Kimily

Well, Im not there yet, and Im taking my time. The test's scare me and Im a good student. I just dont want to have to wait 6 mths to retake it if I fail it. Anyway, Like you I have not heard from anyone here who has taken that Phase2 part. WOuld love to though. I have 2 boys in College too! ( and 2 more coming up behind them...) Its a house full of Students. Kind of fun though, and one of my son's is someone who takes Calculus as an elective, so he helps me with my math ALOT, because he didnt get the math genious from me! Take care !

Brenda, TCN provides these courses that ISU requires. But you have tobuy them from them. Just for them I think its close to $3000. I went for the whole package, works for me that way and it is included in what Im paying. I know some are finding deals on ebay, but...I just felt better about doing it this way. Hopefully everyone will reach the same goal....BSN.

Hi Brenda and Kathryn and way to go Eric!!!!! I have been a LPN for nearly 4 years and I work for Hospice and do PRN at at local nursing home. I love what ISU has to offer and cant wait to get to that part. BUT>>. I just started and have a ways to go. Im taking Sociology now and plan to tackle Algebra next. I hate math so I figured I would just get them out of the way and relax. Thank goodness I have a son that is pretty awesome in Math, so maybe he can help his dear ole mom! I truly hope we keep this going. Its nice communicating with others who are doing the same thing. Good Luck and Keep in touch. Kim in Fla!:welcome:

Sensoria, I dont have to take Speech BUT can understand what you are saying. I am sure I will come across some that make me feel just like you are now. Good Luck to you.

Brenda, I appreciate your response. Good Luck with AH1, let me know how it goes. Are you finding that some of your co-workers think your crazy , when you tell them your going to be enrolled in Indiana State University and get a BSN online? I live in Fl and most of the response I am getting is like AH H Honey, what line did they feed you? Its funny. Anyway..just wandering what kind of response your getting. Take care. Kim;)

Sensoria, I dont have to take Speech BUT can understand what you are saying. I am sure I will come across some that make me feel just like you are now. Good Luck to you.

Hi, I am using the publishing company TCN to get through my prerequisites and then will enrolling in the Indiana State University Online BSN Program. I am very excited about this opportunity and even though I have along way to go, I know I will get there. Best part is...NO CPNE! You do your clinicals locally with preceptors and I love that! ANyway...Just wandering if anyone else is doing this program and how far you are? I need all the support I can get. Im taking Sociology now...How is the CLEP for this? Thanks!

Hi, I am currently working through my first TCN course, Sociology. I hope that I do well on the exam, when its time. I am enrolled in the LPN to BSN through ISU, and I am thrilled with the opportunity that they offer. Alot of people are hard on TCN because it is a Publishing Company, but going through them makes me feel I will be ready to take the exams and their pass guarantee, makes me confident I will get through it. Cant wait til Im a BSN!!!!!!! Congrats to you...Have you taken any more since this post?

IF I was rude I appologize, I dont see that as much as I seen it from the OP to previous posters, but, yet again to each his own. Most of the oposition if from non wearers and most of the defenders are currently and or have been wearers of artificial nails. I guess the moral of these arguments should be dont walk in someone elses shoes, if you dont wear them , dont worry about it, If you do, then you must deal with the consequences that may occur. BUT!! I still feel telling someone that because they choose to wear them, or defend wearing them makes them unworthy of being a good nurse is truely what was rude and wrong. Im moving on to a different subject now, there are much more serious issues to deal with in nursing than wether another nurse wears acrylics.

