Read Stories of Amazing People Who are Achieving the Dream of Earning an RN
"I needed to secure our future a little better. Our kids like seeing me study because they see that grown ups have to study to learn too. They do not whine about doing their homework anymore because they know that even adults do things that they don’t want to.”
> Read more of Alecia Howard's story
"I was able to read or make notes or whatever I wanted to do. I could access it from the computer at work so that was really good. And, every time I had a question and called, the staff was very courteous and did everything they could to help me."
> Watch Ann Marie Finklea Tell Her Story
"I like the practice tests. After you read and take the quizzes you can see if you’ve learned the material."
> Watch Aracely Ibarra Tell Her Story
“You are doing this online, not in a classroom, so you have to be your own teacher. You must be strict with yourself and challenge yourself. It is important to know that once you finish your program, all of the sweat and tears will be worth it."
> Read More of Arlene Nelson's Story
“Having a goal and studying helped me stay busy and kept my mind off what might be happening with the war. It also gave me and my husband something more to talk about when he called. I finished the coursework before my husband came home. My degree set us up to be more successful when we were able to start our life again upon his return.”
> Read More of Arlene Whittenburg's Story
"Whenever you felt ready, you could schedule a test. Usually it was two to three weeks out so that gave you even more time to study to prepare. It was really not hard at all. I worked from 40 to 60 hours a week and still had time to study, even it was an hour a night. And I wasn’t pressured to do it."
>Watch Beverly Permenter Tell Her Story
“I already had important commitments such as working full time and sometimes overtime to support my family, including my two small children along with everything else that pops up in life. I just couldn’t devote time to go to class as well. Something had to give, and it happened to be my RN degree.”
> Read More of Bill Blasyzk's Story
“I want to be an RN to do more for my patients. Right now, if they want pain medication that’s an IV push, I have to go ask the RN. This way, they don’t have to wait. I can give them more care than I can right now.”
> Read More of Carrie Ferguson's Story
“I also went to school to show my children that it’s never too late. It’s been a positive experience. I like that I can say I’m in school; I’m a student!”
> Read More of Cathy Burke's Story
“I find that the online resources are helpful. I can print what I need, bookmark where I left off and find the announcements. It's great.”
> Read more of Cecilia Portillo's story
"The format was perfect, and the modules prepared me very well for the tests. Being able to have all the info in one place was crucial for me. I was able to take school with me wherever I was headed in a particular week and not fall behind in my studies."
> Read more of Chantée Nebblett's story
“I was able to finish my nursing theory classes in a year. I never had to drop my full-time working status, and I could further my education. I was really pleased about that. I even worked overtime, anywhere from 36 to 48 hours a week, and I still had time for my family.”
> Watch Charlotte Durivage Tell Her Story
“Things aren’t going to work out the way you plan, but you have to keep pushing through the hard times. The difficult times of life shouldn’t stop you. If your goal is to be a nurse, then do it. You are always going to face adversity and you have to follow through with what you want. It will not turn out as you planned, but it will be better than you expected.”
> Read More of Christy Taylor's Story
“You have to set a priority if you want to get through it, but you can do it. You have to set aside the time to study. Whether its 20 minutes in the morning, two hours at night, or whatever you can work in, you can do it. You’ve just got to set it aside and do it. It has to be a priority. You can do it.”
>Watch Cindy Fugate Tell Her Story
“Obtaining a license as a registered nurse allows for a higher degree of autonomy, a greater opportunity in the future to advance my career and an ability to achieve a higher income for my family.”
> Read More of Dana Warren's Success Story
“My mom is still very much in my heart and very much the reason I do everything. She was just awesome. She didn’t really get to see me come out of my adolescence. I know she’s here. When I’m working as a nurse, my goal is to think like her because she was just so selfless and that’s what nursing is all about. Selflessness.”
>Watch Deanna Ashcraft Tell Her Story
“My achievement through The College Network has been an amazing journey of self. It began with a dream; it could have been a long ago desire that I suppressed. Then, a little voice in my head woke me one morning with a persistent message that a college education and RN status was a goal to be fulfilled.”
> Read More of Elena Sipkins' Story
“Don’t put it off. It’s very easy to let those books sit aside and collect dust. All of us have busy lives, but if you really, really want to change your life and attain your goal, you have to sacrifice. You have to put in the time to study, and it does take discipline. But it can be done.”
>Watch Elizabeth Hiser Tell Her Story
“My father always pushed me to not settle for less than I could do. When I lost him, it pushed me to finish my education.”
