moomoo111

Thanks!

I could send you the info but that would be against college rules. Sorry you don't believe me, but I've got better things to do right now than to keep explaining. I'm happy and that's all that matters.

NO! It's not the easy way out by all means. I do just as much as I did in my LPN classes, it's just in the privacy of my own home and I do just as much research and studying, but I am better at online. Depends on each person's situation. The main thing, it's quiet, and it's at your own pace. Works great for me! I just got a wireless printer and use my laptop and can take it where I go. The College Network provides more than enough information without having to purchase extra books. Trust me, I did months of research and several LPN's I know have used it and reached their goals. The internet is just full of a lot of negative sites. That's all I'm going to say on it. I get funny faces and shocked faces when I tell others, but I'm the one with the confidence and faith and I'm going in the right direction. It's not for some, but it works for me. I wanted to hear success stories when I posted and other's experiences, but some used it before changes were made. I'm assuming they are just like any other business, using feedback from customers to better their business. There are other success stories found in other places other than their sites. I just never checked here. Nothing is free and nothing is accomplished without hard work and believe me, it's hard work, but I enjoy it. I love setting goals and achieving those goals. This is just one more for me that I will achieve!

I've been in the program for several months and spent over 3 months on the phone with both companies. Each person needs are different. It is working for me and feel it was the right choice for me. I love it and I'm better at online since I'm 49 and younger people in college are exposed to so much new technology that I did not have. The instructors allow them to use their blackberry's, laptops, cell phones, texting, whatever and it's annoying for people with ADHD. I love the online learning, it works better for me.

No, the wait list is at the schools in my area due to a drop in nursing instructors. I've already signed up with The College Network for the courses and using Excelsior for exams only. I've been using them for a few months now and have had no problems. It will save me 2 years of waiting for the schools in my area, it's over half the cost, even using financial aid and pell grants, and I did tons of research and talked with them as well as Excelsior for months before making my decision. Each person's situations are different and it was best for me and it's working. A lot of changes have been made with The College Network and I feel I'm in the right place for furthering my career. Thanks for the advice, but I made the best decision for me.

No, I'm not on a wait list with Excelsior, I'm in. The schools here have lost many nursing instructors so the wait list would be 2 or more years. It would have cost me over $20,000, even with financial aid and pell grants. Plus, I'm a single mother with twin daughters in college and have to work. School 5 days a week, work and help my daughters would be too much. I'm also 49 so online is better and everything was all inclusive. The College Network supplies the books that is included. They have also just changed their program so all exams are taken in your own home, provided you have a web cam so they can watch you. They just started that, so that keeps me from travelling an hour away to take exams, with the exception of state boards. Thanks for the advice on Yahoo and preceptoship programs. I'm not sure how that works in my state. One out of three schools in my area require that, at your own expense prior to allowing you to take state boards for RN. Don't really know how that works for LPN's using this type of school. I've inquired about that on my State's forum on this site. Tried our State Boards of Nursing web site, but did not get much information on that, guess I need to call them. Thanks again!

I am using The College Network and I'm pleased with the way they are preparing me for my RN. It's half the wait and money for me and you are allowed to work at your own pace. I'm happy with my decision even though I have a good ways to go. I'm confident and faithful that I will reach my goal and both The College Network and Excelsior have gone the extra mile to assist me. The only worry I have is the clinical part and plan on finding a preceptorship program to help me with that once I'm finished. I've been told that with the nursing shortage being so high in my state that they are willing to help you gain that experience. Even if I have to pay extra for that, I feel it's going to be worth it for me. I am interested in furthering my career and learning more about nursing and the information they provide is very good in my opinion. I'm better at online learning being ADHD and like having it at my own pace and in the privacy of my own home. I'm 49 so the younger generation is much different and I'm too distracted in class as technology as grown. Cell phones, texting, computers, talking while instructor is teaching are just some of the examples I faced while taking my LPN and I struggled, actually slept with my books and had to work very hard. A lot of my pre-req's were online as I got off the wait list faster than expected and had to buckle down to be ready. I did it and I'm going to succeed and reach my goal whatever it takes. In my state, unemployment is only 12 months, 18 if you are lucky. So I'm using that time to study when not out trying to find work. Lpn's are just being phased out in hospitals and long term care is just about it but there are skills there in that setting as well depending on the facility protocols. I'm happy with my decision! If you want it bad enough, set a goal and keep the faith, it might not be your way but I'm confident with my way of achieving my goals!

Hello All! I am currently an LPN since 2008 and unemployed due to lay offs. I finally decided to go through The College Network and using Excelsior for Exams only. The wait list would have taken me 4 years and double the money if I used the technical colleges close to me. I know people say it's the easy way out, but it's very detailed and I find the learning experience online better for me as I'm 49. If you are going this route, I would like to hear from some other LPN's using this program or Paramedic's. I was a Paramedic for 15 years before I went to nursing school. Would like to hear other's experiences using this route. If you are using The College Network/Excelsior by exam, what are you doing as far as experience since the clinical is only for one weekend. I'm trying to find a job in a hospital to gain experience but LPN's are just not used in hospitals in this state and are being phased out, even in doctor's offices. Doctor's offices are not my thing, I would rather work in Long Term Care and can't work a 1st shift position and keep up with school or it would take me forever to finish. I'm looking for a weekend shift or a 3 12 hour shift position. I am willing to travel but am limited and would have to find a position closer to my parents to have a bunk for 3 days. Don't want to do travel nursing, want to find a weekend shift and stay with my parents and work on school during the week at my own home which is 2 hours away. The LPN positions are just not in my area. Anyone using this route, please tell me your experiences or have completed the RN program using this school. Was it hard to find a job after using this type of school without clinicals? Any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