WOW! 24 months to be a LPN? that is twice as long as it took me . What state are you in? Here in FL, it takes one year and there is NO difference IF Those degrees are great to have if they are for you, but if your goal is to be a nurse, go for your LPN and work up or straight for RN and then go on if you need to. So may options huh?? Good LUck,

Here are a few facts that may or may not help. 1) LPN school is shorter , and dont let that make you think ( or anyone else I might add ) it isnt tough and challenging, but in a year , you are a NURSE. 2.) There are options for earning your degree for RN at home once you are a LPN, which means no more time away from family. This route isnt for everyone, but still an option. 3.) Traditional bridge over programs are shorter and require less pre reqs, another option. 4.) RN degree typically takes 3 years full time, at the end you are a NURSE. if you need or just want to get into nursing because it is what you truely want and the money would help a great deal, then LPN takes far less time. You have to make your decision based on your wants, needs and those of your family. As you have seen, I am very honored and feel very blessed to be a LPN. Each day I work , I am thankfull. Thankfull for finally having the courage to do it, a supportive family, and a good LOrd that saw me through each step and continues to guide me through my love of nursing and new found respect I have for myself. Good Luck to you. No matter what you decide, stay with it. Nursing is so rewarding. NOt always pleasant, but worth it.

Wow! You really, really like being right! haha, Thats okay though, makes for interesting conversation. I do agree that there are some documented misfortunes where fake nails are concerned, my point is this, As a nurse simply forgettting to wash your hands ( with or without nails I might add ) and touching someone on reverse isolation precautions may cause a reprocution, forgetting to wipe the hub of your IV site EACH AND EVERY TIME You insert a med or a flush may cause infection, Med Errors, Going to work sick because you have no more sick days and cant afford not to, and breathing on someone can cause serious issues for some patients. Dont you get it yet? Everyday..in many ways you can cause harm, however unintentional. Nails are simply one issue, not for you or me to decide, and certainly the right of anyone who wants to wear them to deal anyway theywant to with being able to , or not being able to wear them, without someone making them out to be lousy nurses. Even you can make a mistake without artificial nails, I hope if that time comes , Your support system is better than yours appears to be for others. One last point, I personally do not wear nails, my real nails are kept clean and manicured and at sport length. If I worked around NICU babies, they would most likely be shorter out of neccessity, Not everyone does or wants to. TO each his own, I am also very well educated and take my patients care and safety very seriously, I thankyou for assuming I would not though, it made me realize thinking you know everything and thinking your way has to be the right way, causes way to much trouble , and I hope I never ever become that way.

Jeesh Cathie your being a little harsh arent you? Pent up hostility? IF you think that being upset because someone is yet again telling us some aspect of our personal life and choices must be changed to accomodate keeping our jobs,is the making of a bad nurse who doesnt follow the rules, then I say your the one being uncaring. People, yes even nurses have different things that make them feel better about themselves, not everyone feels the same way about the same things and that is every persons right, but to call someone non caring and then ultimately imply they must be somehow far less intellingent than you , or less capable in someway. (referring to the CODE comment.) is just mean and it is wrong. Artificail nails or not, Im a darn good nurse, wether our opinions differ, or I challenge the system where you do not, does not even come close to making me a bad nurse and it doesnt give you the right to imply that someone who does is. Frankly , I find it easier to clean longer nails than short ones, which also get bacteria under them , but ultimately anything someone is doing that might bring your nail edges in contact with a pt.s skin , or body fluids should be wearing gloves anyway. As with all of us, that is my opinion, Sorry if you feel I came down hard on you. I just think that judging someone the way you did , is not what this forum is made for.

Thankyou so much you guys! It really makes me smile to come and look at all of these. I really have found great advice, friends, and support from this website.

Unfortunately the patient ratio is on the rise in almost overy hospital in Fl. THe hospital I work in recently went from 6 at night to 8. 7 max if you work days. It is alot, for some reason they think it makes more sense to cut nurses , increase the pt. load and lower the standards of care for the patient. Oh did I say, makes more sense?? I should have said it makes more money!!! Good Luck with finding what you are looking for. Im afraid it may take some time. Im sure there are a few places left that actually put pt. care first and take care of their nurses. I hope you find one!! I work 12 hour nights and usually do have a 8 pt. load. Its not easy, but it is doable. It takes tremendous organization and patience, and boy do I look forward to those days off! We all keep hoping and praying that one day they will wake up to see that working nurses harder without paying them more means higher turn over and stressed out nurses who either quit or just stop caring..Its a sad thing but the bottom line has become more important to administration than the patient.