HEADS UP!!! I just found out today that in May the Virginia Board of Nursing has made changes that WILL affect EXCELSIOR students!!! Be AWARE, if you are in Virginia and are doing your LPN-RN through Excelsior that as of Decemeber 31, 2009 you will have to met the 500 clinical hour requirment BEFORE you can take your NCLEX-RN in this state.
What does this mean for me?! I have to jump on it and get it done! With my current study plan I should be done with all exams by 12/08...then it's a 6-8 month wait list for the CPNE...and I should be taking the VA BON NCLEX-RN before the deadline. I'm cutting and pasting the exact verabge on the BON website and the link below....
Guidance on Distance Learning in RN or PN Education Programs
As a result of changes to the Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing (18 VAC 90-20-10 et seq.) effective April 2, 2008, the Board of Nursing voted on May 20, 2008 that any student enrolled in a distance learning education program that does not meet the clinical requirements on or before April 2, 2008 must complete their program by December 31, 2009 in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN and be licensed in Virginia. After December 31, 2009, graduates of the above programs will not be able to be licensed in Virginia by examination or by endorsement.
The section of the regulation is provided below:
18VAC90-20-120(E) A nursing education program preparing for licensure as a practical nurse shall provide a minimum of 400 hours of direct client care supervised by qualified faculty. A nursing education program preparing for licensure as a registered nurse shall provide a minimum of 500 hours of direct client care supervised by qualified faculty.
Specializes in CHPLN- Cert. hospice/palliative care LPN.
Too many! I'm still working on my pre-req's. I spent a lot of time volunteering in the political primaries, thinking I had "plenty of time" to get back to studying... turns out I was wrong!
Oh good grief!!! I am so confused about what I should do now and where I stand. I have all my prerequisites (except Information Literacy). I am taking CHRONICITY now. So I have :
Reproductive Health
Life Spans 1-3
Transition to the Registered Profess.Nurse role
FCCA
CPNE
I have NOT yet ENROLLED in Excelsior, now this new VA BON law.
I do not see me completeling all the program by Dec 31, 09, and apparently it doesn't matter, since I have not enrolled yet.So asking for an extension to the deadline, would be insignificant to me. (????)
1.My plan is to complete the program ( study program with RUE Education --that I've already paid for) at my pace like the original plan
2.get licensed in another state, and hope that I can request a transfer to VA licensing after I practice in that state for a while. This will be very inconvenient to me & my family, but I'm thinking this is the alternative.
Now, if this plan can work, I will enroll in Excelsior ASAP. I just don't want risking more $$$$ into this education if it can't work.
Specializes in CHPLN- Cert. hospice/palliative care LPN.
If you want, you can go to my profile, click on my home page, scroll down to the bottom of the page... my e-mail address is there. send me an e-mail and I can give you some info and suggestions. I am currently enrolled in Excelsior, but will not be finished by the deadline. I have been working closely with the assistant dean of Excelsior and we're in the process of "organizing the troops". Hope to hear from you!
You are just one exam behind me. I don't know what to tell you cause I am pretty much in the same boat. I don't know what your schedule is like (work and family). I am trying to finish, at least be CPNE eligible and take the rest once that is finished. I think it can be done it just depends on what you have on your plate. CC wait for me would be 2010 to start. I wish you luck in whatever you decide. The VA BON does not care when you enrolled, you just need to be finished by 12-31-09 (transcripts sent to them).
EC informed me (you can call and talk to any admission rep) that if I did enroll now I would have to sign a legal wavier saying I'm fully aware that I cannot be licensed in Virginia BECAUSE I WAS NOT ENROLLED AS OF 4/2/08. I got the same answer from VBON. There is a hearing Spet 16 that is open to public between EC and VBON. EC is asking all of us touched by this to be there. MAYBE there will be a change. ALSO, for those of you signed up with RUE. RUE will not call and tell you this....but I found out if there's anyway you can't legally complete the program with their materials they will discontinue the remainder of your loan. For now the put my payments on hold until the 9/16 hearing...then if nothing changes the remainder will be canceled.
Just passing on the info. My main point in my emails with the VBON is that how can changes be voted on in May, take affect retroactive in April and us not be notified until June!
I don't know why I am getting different information from the VA BON and EC. They told me I had to be finished by next year regardless of when I was enrolled, that the enrollment part was up to the school. I know they said be enrolled by April, I wasn't enrolled in April and I agree with you how can you have a meeting and go back in time to April. Maybe I need to call and speak to someone different in both places. I just talked to EC on Friday and they told me if I plan to finish, continue doing what I am doing, no one has even mentioned anything about signing a waiver. I need to again call and talk to someone, I can't afford to throw money down the drain. I am scheduled for an exam soon, if I can't go this route I need to try and get some money back to pay for another route.
Yes, call again...and again if you have to. I got all three on the phone on 8/1. Rue is clueless, but of course they want the $$$ for as long as possible. It is expensive-but it's worth it if it works. The legal wavier is what EC told me on Fri I'd have to sign-maybe they just started that? Maybe somehow the truth will come out. I'm putting it all on hold until the 9/16 VBON and EC meeting in Richmond. I can't focus on studying if it might be for not. I hate to waste more time "not studying." But if this is a closed door I've got to look for another route. Let me know what you hear.
I am going to call both of them tomorrow, I feel like you I hate to not study, but I hate to study for nothing. I have talked to both at least three times a piece and neither has said anything like what they have said to you. I still have the email about the conversation and there is nothing about me not being enrolled in the time frame of April. I hate to wait until September, I could have done two or three exams by then. And another thing is whatever they say now may change by Sept. so what do you do?
I talked to the VA BON yesterday, they continue to tell me the same thing. That I can continue I just need to be finished by the end of next year. EC was not sure about the enrollment date thing. The VA BON said they had to go back to April 2nd because that is when this thing was orginally signed and the board didn't meet until May. I really don't know, one minute I think I know then something happens, I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride. Mean while I am checking into programs that might fit my schedule. Not like EC fits my schedule but that I can manage. Good Luck to ALL!!!!!!!!
Specializes in CHPLN- Cert. hospice/palliative care LPN.
I think it's definitely a good idea to explore other educational avenues as a plan B, but I hope you will make it a point to attend the VA BON meeting on Sept. 16th to tell them how you feel in person. State by state, BON's create these "legislative changes" and no one stands up to them... they just quietly accept it. We may not "win", but at least we would know that we tried. I hope you will join me at the meeting in September! :)
Oh good grief!!! I am so confused about what I should do now and where I stand. I have all my prerequisites (except Information Literacy). I am taking CHRONICITY now. So I have :
toicole
116 Posts
How many exams do you have left?