cindarent

Seasons, The course is set up to be 6 semesters or 3 years. You could take longer I'm sure. The part that is self paced is doing the prereqs and 4 challenge exams, as well as the Teas exam. The school is supposed to help set up a preceptor and site. You may have to do some footwork if you are in a remote area that has no sites previously used by ISU. I think it varies in difficulty depending on what state you are in and distance of acceptable clinical sites. I spoke with the coordinator from Ca and she said there are currently 100 students in the program and that everyone was placed without a problem. The best thing to do is contact the state coordinator for your state and get an idea of which facilities have been used before and might be an option. There are ways to get through the program without using The College Network too. Read all the ISU threads and you will get a lot of info. You can PM or email me if you gave further questions. [email protected] Good luck! Cinda

Raincitynurse, I program normally takes 3 years (6 semesters of Fall/Spring) but some states may allow you to take 2 clinical courses or 2 theory courses during 1 semester which could sped it up. In Ca the nursing board only allows 1 clinical course per semester, so you can't speed it up. It is possible some courses may be available during summers. It would be nice to hear from others who have completed the program who may have finished earlier and how they did it. Good luck! Cinda

Inland nurse, I am taking chemistry, a&p2, history, sociology, and health science this semester in order to transfer to ISU with an AS. The requirements are slightly different doing it this way. So I am in phase 1 but have already done all the phase 2 exams. I wanted to take them before I got busy with this semester's classes, studying for the TEAS and NCLEX. I spent about 2 weeks studying for N106 and N330- just a few hrs/ week. I got a 92% and 93% on them. I studied 3-4 weeks for N328 and N224. I got a 77% on both exams which was surprising since I had a 4.0 throughout the LVN program. That is why I thought they were much more difficult. Also the pressure of knowing how expensive it is if you dont pass and have to retry is a bit daunting. Sometimes reading about what others have said can be discouraging too, because each person is different and what one person found difficult another could have found easy. I'm sure each school's LVN program covers slightly different material and this is adult health for the BSN program, so it is more comprehensive. If I had spent more time studying and reviewing I'm sure I would have had higher scores, but I really just wanted to get them over with asap. I think you just have to try to prepare as much as possible, then get rest, do your best, and then pray and leave the outcome to God. Cinda

That was the easiest one for me. I used the College Network study guide to review and then took the practice test. Anything I missed, I looked over again and then retook the test until I got 100%. The ISU mental health exam was very similar to the practice test, so you should do well. I took them out of order from what I heard was easiest to hardest. I took N106, N330 maternity, N328 peds, N224 adults. The maternity was also easy and very similar to the practice test. The peds was harder and many questions were not completely cut and dry. There were many questions about the best approach in a certain scenario. The adult health was the hardest. I suggest studying the most for that one. I used the same approach as I did on the other exams- taking the practice test until I got 100% and reviewing all the end of unit questions too but found that none of the questions were similar to the practice test. You really have to know your disease processes, interventions, Meds, treatments, diagnostic tests and results, labs etc. It was like a final exam of the entire LVN program. Read the TCN study guide thoroughly and take notes or make flash cards. Focus on details like disease symptoms, treatments, meds, etc. Good luck! You can do it!

Good for you! It sounds like you are really on your way. I started to read Therapeutic Communication to study for the Mental Health exam but then got the TCN study guides instead. PM me or email me at [email protected] to discuss materials. When I first saw all the requirements for ISU it seemed overwhelming. I was still in LVN school but started working on the requirements one by one (lots of summer classes). I was most worried about how hard the challenge exams would be, but I found the TCN guides a great way to prepare. I took the practice tests until I got 100%. Then I took the exams and got A's on both. You have to be very self motivated to do an online program, that's for sure- it is just you responsible for you. I definitely had to be proactive to make sure I had everything in the works like sending in my high school transcript to get foreign language credit and sending over course descriptions to ISU to make sure they would transfer etc. To me, the advantages of an online program far outweigh any extra work involved. No more driving to theory 2-3 days per week, no more boring lectures. Now I can study when it works best for my family and be in my own home- hurray! Any nursing program has a lot of hoops and paperwork, you just have to make sure the program is right for you and your life right now. My goal is to be a teacher one day, so this program is very important to fulfill that dream.

The tuition is listed on ISU's website. It ends up being about $13,000 with all the fees. Clinicals are $500 each and total another $3,000. So about $16,000 without College Network materials or testing fees included. That would add on another $4-5,000. You can use financial aid to pay for ISU tuition only- such as Pell Grants, Cal Grants, or scholarships. Whatever the balance is you can also get a Stafford loan. A local hospital where I did clinicals gave me a scholarship which will cover almost the entire amount of the challenge exam fees (about $1,000). One way to keep costs down is to do the prereqs at a community college instead. In CA I get a tuition waiver and so all I have had to pay for is my books while attending LVN school and doing all my prereqs the past 2 years. The TCN materials are helpful to prepare for the exams but you can find them used instead like I did. It is definitely a more focused way to study than buying and reading a lot of books covering each subject. I used them to study for 2 weeks for the first 2 challenge exams and got A's in both. Good luck!

I'm so happy for you passing the TEAS! What did you use to study? Which challenge exams do you still need to take? Cinda

That's great you can start in Jan. What was the original deadline for the csms? Which 2 did you take allready? What are you using to study- books or the TCN modules? Good luck on the TEAS. Cinda

That's great you are in your last year. I tried to respond to your post a few months ago, but was new to the site and ended up doing a thread instead. I had my 6th baby at Loma Linda in 2007. I am hoping to get RCRMC approved as a clinical site before I start the program in Fall 2011 or Spring 2012. I am doing clinicals with the LVN program there right now. Do you know why there aren't any approved sites listed for CA on the ISU clinical facility list? I was concerned because Millie from Sonoma State told me that there was one in Riverside and one in San Diego. It sounds like a lot of red tape to go through to get a new site approved. Do you know other people in SoCal that are doing the program as well? Thanks, Cinda

Also, anyone who has taken and passed the TEAS exam- Was the ATI study guide helpful? Did you use any other materials to study? Thanks! Cinda

That is amazing you passed all 4- in one day to top it off! I have been worried after hearing that some of them are difficult to pass. What did you do to study besides read? Maybe you should write a book on your secrets to passing-LOL. How was the TEAS exam? What classes are you taking through ISU now? I am in my last 7 weeks of my LVN program and have been also taking prereqs. I have 3 more classes to take Spring 2011, plus the 4 challenge exams, plus the TEAS exam. I am hoping to do all of this by June 2011. Am I crazy or is this doable in your opinion? I have 6 kids and have been working part time for the last 6 years- all through nursing school, until I was laid off the beginning of Oct. So now I have what feels like a lot more time to study and prepare. I figure I will aim high and then if things don't work out for Fall 2010, I will apply for Spring 2012 instead. Cinda

Did you end up going through ISU? I am in my last 7 weeks of an LVN program in SoCal Inland Empire and am working on my prereqs as well as the challenge exams and hoping to apply for Fall 2011 or Spring 2012. Cinda

Kelly, Hi. Where are you at in your program now? How were the Challenge exams? Do you still have your materials and would you be interested in selling them? I am in SoCal and am starting to study for N106 with used books from the class. I have heard the other exams are harder and would like to use as many resources as possible to study with. If you are on Facebook you can send me a request Cinda Williamson Renteria. Cinda

Congrats! That must be a great feeling. Have you taken the TEAS exam yet? I have 7 weeks to go in my LVN program. I am taking my last 3 prereqs in Spring as well as doing the challenge exams. I am studying for N106 right now. I am in SoCal, but glad to find other Californians. Good luck! Cinda

I see you are also in CA. Have you started Phase III yet? I am in the IE working on Phase II still and am glad to find other Californians. Cinda

Kylea, How was the online Chemistry through Weber? I am debating taking it through my JC where it is cheaper or online where it may be less time consuming. Was it considered General/Intro Chem? How many hrs per wk did it require? Did ISU accept it without a hitch? Thanks, Cinda

RDelaney, Congratulations on getting in! How is your first semester going? Where are you doing your clinicals? I am in my last semester of my LVN program at Mt. San Jacinto College in Menifee and am finishing my last 3 prereqs in Spring. I am also going to take the challenge exams in the next few months while the info I learned is still fresh. I am doing clinicals for my LVN program at Riverside County Regional Medical Center. It is so awesome to find someone close by.:) Cinda

Oops! I meant Fall 11 or Spring 12

Hi Jesscolap, I am so sorry to hear that you barely missed passing the 2 exams. That must have been difficult after waiting and studying for a while. Which ones did you not pass? Have you taken the other 2 challenge exams? Are there any approved clinical facilities in your area? The list on ISU website doesn't show any for CA at all. Have you started the paperwork on any places? I am hoping to get 2 hospitals in my local area approved by the time I am in, either Fall 10 or Spring 11. I am studying for N106 right now. Looking forward to hearing from you again, Cinda

Hi. I am from OC and lived in Garden Grove for a few years. I now live in the IE. It's great to hear from someone more local, since this is a national site and everyone is scattered over the US. I am working on my pre-reqs and am in my last semester of the LVN program at a community college. I am starting to study for the 4 challenge exams one by one and hopefully apply for Fall 2011. What phase are you in?

Thank you for such a great post. Lots of good info. Cindarent

Hi. That's great you are starting in Spring. Are you still doing prereqs or doing theory at ISU? I am starting to study on my own for the N105 exam. Has anyone taken it who studied on their own not with CN materials? How difficult or easy was it. The subject seemed fairly easy and one we have covered throughout my LVN program. I was also concerned about finding a preceptor but I was reassured after speaking with the CA clinical director Millie from Sonoma State. She answered all my questions and explained the process. I don't know anyone in my area of Riverside county who is actually in the program but would like to connect with others who are starting so we can encourage each other along the way.

I totally agree that a public junior college is the way to go for an ADN and as many prereqs as possible. I have about 74 units so far there and have appreciated the low cost experience but at my JC it takes 2 yrs to get into the LVN to RN transition program and then another year to complete it where I would have to go full time each day and then I would only have an associates degree- and after 3 yrs. That is why a BSN at ISU is a better option for me right now since I have 6 kids and work part time and need the flexibility of an online degree. In about the same time I will have a higher degree that may give me better job opportunities.

I know it does seem outrageous but I have met LVNs who have paid $50-60,000 for private schools just to get their RN only. So for a 4 yr degree- BSN this seems much more reasonable also considering it is mainly online which allows a person to work and go to school which traditional school schedules sometimes wouldn't work.

That's great! How much longer do you have to go?