GA BON Complaint

U.S.A. Georgia

Published

my story is a bit long, in 1972 i graduated from a very good pn program in oregon where i worked for several years, i then moved to colorado and again worked for several years and again moved to georgia and worked for several years. my total experience is about 15+ years total and my final ga license expired in 1991. i had gotten burnt out and left nursing and didn't renew...well at 59 years of age and un-employed for 16 months now i'd like to return to nursing. i contacted the bon about a refresher course and was told that i'd been out too long and would have to repeat the whole program :angryfire. after further research i have discovered that an rn in a similar situation in this state would be eligible to take a refresher/re-entry program no matter how long they have been out. my point being (no disrespect to the rn's) is that we should both be allowed to take a refresher course. i believe the ga bon is discriminating against lpn's and both the rn and lpn should be held to the same standard as far as who can and can't take refresher courses.

i've contacted my senator and state representative and didn't get anywhere. i've now contacted the ga secretary of states office and voiced my complaint and at least they said they'd look into it.

i'd move to a state that allows lpn refresher courses however, all my $$ is tied up in my home that i can't sell:o. so i'm stuck in ga. has anyone else faced this issue? does anyone have any suggestions? have any lpn's actually taken a refresher course in this state? if so where and how did you take it?

Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Thanks, the closest job was over 150 miles away:cry:

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Update, First the really great news, the OH BON accepted my CE's and I am now an LPN in OH. GA will not accept that of course.

Yesterday, I called the Gov's office and they said they have no control over the BON's in this state and they are autonomous and answer to no one and my only option is to get the legislature to change it :angryfire. Soooo, I then called my State Rep and my State Senator, much to my surprise the Senator answered the phone himself:eek:. So I told him my dilemma and he was quite surprised and un-aware (and sounded ******:D) of the requirement to repeat the whole program - after all, no licensure enity is asking any other graduates to repeate their schooling - RN's, Lawyers, Engineers, Pharmacists etc. Soo anywho, he asked me to type up a note and send it to him and I did. And late last night I also got a call from my State Rep and told him the whole thing too and sent him a copy of what I'd sent earlier.

They both said they'd be making some phone calls to of course verify what I've told them and find out what they can do if anything. I know I'm really stirring the pot but the GA BON's deserve it. I doubt if it will do any good but it certainly isn't going to hurt me. I can't get licensed in this state even though I hold a valid active un-encombered license in another state:angryfire. I also told them I just wonder how many other lapsed LPN's called the BON and just gave up realizing they can't re-enter the work force. I also told him GA is loosing nurses because of their 'tude.

I'm so fed up, I checked Indeed.com and within 25 miles of my home there are at least 5 pages of jobs. Sigh, I feel at least I've made someone aware of this issue and I doubt anything will change anytime soon, but maybe for future nurses it will help.

Well off to study more CE's, I'm now working on my OH 2010 renewal CE's and really enjoying them. If anyone else has or is having problems with the GA BON let me know if you would be willing to repeat your story to these guys, they seemed interested and surprised by the problem.

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Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.

Wow! that makes me want to find an LPN job soon, I have not worked for a year, moved to GA from another state and had my license transferred. I guess if you haven't worked for awhile they take notice. That really stinks! Good luck and no way would I want to repeat my LPN training.

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Luv2quilt, do get a job as an LPN if your planning on staying in this state for any length of time, you could do something part time - the BON really isn't looking for full time just that you do work.

Late yesterday I got a call from someone in the Sect'ry of State's office and all of ah sudden they're saying "we are going to look into this" and I told them I'd already talked with someone at their office and they told me there is nothing they could do. So it appears a small fire has been lit. I mentioned legislation being my only option and he said, well we really don't want to do that, we want to work with the BON and I was uuhhnnn, good luck with that.

He again said I haven't sent in an application and I told him I'm not wasting $80.00 when right on the application it sez if you have been out for more than 10 years you must repeat the program in its entirety.

So the saga continues.

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Wellll here's another update, after sending out a loooong email to my State Senator and State Representative, they got involved, over the last several days I've gotten calls from the State Secrt'y of State's office - oh and please let us know if we can help :icon_roll. Then last night I get a call from my State Rep and after a brief conversation - he gave me the Pres. of the LPN's Board's number to call today. The State Board of LPN's had their board meeting Wed. and Thurs. and it appears policy changes have been in the making and they just voted for a change...yah right. So anywho, I talked with the Pres of the Board and according to her, that LPN's will no longer be required to repeat the whole program and each application of LPN's out after 10 years will be eval'd on a case by case basis - based on how many years you originally worked as a nurse. We had a looooooong talk about that and I'm waiting for a few days before I send in my application and not waste (I hope) my $80. that I can ill afford. I've got to put together an extensive nursing resume along with the application. They've been "threatened with" new legislation and apparently in the last several years they've "outlawed" Excelcior grads without extensive clinicals and my particular rep is not happy about it and is trying to get that law changed:up:.

So any of you LPN's who have re-entered in GA by taking an "online" theory and then doing your clinical locally I'd love to hear from you and please name your program.

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Well, it's seems that someone was out there listening to you. I'm always happy when the little person has their voice heard. I hope you are soon able to work here as an LPN. As far as Excelsior, we students and grads, had our voice heard here in Ga too. It was a long ugly battle, but in the end Excelsior and the BON came to a compromise and all is good for now.

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