqs for Excelsior except for the CPNE but I've recently learned that many Ca Hosp's won't accept Excelsior grads; so for the sake of mobility, I'm interested in the ISU BSN program. Specifically, what I want to know is does ISU accept challenged for credit classes like chem, micro, A&P, etc. or am I looking @ a bunch of CC time in lab classes? ISU's catalogue seems to indicate that they want the real thing? I'd appreciate any input.

LA_StudentNurse · Apr 5, 2010

Thank you LA SudentNurse. I'm new to this site so I don't know if this is how you go about asking a new ? but: I currently work @ UCLA Med Cntr as a Sr LVN & have finished all the reqs for Excelsior except for the CPNE but I've recently learned that many Ca Hosp's won't accept Excelsior grads; so for the sake of mobility, I'm interested in the ISU BSN program. Specifically, what I want to know is does ISU accept challenged for credit classes like chem, micro, A&P, etc. or am I looking @ a bunch of CC time in lab classes? ISU's catalogue seems to indicate that they want the real thing? I'd appreciate any input.

Hi LA person....I sent you a private message but did not answer your question. ISU will accept classes that are from an accredited facility (college/university); don't know about Excelsior--beyond my knowledge. ISU will also accept courses from The College Network--since they are associated with them. If you have a question, call ISU and/or submit your transcripts to ISU, fill out an application, and submit the nominal application fee. They will evaluate your transcripts and tell you what is accepted. You could also talk to the The College Network salesperson---note I said SALESPERSON, who represents him/herself as a counselor. This person will go over your transcripts and tell you what you need to do/take to apply to the ISU nursing program.

DO NOT under any circumstances allow this salesperson/counselor to sign you up to the TCN program. Get the info and walk away with their info and recommendations. You can come back and sign up if you want. If you have them evaluate your transcripts they will put pressure on you to sign up immediately...after all, if you walk away from their meeting, there is a great chance you will not come back. However, trust me, no matter what they say, they will always be happy to take your money. Be prepared and read everything. Decide what you want to do after you have researched everything. Be informed and proactive.

If you do have to take other courses, I suggest community college...if at all possible. It is so much less expensive ($26 a unit last I heard). However, you must take the courses when they are offered and the hours they are offered. I think College of the Canyons in Valencia has some online and/or weekend lab courses.

Keep in touch :redpinkhe

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2010

I'm going to send all my transcripts straight to Indiana State University and have them evaluate them because I find it hard to believe that I have 8 general ecucation classes to complete even though I have a bachelors degree already. I looked on their form and it looks like they only have one class per section that's needed to graduate and most schools will have at least 8-10 classes that you can take that can fulfill that particular areas requirement. Plus, they still had that I needed to take a multicultural class which I find hard to believe because I've already taken three multicultural classes at the JC level. It seems like I'm lacking classes in every area which when I spoke with someone at ISU a few months ago, from what I told them it looked like I would have to had taken 2 at the most. So I will just wait and see what ISU tells me after the evaluate my trancripts. Good Luck

MeganS · Apr 14, 2010

I'm going to send all my transcripts straight to Indiana State University and have them evaluate them because I find it hard to believe that I have 8 general ecucation classes to complete even though I have a bachelors degree already. [...] It seems like I'm lacking classes in every area which when I spoke with someone at ISU a few months ago, from what I told them it looked like I would have to had taken 2 at the most. So I will just wait and see what ISU tells me after the evaluate my trancripts. Good Luck

Quite honestly, if you have not submitted your transcripts for evaluation, any discussion is moot. I, like you, have a bachelors and received my transcript evaluation (ISU calls it a DARS). As you are aware, every university has its own requirements for matriculation; thus, the need for transcript evaluation. Send your transcripts and write back about your evaluation. This would give solid info that we can discuss--do it quickly. The deadline for fall 2010 is fast approaching. Best to you. :twocents: