GA BON no longer accepting Excelsior education; Speak up Cont. Updates!! - Page 116

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  1. Apr 6, '09 by
    Anyone speak to the Governor's office yet regarding his latest opinion on HB-475? I know some of you guys don't support it beacuse of the omission of RTs and can't say that I blame you, but what about the others? You guys think he should sign it, and consider it a compromise with the thought that we can try for more next session? After all, there is no shortage of legislators who support you AND EC.

    Having been a very small part of it, I can say that political activism in nursing works. Maybe not overnight, but headway has been made.

    Pmdc
    Last edit by Pmdc on Apr 6, '09
    BBFRN likes this.
  2. Apr 6, '09 by
    Baldee,

    I have to disagree with your assertion that you were viciously attacked; on the the contrary, you are the attacker. All of your speaking in riddles and pseudo-intelligence has gotten beyond old. Why don't you spend your time doing something productive like studying and trying to complete your degree. In other words you handle your business and let us, the EC students/alums, handle our own.
    helicoptergal and Pmdc like this.
  3. Apr 6, '09 by
    Just a reminder to let's please stay on topic here: the topic being discussion of current legislation in GA re: EC, and support of the students affected by this.

    Please report any further attempts at derailing the thread by using the report function, so it can be dealt with by the mod team.

    Thanks, and good luck to all our colleagues in GA. You guys have made some headway here- keep up the good work! Let's keep fighting for our RT-RNs.
    LunahRN, helicoptergal, dsmithkazk, and 1 other like this.
  4. Apr 16, '09 by
    Ok, not sure if this thread went silent because of the controversial posts or if nobody really has anything to say right now. I must say I am currently consumed with indecision. I am happy that we were able to pull some sort of a victory out of this whole thing. At least we will have a path with HB 475, a bit of a meandering one, but a path none the less. However, I am now wrestling with the decision to continue with Excelsior or quite my job and try to find some night shift work so that I can cover going to "traditional" school, family, and still pull a paycheck. My concern is that once I get through Excelsior more and more states may exclude Excelsior grads and that I would not be able to get into a graduate program. I am a paramedic now and one of the big reasons I want to move into nursing is the advanced practice opportunities the profession offers. As a paramedic I have nowhere to go. We do have a pretty amazing scope of practice but I would love to go further. It concerns me that grad schools may start to discriminate against the degree. Additionally, I am subject to my wife's career as she is definitely the bread winner. I am worried that if I have to pick up and move I will run into ever more closing "board of nursing" doors.

