GA BON no longer accepting Excelsior education; Speak up Cont. Updates!!

Letter from EC for those who didn't know or are keeping up.

April 29, 2009
Today, Governor Perdue signed into law HB 475 which was passed earlier this month by both houses of the Georgia General Assembly. This bill contains a series of detailed provisions that complicate – but do not eliminate – the licensing process for our students who, upon graduation, wish to practice as RNs in Georgia.
Also, there is one significant bright spot to report. For the first time, the opportunity for licensure by examination is now open to Excelsior graduates who were a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) prior to enrollment in our associate degree nursing program and who meet certain other requirements. Previously, licensure by endorsement was the only option available in Georgia to all of Excelsior's graduates.
Although the terms of HB 475 became law upon signing by the Governor, the Board of Nursing still needs to develop rules and procedures to put the details into effect, a process that could take months to complete. We have been told by the Board that until it issues these rules and procedures, the current process is still in effect.
Based upon our reading of the bill as signed into law, we have prepared a chart that summarizes the licensing requirements for our graduates who intend to practice as an RN in Georgia. We have provided a copy of this chart to the Board for its review and once it informs us that we are accurate in our understanding of the terms, we will publish this as a guide to our students and graduates.
In the meantime, the following are highlights of the new licensing requirements as we understand them, all of which are subject to modification once the Board issues the rules and procedures necessary to implement the legislation.
If you were enrolled in our associate degree in nursing program prior to July 1, 2008 and earn your degree by June 30, 2011, you may be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination and be licensed as an RN in Georgia under the following conditions:

• If you were an LPN prior to enrollment with "at least one year of clinical experience in a health care facility as a licensed practical nurse", you will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN and be eligible for licensure.
• If you were not an LPN upon enrollment, or were an LPN but did not have "at least one year of clinical experience in a health care facility as a licensed practical nurse." you will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN and be eligible for licensure. However, if the Board of Nursing, in its sole discretion, determines that your nursing education lacked certain elements, it may issue you a six-month temporary permit to practice as an RN while you complete a post-graduation precepted experience of a type and length as determined by the Board. Upon successful completion of this precepted experience, you may be eligible for full licensure.

Again, we have been told by the Board that until it issues these rules and procedures, the current process is still in effect.

Now, I am being required to obtain 500 hours after 16 years of clinical experience!! This board makes no sense!!!