No need for TCN expensive study guides

Nursing Students Indiana (ISU)

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i want to reiterate again-- there is no need to pay the college network money to buy their expensive study guides. if the isu nursing department is requiring challenge exams they must provide free study guides, once you register and start the process to take the 4 challenge exams. you can easily make your own study guides employing those free isu provided study guides as well as using a recent rn nclex comprehensive book for corresponding questions and their rationale. save your money for tuition.

only you can make the decision to enter into a contract to buy the expensive tcn study guides for the isu 4 challenge exams. however, the letter below, printed on isu letterhead is very misleading and potential students are following its advice--buying the expensive tcn study guides. this university sanctioned information is misleading and not necessary.

http://www.indstate.edu/nursing/pdfs/testing-program-docs/nursing-challenge-exam-instructions.pdf

isu college of nursing, health, and human services

nursing challenge exam instructions for lpn-bs distance students

to initiate the process for the four csm's (customized study materials) and nursing challenge exams, you will need to be completely admitted to the university and have a sid# (student id number). [true]

you purchase the four csm's from tcn (the college network 1-800-395-3276), but take the exams through isu on isu's blackboard website. [untrue & misleading - not necessary. save thousands of dollars by studying your own books and making your own studyguide]

the four challenge exams are n106, n224, n328, and n330. if you do not pass an exam on your first attempt, you will be required to show proof of purchase of the relevant csm from tcn

for the fall 2012 semester, all four exams (n106, n224, n328 and n330) will be required to be completed by the june 1, 2012 application deadline, so please give yourself time for exam retakes if not passed successfully.

nursing challenge exams for lpn-bs distance students:

1) nursing 106: mental health aspects of nursing (2 credit hours)

2) nursing 224: nursing care of adults (5 credit hours)

3) nursing 328: nursing care of the child and family (4 credit hours)

4) nursing 330: nursing care of the childbearing family (4 credit hours)

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Thanks for clearing this up for a bunch of people. Without your advice the first time, I would have been $2500 in debt to TCN.

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Thanks for clearing this up for a bunch of people. Without your advice the first time, I would have been $2500 in debt to TCN.

Thank you for your nice comment; my truthful statements have caused me to make no friends at TCN or ISU. However, AllNurses is a site by nurses for nurses. Essentially, AN is designed for nurses to help other nurses.

ISU is a fine program but there are problems within the program. Most glaring is why a state college recommends potential LPN/LVN to BSN students use a private company (TCN) when other options are available to those potential students. To be fair to potential students attempting to enter the program, ISU should mention those other options.

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i understand what you mean. i have noticed that a lot of isu's paperwork isn't updated as much as it should be. for example, the syllabus to study for challenge exams is dated 2005, and the classes that i've registered for over the summer have a date of fall '11. when i began to call isu directly, my path went a lot smoother than when i thought i had to deal with tcn.

i urge people to go through the isu-nursing page with a fine tooth comb, and find out exactly who you need to speak with for your needs, as every person handles a different aspect of the program.

that way, you should be guaranteed the most up to date information.

i can say that when i spoke with carol layton about the challenge exams she did notify me that tcn was a publishing company and i did not need them.

i also urge people to make sure they are going to the direct website for indiana state university, not just googling 'isu nursing' or 'indiana state lpn-bsn' and clicking on the first link, which i believe takes you to tcn or a site that will direct you there, not the school's website.

the main website is indiana state university : nursing

*i'm off my soap box* :)

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LadyinScrubs:

I'm a prospective student awaiting ISU acceptance & issuance of my student ID. Meanwhile, I need to know what is the latest version of the CSM's. Or are you interested in forwarding me a copy of your study guide material for the 4 Challege Exams? Perfhaps, one of your classmates may want to sell their CSM's. Any assistance or info is greatly appreciated. I hope I'm not being to forward/honest!

I'm trying to maximize the time I have in the summer. With the hope that I will be allowed to enter Fall 2012. I'm a mother of 4 & don't have alot of time or $ to waste. My goal is to make every attempt to complete ISU LPN-BSN program & accomplish my RN, BSN 2014. I thank you in advance, if nothing more than just, taking the time to read my post.

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Specializes in peds.

it is too late for fall2012 entrance right now,june 1st is the deadline to complete all the 4exams and TEAS.November is the next available deadline for spring2013.Goodluck!

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ALso, pendingBSN

Once you get your ISU Student ID, you will be able to go to the blackboard site and print out the study guides.

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LadyinScrubs:

I'm a prospective student awaiting ISU acceptance & issuance of my student ID. Meanwhile, I need to know what is the latest version of the CSM's. Or are you interested in forwarding me a copy of your study guide material for the 4 Challege Exams? Perfhaps, one of your classmates may want to sell their CSM's. Any assistance or info is greatly appreciated. I hope I'm not being to forward/honest!

I'm trying to maximize the time I have in the summer. With the hope that I will be allowed to enter Fall 2012. I'm a mother of 4 & don't have alot of time or $ to waste. My goal is to make every attempt to complete ISU LPN-BSN program & accomplish my RN, BSN 2014. I thank you in advance, if nothing more than just, taking the time to read my post.

Since you don't have the ISU study guides, I suggest you get a comprehensive RN NCLEX book that has a review as well as questins & rationales. Concentrate on studying the comprehensive guide and take the chapter tests and reveiw the rationales. This should prepare you for the 4 challenge tests. Once you are registered and get your ID, you can use the ISU study guide to make your own study guide. It took me about three months of studying daily, all day studying to get through all the 4 challenge tests. Take advantage of the time you do have, and when you are admitted to the university and siged up with the nursing department, you can decide when to take the challenge exams. The fall's deadline has passed; I don't know when the Spring 2013 semester's deadline is.

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Comprehensive RN NCLEX i.e. ATI's for Peds, OB, MedSurg & MH, Lippincott NCLEX-RN, concentrating on 328:Peds, 330:OB, 224:MedSurg & 106:MH or as you mentioned above, Lippincott, get A's in 328, 330, 224, & 106?

That's my plan...studying, all day, everyday! Spoke with C.L. today, she told me, even if I pass 4 challege exams, before Fall term begins...:nono: can't start Fall! I feel like I'm going to be a semester, behind :( . Spring deadline Nov 1.

I appreciate the rapid response. Thanks, for this valuable, time-saving information.

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LadyInScrubs,

Im wondering if there's any way that you could email those study guides to me so that I can start studying immediately. I want to pass these exams so that I can enroll in the spring semester. Thanks so much.

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LadyInScrubs,

Im wondering if there's any way that you could email those study guides to me so that I can start studying immediately. I want to pass these exams so that I can enroll in the spring semester. Thanks so much.

asmubased: When you apply for the challenge exams, you will get access to the study guides. If you have not applied and do not have the free ISU study guides, read my post #7 above. There is no short cut. One peron's study guide may not be useful for your needs. Essentially, you can be tested on all the information in the nursing books so you need to review and study those books. Using a comprehensive RN NCLEX books helps if you review the sections and also take the tests and review the rationale. The process of acquiring and applying the information is critical, as the challenge exams are the easiest part of the program.

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Thanks Lady, you're right there's no short cut. I'm just overwhelmed by the amount of reviewing I'm going to have to be doing! Have you taken the challenge exams already?

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