What's the scoop with the LPN/BSN, The College Network, and Indiana State University?

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Jul 26, 2004

if ya stick to one lpn-bsn/college-network thread....may be then you'll get some answers. having more than one thread about the same subject can be confusing for some of us to find & post. anyhoo...here's the link to your original thread lpn to bsn from isu.

i've returned a pm from you as soon as i'd received it. unfortunately, i wasn't on list all day yesterday & only logged on a few hours ago. as stated in my pm to ya....i don't have any further information regarding this program outside of the links provided on the other thread. however, i'm interested in learning more about the program as many of my friends/co-workers could benefit from such a program. too bad this program didn't exist prior to my going through a traditional bsn program which never recognized my lpn knowledge & experience.

i've applied to that yahoo lpn-bsn college-network group & hope to learn more.

good luck ~ cheers!

moe

JayneG · Jul 30, 2004

i've been an LPN / LVN for 7 years... moved from Calif. to NY 2 years ago to take this job on a cardiac stepdown telemetry unit... and a year later, my Nurse Manager informs me that we're going "all RN" on her Unit -- i need to come up with a plan and start working on my RN, or she has a daytime OR Tech job lined up for me... blech...

i contacted College Network... sent them my college transcripts... i've finished EVERYTHING except Med Surg III, Mental Health Nursing, and i have to repeat A & P because i got a D+ and it won't transfer... but... because i graduated 7 years ago, i have to repeat all my Nursing Courses... so with that, College Network gave me credit for all my Gen Eds and pre-requisites, 67 credits in all, and they still want $20,000 for my BSN... that's not counting textbooks... and i have to find my own "in house" preceptor in my facility (with a BSN) who would be willing to shepherd me... and then i find out that BSN pays no more than RN in my facility...

so in May i applied to Excelsior College School of Nursing ($65) and was accepted... and in June i enrolled in Excelsior College ($150 down, $150 a month for 5 months)... and i've purchased several of Chancellor's Nursing Concepts and the A & P on ebay (for less than 1/3 of the original purchase price)... so now i'm not riding on Student Loans that have to be paid back, no $20k pricetag hanging over my head, pay-as-i-go and study at my own pace... i'm in my comfort zone right now :) ...

my co-worker friend, an LPN with no previous college course work, contacted College Network the same time i did... they want $27k for her education... we don't make enough to make payments on something like that, ya know?... the folks at College Network were very nice... but i simply can't afford them... and because i work 12-hr night shifts, i'm not so sure i can be awake and online for class at the times specified by them, and get all their coursework turned in on time, meet with my preceptor, etc... i have to do Nursing Concepts 1-6 for Excelsior, A & P, and the CPNE, and i'm done... self-paced... test when i'm ready... and as long as i show progress toward my RN degree, i keep my job...

no matter which path you choose, best of luck to you :) ... "Jayne"

J Lynn · Jul 30, 2004

Thanks, Jayne. You really did give me the scoop I was looking for. I thought they found a preceptor for you and I read somewhere else that it would only costs around $9,000. I know College Network is expensive and there are alot of courses to take for a BSN, but with no prior college credits to forward, it might take me over 4 years. The only thing that I need to find out about Excelsior is if I will be able to sit for boards in my state when it's over.

Thanks for your honesty. I hope to make a decision soon.