> Read More of Elizabeth Powell's Story
“Study at your own pace while working a full-time job does work. There are no deadlines to make, no grades to stress over, and no interrupting my day to go to class.”
> Read More of Emily Burton's Story
“There are things that happen in your life, and that is the convenient thing about doing this program online. You can set your own schedule. I didn’t work my program for a time because of work, family, and well, just life, but I couldn’t give it up. I just kept trying.”
> Read More of Esther Marcel's Story
"I got married and had babies, and my career got put on the back burner. Finally, when all but one of my kids was out of the house, I took a year off work to get my LPN license. Unfortunately, I found out I had two serious health problems and underwent two major surgeries. Going to classes for my RN became impossible. I can’t sit in a classroom for long periods of time, so The College Network was my perfect solution. If you want it, you'll make it work."
> Read More of Georgann Domoracki's Story
“I could choose the non-traditional way and continue working, or the traditional way and quit my job. This is why The College Network works great for me. The Comprehensive Learning Modules™ have everything laid out and it’s just a great program.”
> Read More of Habibo Haji's Story
“I’m glad that I ended up letting the program advisor come out. I wasn’t sure at first. The College Network was the first one I looked at so I didn’t get very far looking at my options for RN school. She came out and I signed up. She sold me. My husband asked me how it went and I said, ‘Well, I signed up.’ He was mad for about two seconds but once I explained everything, he was fine. It worked out very well.”
>Watch Heather Kroos Tell Her Story
"The College Network has added many features and access to practice tests on their web site—things that weren't available for me the first time around. It's very helpful. I work nights—sometimes up to 12 or 16 hours, and then I'm up with my family during the day. It's exhausting, but now that I know what I need to do to push myself, I see to it that the work gets done."
> Read More of Jennifer Krout's Story
“With The College Network, you can be a full-time mother, a full-time worker, and a full-time student. If you think you can’t go to school, The College Network will get you started, and they’ll start you where you need to be with no unnecessary classes.”
> Read More of Jessicah Michira's Story
“The online program was the best fit for me because it worked with my busy lifestyle. I am able to fit school in because it is totally up to me when I study.”
> Read More of Joleen Allen's Story
"My in-laws had been sick, and I’d been taking care of them. It was the first time I’d ever considered nursing as a career. So, I did all that I needed to do to get into college and went to the local junior college and earned an LPN degree."
> Watch Juanita Bearden Tell Her Story
“My favorite part about The College Network material is that it’s already broken down for you. It is more straight forward than being in a classroom and having 13 nursing books in which you have to go to different chapters and read hundreds and hundreds of pages.”
> Read More of Karen Burn's Story
"I wanted to be able to work and get my RN without having to sit in a classroom because I’m juggling my family and work. I wanted to just find a way to do it. I felt that I studied hard enough to get my LPN and get enough knowledge through that, that I would be able to do it with The College Network™.”
> Watch Kathy Flanagan Tell Her Story
“It’s flexible. You study when you can. You don’t have to drive across town and spend all of your gas."
> Watch Kelly Lundblad Tell Her Story
“I can boast about this program, because it has changed my life—it has changed my family’s life. My husband does not have to work so much anymore. He is so proud of me. I would like to thank The College Network for changing my life and making it so easy to finally obtain the goal that I have always dreamed of.”
> Watch Kim Huggins Tell Her Story
“Everybody who knows me knows that I'm in the RN program. I get support every day from people asking how it is going."
> Read More of Kristina Hesby's Story
"You have to learn compassion. You have to learn to listen. You have to be patient. You just don’t walk in a room, slam the door, turn around and walk out. You have to just sit there and be a person to them. You’re their advocate."
>Watch Laura Beaubouef Tell Her Story
“The modules really did prepare you for the tests. I studied the modules. I went to the online Resource Center, I studied the content online, and just from that I was able to feel confident enough to go take the test. When I actually got done with the test, I thought the material module was right on because everything I studied was on the test.”
>Watch Leann Landrum Tell Her Story
“The motivation was there, and when the modules arrived I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
> Read More of Mandi Pecho's Story
“I had young children at the time, and it didn’t seem to work trying to schedule classes around my work schedule and worrying about my kids at the same time. Something had to give, so I quit school to focus on work and family.”
> Read More of Margaret McGraw's Story
"This program seems to be more helpful to me. I can call and find out how to do things if I made a mistake navigating somewhere. Somebody is always there to help me get back on. It’s great that I can ask questions and go online and chat and ask questions there and call and have all of these resources available to me. I feel very supported.”
