educationguy

Dear txspadequeenRN, Ma'am, I know you care about nurses, and so do I. Please read my response more carefully. TCN partners with two well known universities. These universities deliver the on-line portion for nursing classes. TCN provides materials for nurses to study for gen ed and prereqs, which nurses can then pass through taking an exam at a local test center. These nurses receive the same education as nurses who take prereqs at local community colleges, nursing colleges, 4-year degree schools, or on-line colleges. TCN offers an option for nurses who are too busy to attend traditional classes due to work and/or family obligations. TCN provides study materials so nurses can study at home at their own pace on gen ed and prereq courses. Once a nurse studies these materials and receives immediate academic support M-F, a nurse goes to a test center and takes a college-level equivalency exam. The grade a nurse receives on this exam goes onto a nurse's transcripts, exactly as if this nurse attended a community college or took gen eds and prereqs at any traditional college or any accredited on-line institution. TCN courses are not accredited--yet--as they are study materials, but the exams taken at a local test center are ones administered by Dantes (DSST), CLEP, and Excelsior. These exams are fully accredited, and TCN study materials simply prepare nurses to pass these accredited exams. Remember, college-level equivalency exams allow nurses to earn credits while bypassing classes. College-level equivalency exams are nothing new. Nurses pass these exams to satisfy requirements for nursing programs at TCN partner schools (Indiana State University and Regis University). Nurses begin working with TCN (on gen eds and prereqs) and then enroll into one of these colleges, where nurses complete their degrees on-line. This approach is a a streamlined approach. In the end, nurses are invited to attend graduation ceremonies at whichever college program they entered into through TCN. Nurses once saved my life, and I quit teaching at colleges to help nurses. I would never associate with a business that "rips off" nurses. TCN provides no-fail guarantees for all gen eds and prereqs, unlike anywhere else. TCN does not partner with EC, but nurses can earn a degree from EC through TCN as well. The only difference is whether nurses take gen eds and prereqs through EC or TCN. EC is a great school, one that is NLNAC. TCN's LPN-to-BSN distance-learning bridge program is NLNAC as well. The National League for Nursing (NLN) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) would never work with TCN if TCN were a rip off. Indiana State University and Regis University would not partner with TCN, if TCN were a rip off. It's easy to slam a business from the outside, without truly researching facts. I just hope nurses will take the time to do just that. I hope nurses enroll with EC, Indiana State, Regis, other valid programs, and with TCN. The prime concern is for furthering one's education. Earning a degree through TCN and one of its partner schools results in the same exact degree as is conferred to campus-based grads at these same institutions. The only difference is the method of delivery. People used to disclaim on-line schools, but now that is common and accepted. TCN is the only program of its kind, and people tend to mistrust something that is different, but a degree, which is conferred by an actual partner school, through enrollment into a TCN-based degree program is equal to all other accredited degree programs in America. All a nurse has to do is call her/his state board of nursing and ask if such a degree, again conferred by Indiana State, Regis, or EC with gen eds and prereqs through TCN, are RECOGNIZED. In most states, the answer is yes. In a few states the answer is no, so make sure before you enroll, but a program advisor from TCN can tell you, and you can verify. I fully support nurses earning degrees from any regionally-accredited institution, not just through a TCN-partner university. However, please take time to ascertain facts before ripping on TCN. Please review ALL of your educational options. TCN may not be right for you. And you can't go wrong going directly through EC, Indiana State, or any other regionally-accredited college or university. Earning your degree is the main point. Now, all nurses have 3 clear, safe options: Traditional schools, on-line schools, or through a TCN which ends up being from a traditional school. It is really just a different method of delivering education for gen eds and prereqs. Call Indiana State University or Regis. They would never, ever work with TCN, if TCN was not fully legitmate, would they? Of course not. This forum is an excellent way to share ideas and opinions, and I dearly value it. I do not want to promote TCN over any other educational option, but I also don't want false information to be shared without some defense. I think most can understand this. I tell every nurse and paramedic who wants a degree to check all options to find which is best for each person. Find whichever option works best for you, but TCN is ONE valid option for earning a degree from a well-known, reputable university, among many options. Thank you!

I am sorry. I am not an employee of TCN's. I do work with them, though. I know several nurses who have gone through TCN and earned degrees from Indiana State, Regis, and Excelsior. TCN is no more of a "middle man" than any community college is. TCN is an option for those who can't do the school thing. TCN works with area credit unions to offer reasonable finance packages. I compared these rates to other banks and credit unions, and the finance terms, which are clearly spelled out for nurses, beat any other bank or credit union found. Anyone can anything on sites like this, which is fine, but I hope nurses will check facts. Check with the BBB. Check with the state board of nursing. Check with the schools with which TCN partners with. Aside from Indiana State and Regis, TCN also provides degree programs and certification routes through major universities, including Cornell, Purdue, The George Washington, and several other notable institutions. Words are easy, but I am stating facts that TCN has in writing. TCN is NOT a college and has never suggested that it is. Please review the name, The College Network. It simply offers a streamlined way for working adults to earn a real degree. TCN's courses are all accredited. When a nurse graduates from a TCN program, they walk on the stage at the college with campus-based grads. That is for real!

TCN offers a valid option. They are a publishing company, and they develop modules for gen ed and prereq courses, so nurses can study at home and at their own pace. EC is a great school, and you can earn your RN from EC, while going through TCN. Nurses study course materials in TCN modules and then go to a local test center and take a college-level equivalency exam. Passing grades go to a nurse's transcripts, and these are accredited, transferable college credits. Otherwise, these grades would not be able to go onto transcripts. TCN works with colleges such as Indiana State University and Regis. Would these major universities work with TCN, if TCN was not fully legitimate? Would state boards approve or recognize degrees from Indiana State or Regis for nurses who went through TCN? There are many, many nurses who successfully graduated from these colleges and from EC, who took advantage of TCN's program. Plus, a nurse can't fail any gen ed or prereq through TCN. TCN is a very viable, valid option for working nurses and nurses with families. No classes ever again!

I taught college composition for an accredited Midwest college for many years. During that time, I would welcome students to use a paper for assignments in different classes. As 1 poster commented, it is efficient ... not to mention smart! My only caution is that you may make minor modifications to fit the assignment for each class to which you would be submitting the same paper. Quite often, though, 1 paper will work for 2 different classes. And, yes, you can tell each instructor what you are doping, if you so desire. You are not doing anything wrong!

You have clearly explained exactly why so many nurses take The College Network route. Almost risk free, depending on student. Self-paced studies, so you can work without having to turn your life upside down to attend college. We bring college to you. Little stress, little pressure. No classes. No class schedules. Guaranteed passing grades for ALL prerequisites & general studies (Algebra, Stats, History, World Religion, A&P 1&2, Microbiology, Chemistry, etc. And, in the end, students are invited to walk with campus-based students and receive identical, real college diplomas, complete with cap & gown and shaking hands with the college president. Can't fail and we provide guaranteed financing for all working nurses (LPNs, RNs) and CNAs who want to earn real college degrees from mainstream universities (Indiana State, Regis University). All distance learning, no classes. Your pace, your place.

Grades always will count...graduation GPAs that is. The question was about being accepted into a program, I believe. So, a nurse can enter a program with a 2.5 GPA. Higher GPAs never, ever hurt, of course, but unfortunately for a number of reasons, not all nurses enter college with a 4.0. Hospitals and other medical facilities do hire nurses who do not have a 4.0, though. Still, the higher the GPA, the better, and that's where an alternative program may help on both ends, enrolling and graduating! To that point, in our programs, nurses take self-paced courses (prerequisites and general studies) one-at-a-time, allowing them to focus on one subject-at-a-time. A course can be completed in as little as 2 weeks or as long as needed, averaging 30-45 days. Through us, nurses study, and then take CLEPs that are proctored and earn full, transferable college credits. We even guarantee that nurses will pass all of these non-nursing courses, such as College Algebra, A&P, Micro, etc. These are self-paced study courses, so nurses can spend more time on more challenging subjects and less time on ones they face less challenge. In this approach, any nurse can raise her/his GPA...students have way more control over their final grades in this educational approach. But certainly, all nurses want to graduate with as high of a GPA as they can. Distance learning offers all nurses a clear way to take direct control of their entrance GPA, on all prerequisites and general studies. Ultimately, nurses fare better with higher grad GPAs, but they can start with a 2.5. Doing prerequisites and general studies one-at-a-time provides a way to significantly improve GPAs for enrollment into a degree proggram. If a nurse has time and $$ for full-time nursing school (doesn't have to work full time), that is a great approach, and it is probably faster. However, if a nurse can't attend a nursing school full time, we bring school to nurses, and they graduate with actual fully accredited college diplomas. Then, they take boards and practice in their home states. And maybe they graduate with a much higher GPA than they might otherwise. The bottom line, though, is to get your education!

Hi mjmoon, The College Network offers distance-learning programs for ASNs (ADNs), BSNs, LPN-to-BSNs, and MSNs through Indiana State, Regis, and Excelsior. TCN is partnered with the 1st two colleges, so grads walk with campus-based grads for exact same degree. For these programs, nurses need to have a 2.5 GPA and pass a TEAS. Since in the programs, nurses never attend classes and can keep working full time (and even raise children), they can work at their own pace, as fast as they can or as slow as they need to. Nurses in the program do not have to deal with waiting lists either, but they need their LPN. Full-time nursing schools may be a little faster, and they are all pretty good, but we are an alternative for working nurses. This stated, lots of nurses have a 4.0, which is awesome, and lots of nurses have lower GPAs for lots of reasons. Usually, you're good, though, as long as you're at or above 2.5 for us and many other programs. As others responses mentioned, your ability in the practice means more than your academics.

Hi ADN/BSN/MSN, I see lots of good, well-meaning responses. I just want to add that you can gain practical experience, as you are, working full time, while earning your degree at home. I recommend that you 1) continue working to gain much needed and respected practical experience, 2) earn your ADN through TCN -- your place, your pace, where you never have to attend a class, 3) then look into a program we have with Regis University (one of the top US nursing programs), where you can complete a bridge program, RN-to-MSN. This program too is distance learning. However, you would be invited to Denver, CO to attend graduation ceremonies, as your degree would be exactly the same as cmapus-based graduates. This program, like most, offers 2 tracks: management or education. In your case, concentrate on management. Also, please know that you can detour and stop at your BSN, if life makes that shorter path more viable. The main thing is to keep moving forward, because education holds the key to your future!