    Oh well, just some thoughts I am kicking around. I wanted to revive the thread as this has been by best source of info I have had through this whole event. Good luck to all!
  5. Apr 16, '09 by
    I would let the wife be the bread winner and go back to traditional school. I am an Excelsior graduate, and I wish I went the traditional way, but I am already finished now. I am an RN in Florida, but I don't like the way this degree limits you from state to state. I never no if I will have to leave this state and go work in another state. I guess the only thing good about it is that I am getting experience as an RN.
    jjcnbg likes this.
  6. Apr 16, '09 by
    Quote from jjcnbg
    Oh well, just some thoughts I am kicking around. I wanted to revive the thread as this has been by best source of info I have had through this whole event. Good luck to all!
    You are right, this has been a great thread. Lots of good info here, and I think overall very constructive. In regards to your question, you might consider starting a new thread, but I will throw my .02 in real quick. I am EC grad. No complaints. But if your goal is to get a point of advanced practice, then I would consider that perhaps you are taking the hard road. I would suggest that you consider PA school. Go back and finish a degree that covers the prereqs. Many PA schools require hands on time which your paramedic history should cover. Take out the loans. I have known several medics and EMTs who gone on to be great PAs.
    Ivan
    jjcnbg likes this.
  7. Apr 16, '09 by
    @JJ
    I'm continuing with EC as I am kind of the sole bread winner in my family and I currently make more than my husband due to the job market in my town (I live in what seems to be evolving into a retirement community--the most "secure" jobs are in law enforcement and medical). Since I am somewhat "the sole bread winner" for my family I have to keep my full time employment while I'm in school, which is where EC comes in. I can't say that I could even consider going the traditional route and this is all because of "small town politics". In other words sometimes school enrollment or job acquisition depends on "who you know". But that's all I will say on that matter.
    I know that every one's situation is different and while I understand your predicament and that of others; speaking for myself this is the best route for me. I really don't worry about what other states can/cannot or will/will not do or allow in the future because I'm very close to my family and more than likely will not leave the state of GA.
    jjcnbg likes this.
  8. Apr 16, '09 by
    Quote from boyle80
    I would let the wife be the bread winner and go back to traditional school. I am an Excelsior graduate, and I wish I went the traditional way, but I am already finished now. I am an RN in Florida, but I don't like the way this degree limits you from state to state. I never no if I will have to leave this state and go work in another state. I guess the only thing good about it is that I am getting experience as an RN.
    Have you considered just getting your BSN in a local traditional RN-BSN program? Most RN-BSN programs have schedules that complement working full time.
  9. Apr 16, '09 by
    Thanks for the responses. Sorry if this thread is getting too specific, I didn't mean to hijack it. Anyways, I have considered the PA route but I am actually more interested in the anesthesia side of things. After getting to work with the CRNA's during my OR rotations and during our intubation clinicals I found the position to be facinating. Getting to flex the differential diagnosis side of the brain makes NP attractive but I really enjoy the OR, pharmacology, and pathophysiology on the CRNA side.

    The problem with the traditional school right now is that although my wife is the breadwinner my salary is still a substantial portion of the household income. Any position that I would take to give me a flexible schedule for school would pay significantly less (if I could find one at all in this market) . I already have a bachleors so I have looked at the second degree BSN. However, around here there is quite the waiting list plus I have about 2 semesters worth of prereq's to finish before I would qualify.

    Excelsior was just such a perfect option when I started. It allowed me to still be a good husband and father, as well as paying my share of the bills. It was a program that gave me credit for all of the time and effort I have already put in instead of making me start over with "this is how you use a BP cuff".

    I don't know that I am looking for anything from these posts. I guess it just helps to get out of my own head for a minute, especially with people in similar circumstances.

    Ok, I will stop my own personal pity party. Sorry to get personal on an informational thread.
  10. Apr 16, '09 by
    Quote from jjcnbg
    thanks for the responses. sorry if this thread is getting too specific, i didn't mean to hijack it. anyways, i have considered the pa route but i am actually more interested in the anesthesia side of things. after getting to work with the crna's during my or rotations and during our intubation clinicals i found the position to be facinating. getting to flex the differential diagnosis side of the brain makes np attractive but i really enjoy the or, pharmacology, and pathophysiology on the crna side.

    the problem with the traditional school right now is that although my wife is the breadwinner my salary is still a substantial portion of the household income. any position that i would take to give me a flexible schedule for school would pay significantly less (if i could find one at all in this market) . i already have a bachleors so i have looked at the second degree bsn. however, around here there is quite the waiting list plus i have about 2 semesters worth of prereq's to finish before i would qualify.

    excelsior was just such a perfect option when i started. it allowed me to still be a good husband and father, as well as paying my share of the bills. it was a program that gave me credit for all of the time and effort i have already put in instead of making me start over with "this is how you use a bp cuff".

    i don't know that i am looking for anything from these posts. i guess it just helps to get out of my own head for a minute, especially with people in similar circumstances.

    ok, i will stop my own personal pity party. sorry to get personal on an informational thread.
    there is no need to apologize.
    i understand exactly where you are coming from with the salary, waiting list, etc. sometimes it seems as if we're taking a step forward only to take two steps back--which is exactly how i felt when hb 1041 reared its ugly head. i pray that everything falls in line for you educationally and that you obtain the career that you desire.
    jjcnbg likes this.