California Frustrates Me

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Hi everyone,

I'm new. I'm just starting my prereqs for my ASN. My onnly problem is that I'm a full-time paramedic on a limited budget with a family to support and living in a state that couldn't give a rip.

So I don't know of any accredited distance education nursing schools accredited in CA. CA is also the only state that I know of in the whole US that doesn't have a paramedic to RN bridge program. This makes it practically impossible for paramedics to become RN's in this state anymore. The part that really gets my goat is that I missed it by a hair since I know someone who has just graduated from Excelsior this month and was 'grandfathered in' to be elgible to get his RN in this state.

I hope someone can tell me what's going on in this state that a paramedic can't even hope to move up anymore. We can't get into nursing schools, we can't get into PA schools. What did we do to tick whom off?

Are there any other options out there that I'm unaware of? Are there any plans in the mix to fix this issue?

Please, even if it's just a rumor you've heard, tell me about it because right now, there isn't even a light at the end of the tunnel for me. It is just totally impractical for me to go to any of the local nursing schools while I'm working four 12 hour shifts a week and still barely making ends meet.

Thanks,

Zach

this is the only state that i know of that allows a cna (with stipulations) to challenge the nclex pn..besides the military medics who should be able to take the exam.

cna's in texas can challenge the nclex-pn?

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

no in ca only. i sent you a pm

cna's in texas can challenge the nclex-pn?
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I am extremely frustrated by the situation as well, but I found my way around it. It is mildly retarded, but i am willing to make things work to my advantage if the state of CA wants to act like mental midgets. IF I ever return to CA it will be to take care of my parents or something else that will hopefully be temporary(crosses fingers). So I have two options of surviving without going postal.

1. Option getting my ECE degree and then working in another state( I live elsewhere now), but then i could challenge the PN because of how much experience i have and then do a 1 year pn to rn program so i can "make up clinical hours" that are needed. Which would mean a pay cut, but i am only considering options as ECE is right for me. I am the kind of person who glances at a page of a book and can recite random information regarding it. I retain too much information and get bored in college classes and more often than not test out of them.

2. I can work at a VA hospital or military hospital as a civilian nurse. It is hard to land that job but i am a reservist and will be a veteran for the rest of my life.... so I have a leg up. Those jobs are hard to get but not impossible. They look at experience and who you know who can get you in. ;) It's not hard to get to know people in that environment who can get you in if you 'volunterr' or ask for 'training' as they are for the most part teaching hospitals.

Just info. CA sucks, I hate it but i love it too.. Dumb love hate relationship going on there. Just my 2 cents.

~AJ~

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Hi just a heads up, the Governator has finally approved the paramedic - Rn bridge. check out the Bay Area Community College Consortium for more info. Im guessing same pre-req's and last 2 semesters only of the program similiar to the LVN - Rn upgrade

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

Ok Im more confused. So can you work or even sit for nklex if you go to excelsior in CA if you are an LVN or you just speaking of paramedics for Excelsior. I'm conteplating either Excelsior or ISU I live in CA and I don't want to go to do a program where I can't take boards.

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Ok Im more confused. So can you work or even sit for nklex if you go to excelsior in CA if you are an LVN or you just speaking of paramedics for Excelsior. I'm conteplating either Excelsior or ISU I live in CA and I don't want to go to do a program where I can't take boards.

CALIFORNIA DOES NOT ACCEPT EXCELSIOR.

Don't even think about it.

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

Thanks I got your post on the other thread..... looks like I's stuck and will not be able to go for RN. Unless I can do Indiana State University.

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this is the only state that i know of that allows a cna (with stipulations) to challenge the nclex pn..besides the military medics who should be able to take the exam.
---you mean as in certified nurse's assistant? they can challenge something relating to being an rn? here in california?
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If it's in option then......There's always EC then work for the VA. As an EC grad you can work for the VA in any state (so I'm told) because they don't have to adhere to the same guidelines.

VA requires that you are licensed as an RN. You can work in any VA hospital in the US and not need that states license to practice there. For example, I transferred from a West Virginia VA hospital to a Maryland VA and I did not have to get a Maryland license...I kept my KY license.

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Hi Saw your post on California - hence this message.

We are not in the USA and are being advised not to use California as the state of intitial license for international nurses as it takes a long time to process.

And there is a need for Social Security No.

What I would like to know is:

a. For intitial license issue - how long does Calif. take?

b. Which are the efficient states in terms of processing initial License and ATT in the USA.

c. Which are the states which DO NOT need SSN for issue of RN licence.

d. Suppose I get my RN license from another state and then wish to transfer to CA. How long with the transfer / endorsement to California take?

Thanks

Vivek

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