I recently am under the care of a physician in NC and there is an LPN there that is the lab person that is licensed in Maryland. She said NC won't accept her license either so she had to go to school in NC to get a Medical Assistant and phlemotobomist certification to be able to do that. She is a single mother of 6 and is unable to go back to school. What did you end up having to do or have you resolved that yet? It's hard to have to move to another state with a license not recognized due to the economy and you would think with the need of nurses being so high, they could come up with some type of reciprocity system or maybe a course for that state with a simple exam. I thought when I got into nursing it was pretty much the same as far as laws and the practice of nursing but each state is different. That confuses me. I'm trying to get licensed in Ga as I live on the SC/GA state line but can't find the info on the SC web site either. Have not called yet. Just curious as to our outcome so I might be able to help her out.

Hello all!, I am currently an LPN in SC with two years experience in several areas, mostly med surg and long term care. I was laid off in January 2011 after the nursing home I was employed with, was bought out and laid off several LPNs. I live right at the SC/GA state line and am not having any luck in finding a job. I am currently enrolled in an LPN/RN bridge program online with The College Network and using Excelsior by exam only. I know the law in GA about Excelsior. I've read the changes but would live close to several nursing homes in GA and need a job before unemployment runs out. I've even tried travel nursing but at the time with family needs, am not able to travel at this time. Do any of you know what the requirements are for getting licensed in GA with a SC Compact license that does not include GA? I've tried the SC state board of nursing but have been advised to go through GA state boards of nursing. I'm not able to find that info on the web site. Could someone direct me in the right direction as to how I can get licensed in GA? I graduated from a technical college and have about 18 mos experience in med surg, long term care and worked as a nurse tech/cna for 2 years at a small hospital in med surg while in school. I was also a Paramedic with 15 years experience in SC. I know Paramedic and nursing is two totally different areas, finding out that the hard way when I started nursing thinking it was going to be a breeze. Not the same and it was an adjustment. Any advice or suggestions would greatly be appreciated. Thanks to all who respond.

I am a LPN with 2 years experience in South Carolina. I became unemployed due to lay off's, and decided to go through The College Network/Excelsior by exam. I take the courses and only use Excelsior for the exams. I am planning to return to work soon, but will have to travel and stay with my parents with a weekend shift. I have worked in Med Surg at a small hospital and gained 2 years experience as a Nurse Tech/CNA, then graduated with LPN and worked there about 18 months. It was extreme, doctors not there at night, just an ER doc, was floated to ICU when they were short and floated to ICU as a Monitor Tech/Secretary several nights. I have 15 years as a Paramedic prior to nursing but that scope of practice is so different from nursing. The experience I got from that was a great learning tool for me. I went into a skilled nursing facility because due to the hospital sending you home often due to census, I was just not getting the hours I needed to financially support two kids in college and had no choice. After I left the stress was gone! My question is, what is the best way to obtain the hands on clinical experience while using The College Network/Excelsior? Can you find preceptor that will let you gain experience in case I'm not able to find work in a hospital as LPN's in this state are being phased out in all areas except Long Term Care/nursing homes. It looks as if I may have to go that route. Where do you find preceptors to allow you to follow so I can gain experience or is that possible? I live in a small town and it was an extremely long wait list plus double the money so I prayed about it and decided it was the right choice for me. I'm better at online classes since I'm 49 and the younger students don't have as much discipline in classes like they used to back when I was in school. They are allowed to talk, text, use computers to chat, ect. and it was way too much distraction for me and I struggled through LPN school due to that. I'm doing find with The College Network and feel I'm more than getting my money's worth going this route. I also have experience in IV therapy and IV sticks with my Paramedic but I will have to get certified for nursing and plan to do that through a technical continuing education course before I take RN state board so I can have that on paper. I have EKG experience and saw more as a Paramedic since I worked for a large hospital system's Ambulance service, Nicu, Critical Care and other transports where a Paramedic had to be in the back with the patient. Talk about crammed in with a Respiratory Therapist and vent, RN and some doctor's on board with us for long term transports. I'm open to any suggestions. I don't want to go in as a new RN with no clinical experience and you only get one weekend with an 8 hour day, and two 12 hour days. Please advise if you have experienced this. Please excuse me if I repeated myself, a little brain fog and anxiety this morning after reading some forums on using The College Network. I'm happy with them and feel it was right for me. Thanks to anyone who responds.

We have sent this poor woman to the ER so many times. They send her back saying there is no doctor there to change the tube. This lady's family finally requested that the tube be taken out since she was eating. They took it out and found that 1., the tube was too small which is what we kept telling them, she was getting too much feeding, rate was too high with her eating too, and 2. there was a broken off q-tip in the tube causing a blockage! The lady has since been released to home without her feeding tube and is doing well. Thanks for your help. moo

You are right, I apologize. I do have a "P". I am working way too much!

I am the one who posted the question on the forum. "P" does not stand for practical, my number does not have a "P" in front of it. I think it means what someone else said, the "P" is for reciprocity from another state. I was looking up someone to see if they passed their state boards that I attended school with and noticed it on one and had never seen it. Thanks, moo

I am an LPN in South Carolina. Does anyone know what "pr" in front of a nursing license number means? Example: let's say my nursing license number is "12345", so what does it mean if you have "pr12345"?