Eastern Florida State College Jan 2015 (Palm Bay prog) applicants?

U.S.A. Florida

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Hi there - this is just a general call out to anyone who applied for EFSC's Spring 2015 nursing program in Palm Bay. I turned in my app this week and now the waiting begins...but at least while we're all on pins and needles we can be meeting each other and comparing notes? I didn't see any other forums on this so I thought I'd kick one off. :)

It's probably going to be a few more weeks. Last year's applicants started receiving letters by about 10/9-10/10. I would assume more or less the same for us this year....Are you feeling pretty good about your chances?

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I think I'm okay...just ready to know! Just read something online that this isn't an accredited program...so I can't

continue my education after this?

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2nd week of October. Depends on where you live and how fast mail gets to you.

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That's what I have been told anyway.

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That's right, the program is not accredited withACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing). I really can'timagine why, when the overwhelming majority of state colleges / communitycolleges in Florida (and nationwide) have this accreditation. You’d think the one major college servingthe entire Space Coast would have this? The EFSC nursing program is reputable, highly regarded and has been around forever so it's really beyond me why they'd lack this accreditation. ACEN is a nationally recognizedgold standard in nursing education and graduating from an ACEN program is oftenpart of the criteria that employers, BSN/MSN schools, etc, are looking for inapplicants. From what I can gather, being an ACEN program grad also makes iteasier and more seamless when you're trying to cross state lines, obtain out ofstate licensure and/or get into travel nursing.

All that said, this is a verygray area with conflicting information and opinions and no concrete answers. Fromthose I have talked to, it sounds like you still have lots of options andopportunities after graduating from a non-ACEN program. Certainly insideBrevard County I don’t think this whole ACEN thing matters at all and that it’seasy enough to get snatched up by a local hospital here. Likewise I’m prettysure UCF takes EFSC grads into their BSN program. Other schools will take youas well, but the fact is that there are many schools that won’t. The mainissue (for me) has always been what happens outside Brevard County or even centralFlorida, when applying to schools and hospitals in a more major metropolitan area or inanother state, or what happens when I approach a travel nursing agency?Unfortunately it’s a bit of a gamble but in this case I think where there’s awill there’s a way. Coming from a non ACEN program, some doors might be closed as far as employment andfurthering of education and it could be a more difficult road that requires more research and hoop-jumping, but absolutely I believe there is still every chance to succeedand grow after EFSC. I also do believe that EFSC is producing really great, high-quality nursing grads.

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Haha re: above, I have no idea why so many words are lacking a space between them and all mushed together like that...? Something glitchey.

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well we do plan on staying in Fl but i still want the option to be able to move across state lines. someone told me that you never have to take classes over again, you just have to take another test. Idk i hope it all works out :)

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You cannot get a job working for the VA system if you do not graduate from an ACEN accredited school. They want you to have the ability to cross state lines with your license. That comes straight from the VA website.

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VA aside, I think by and large you can still cross state lines without much issue. I've talked to a couple state BON's already (places where I might be interested to move in the future). Neither one indicated there would be any problem over this whatsoever. Really, the central challenges will be a) finding a BSN school willing to take a non-ACEN program graduate and b) being a brand new grad trying to get hired in a hospital, outside Brevard, with only an ADN....and an ADN without ACEN accreditation. Strike one and strike two basically. None of this makes for an impossible situation though. Maybe a tougher road at times, but nothing insurmountable. Just takes some additional grit and determination. And research!

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Hello! I am reaching out to people who have already completed there pre req science classes. I am taking classes at the Palm bay campus now and hopefully will be turning in my application next year. Any pointers on teachers or what you would have done differently? Thanks!

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You cannot get a job working for the VA system if you do not graduate from an ACEN accredited school. They want you to have the ability to cross state lines with your license. That comes straight from the VA website.

I replied to you regarding this on another thread, but i'll repaste my references here. This is not true. The VA accepts NLN or ACEN. And this degree and license is recognized across state lines, especially since the NCLEX is the same regardless of what state you take it in, this should make sense. Now the asterisk to the state reciprocity issue, some states are more difficult than others to transfer into (i.e. california and ny), however that does not mean you cannot transfer into those states, you just have to jump through hoops and provide a lot of documentation to do so. That would be the same regardless of what program you graduated from. Below is my response from the other thread. I hope this clarifies some of the confusion that is going around.

"It seems that the accreditation issue is poorly understood. Perhaps it's the slew of abbreviations that one has to sift through. Just to clarify, the VA accepts NLN or CCNE accreditation and EFSC has NLN. I did my research before choosing this program and I don't regret it for a second. 3rd semester in and I am quite pleased, and I have met quite a few in the class that just graduated who have employment and haven't even passed boards yet.

Good luck with your school choice!

National League for Nursing - Membership

http://www.vacareers.va.gov/assets/c...g_Brochure.pdf"

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I was told letters will be sent out by the 15th.

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