> Watch Marsha Ledoux Tell Her Story
“My advice would be: follow your dream, and go forward at a steady pace. If you have a setback, take time to figure out what happened, regroup, and push on. It is a very do-able goal. I have been through the traditional RN program and find this suits me much better."
> Read More of Mary Foster's Story
“I am very dedicated and I knew going in that studying wouldn’t be a problem for me. I work the midnight shift so I am able to studying when my patients are asleep. I also like the combination of online and hardcopy study materials.”
> Read More of Melinda Gensamer's Story
“I have noticed a difference in my nursing practice for the better and so have my colleagues. My goal is to be an excellent registered nurse and provide excellent care to the population I serve.”
> Read More of Paul Herrick's Story
“The Associate of Science in Nursing at Excelsior College® fits me perfectly. You have to be committed to do it, but I love not having to go to a classroom and or spend extra money on gas.”
> Read More of Reme Prusynski's Story
“The idea of being able to touch someone’s life in the way a nurse can appeals to me. With my time, my skills, my energy, my compassion—it is a way to give back. And, I really enjoy being able to make someone feel better. A lot of times you can’t take away all the pain and you can’t fix anything, but you can make it a little better.”
> Watch Sabrina Brooks Tell Her Story
"I graduated October 16, 2009 and took my NCLEX and passed and became an RN on January 5, 2010. It took me a very long time but that’s because of me. Other people I know have done it quicker, but I spread it out and stopped and started and piddled around. The one thing that I really enjoyed was meeting other people that are not from where I live."
> Watch Sherri Wilson Tell Her Story
“I’ve wanted to be an RN since childhood. I have two kids and worked 40 or more hour weeks as an LPN. That didn’t leave much time for studying. If it hadn’t been for at-home study, I couldn’t have done this.”
> Read More of Sherrie Davis' Story
“It feels wonderful to continue my education as an adult learner and has increased my self esteem.”
> Read More of Sherry Luckenbaugh's Story
“Being an RN comes with more responsibility, and I can see what the RNs do where I work, and I know I can do that. And plus, you have more knowledge. You learn more about the drugs you’re giving, you know all of the side effects—which you should know as an LPN as well—but you know how they work in your body. It’s just a little bit deeper into your knowledge and, I like that.”
> Watch Stephanie Horsley Tell Her Story
“I like that I didn’t have to fish for information, it was right there. Everything is pretty much provided in the work books. So, I made a study plan from them."
> Watch Stephanie Waters Tell Her Story
“Everything with the program was positive. It was very doable. I was able to complete it working 65-hour weeks. It may take longer than you thought but you’re further along than if you’d just kept procrastinating.”
> Read More of Susan Realmuto's Story
“At one time, I thought I couldn’t do this program any other way than to go to class, but I like not having to go to class. I like pacing myself. You do have to take responsibility for the learning. I tell myself that if others have done it, I can, too. And I do like getting those A’s!”
> Read More of Suzanne Matlack's Story
“Just a few years ago, I was a CNA working in a nursing home. I had a very ill patient who needed medical attention. My RN supervisor did not believe me and basically told me that I was only an aide who didn’t know anything about her medical condition. I stuck around after my shift until the next supervisor came on duty. She listened to me and sent the patient to the hospital. The patient was very ill and almost died because that RN felt that a CNA couldn’t possibly know anything about a medical issue.”
> Watch Suzanne Schach Tell Her Story
“My life has improved greatly because of The College Network, my earnings have increased, and I’ve been able to continue my education as well. I love the feeling of purpose and accomplishment my success has brought me.”
> Read More of Teresa Anderson's Story
“I enjoy nursing so much and knew that advancing was the only thing I could do. I needed to work full time and needed a program that would work with my schedule and still allow time with my family. The College Network fit my needs perfectly.”
> Read More of Theresa Flory's Story
“It’s hard as an LPN to be able to expand into other medical missions. I’d love to try Africa, but RNs are more sought after. I’m a devout Catholic, I and believe that if you can make a difference, you should.”
> Read More of Theresa Walker's Success Story
“I can see how people get hooked on going to school and learning, and I feel like I set a good example for my kids."
> Read More of Tina Talbert's Story
“I just thought, no more procrastinating—I was going to do this! I scheduled my first exam, Anatomy and Physiology for Jan. 28, 2011 and I passed. I was so happy that I couldn’t wait to take my next test. On Feb. 7, I took and passed Sociology. Once I got on a roll, there was no stopping me,”
> Watch Valerie Guevara Tell Her Story
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