Concerned - New Grad from Excelsior

[Medic6940]

I'm a little concerned at the moment. I graduated Excelsior's program and finally got my NY license in March. I am already enrolled in my online RN to BSN at Louisville in the fall. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am planning to move from New York to Maryland to be closer to family and friends at the end of this Summer. I have scouted around Virginia's nursing jobs (since Maryland doesn't accept EC's program) and took an interest in some of their RN Residencies. HOWEVER, I am terrified that they won't hire anyone who A) Has no experience or B) Attended Excelsior due to it's lack of clinical elements. I have been a paramedic in NYC for over a decade and can certainly hold my own in emergencies and I'm certainly used to stressful environments, but I have a feeling that won't mean much once I get down there.

What should I do? Just apply to places and pray? And advice is appreciated.

[chare]

18 hours ago, Medic6940 said:

Yes, I did that. I got my Virginia license last week. I'm hoping that after I get my BSN, I can license in Maryland. I've been told by their BON that I can do that. 

It is my understanding that if you live in a member state of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) that you have to be licensed in the state in which you reside, even if the other eNLC state license doesn't provide multi-state privileges.  

Best wishes.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

6 minutes ago, chare said:

 *even if the other eNLC state license doesn't provide multi-state privileges.* 

 

I'm not in a compact state, but isn't the entire concept based on multi-state privileges?

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

1 hour ago, meanmaryjean said:

1 hour ago, Medic6940 said:

I had emailed the Maryland board directly and asked them that because I didn't want to take someone's word for it. The exact answer they gave me was as follows: 

"Good Afternoon

If you receive your BSN at (Drexel and Louisville) you would be allowed to take the NCLEX or endorse into MD and be licensed as long as you meet all of the other requirements."

But (maybe I'm confused here) Drexel / Louisville is NOT the degree that qualified you for NCLEX. Excelsior is- and that will not get you the MD license you desire. The BON answer is not addressing your situation. 

It comes down to the original qualifying degree. 

Precisely. It doesn't look like the MD BON addressed this, and they may not know that you already took NCLEX based on your completion of Excelsior. They'll figure it out when you submit your transcripts and all, though, trust me on that one.

17 minutes ago, Jedrnurse said:

I'm not in a compact state, but isn't the entire concept based on multi-state privileges?

That's the result of it, yes, but the individual states can still refuse to issue a compact license to somebody who didn't graduate from a program they approve.

[chare]

14 minutes ago, Hannahbanana said:

30 minutes ago, Jedrnurse said:

I'm not in a compact state, but isn't the entire concept based on multi-state privileges?

That's the result of it, yes, but the individual states can still refuse to issue a compact license to somebody who didn't graduate from a program they approve.

The problem is this: the OP will be residing in one enhanced Nurse License Compact (eNLC) state and be licensed in another, even though it is a single state license only.  If the OP’s VA license provided multi-state privileges, he or she would be required to apply for licensure in MD.  What complicates this situation is the fact that the OP’s license is single state only.  As the OP will be a resident of another nNLC member state, it is possible that the VA BON will expect he or she to apply for licensure in MD.

[londonflo]

I retrieved this page on the internet:

https://www.excelsior.edu/admissions/requirements/nursing-requirements/associate-in-nursing-requirements/state-board/

 

In the last year (2020 - 2021) we have learned how nursing student outcomes can be met when a full clinical experience is not available. But our SBONs did not say.....you cannot apply for NCLEX because you did not do the  xxxxx numbers of direct patient care.

Don't get me wrong... I so wish that ALL students would have been able to meet the expected direct care components built into a traditional nursing program (diploma, ADN or BSN) with the expected credits of clinical practice to be completed/earned in 2020-2021.

The facts of the matter are that traditional programs have been allowed to substitute SIM labs, online case studies and other learning activities that did not include the participation of the care of physical patient in an acute/chronic setting, Up to 50% of required clinical time

https://www.NCSBN.org/Education-Requirement-Changes_COVID-19.pdf

Is it time to revisit the clinical elements of Nursing Education? You betcha! We cannot exclude certain methods of  competence tests/ study/clinical practice while, at the same time saying, oh we just needed to pass these students along...while providing good/bad/questionable learning activities when there was a virus limiting PPE, don't you know?

Let's create an equal playing field!

And of course the question I always ask is WHERE IS THE ANA on this subject? Well we do know where the ANA is; they are devoting all their financial and employees resources into developing another Certification EXAM or MAGNET requirement that will make the "chi-ching" sound in their budget!  

( In case you don't know... I donated many hours to the ANA in my local unit. I found them to be dysfunctional, inept, unfit  and impotent in the support of nurses) 

 

 

 

 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

1 hour ago, londonflo said:

In the last year (2020 - 2021) we have learned how nursing student outcomes can be met when a full clinical experience is not available.

... but we haven't learned yet how this will pan out when these grads go to work. That's an open question right now.

Those of us old enough to remember Mrs. Chase may remember that she wasn't really that much help when it came to actual bodies. I know the modern sims are better than her gutta percha self, but still, there's nothing like the uncertainty of having to interact with a live human being as part of  clinical experience vs (oh, god, here it is again) the lab check-off mentality.

[londonflo]

37 minutes ago, Hannahbanana said:

but still, there's nothing like the uncertainty of having to interact with a live human being as part of  clinical experience vs (oh, god, here it is again) the lab check-off mentality.

Truly I understand what you are saying. I taught clinical for 40 years and know the value of assessing, planning care etc. on a real person. But in recent years, our hospitals and administrations have INSISTED on 12 hour days instead of (2) 6 hours days, allowing our students the repetitive opportunity to reassess, repeat interventions (repeat giving complex meds)  and reevaluate the results of care. I had those darn 12 hour clinicals for my last year of teaching (I had resisted them until then) and there was so much down time...and the students only saw their patient for one 12 hour period. I don't believe there was value in that.

Our  hospitals never see value in providing and really extending learning time for our students...only complaining the students need a lengthy orientation

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Ahhh, Mrs. Chase.

I digress- just another reason we need a national licensing standard. 

 

[cowboysandangels, BSN]

I may get roasted here but I have worked with both types of grads.  I have had amazing grads that had very little clinical in their online program and I have worked with awful grads that had clinical experience.  I feel like it depends on the student and how well they soak in the information. When I was a new grad (many years ago), I was not equipped to jump right in when I received my first placement.  We learn everyday on our job as well.  Just saying, I would not mind working with an online grad if they were willing to work hard and speak up if they are uncomfortable with what they were doing.    

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I'm confused. I thought you had to have a certain number of clinical hours to even be given permission to take the NCLEX??

[londonflo]

2 hours ago, lifelearningrn said:

I thought you had to have a certain number of clinical hours to even be given permission to take the NCLEX??

It varies by state whether a certain number of clinical hours are required for graduation from a diploma, ADN or BSN program. These types of requirements are part of the  State's Nurse Practice Act. . Below is a document that is current (as of today) on the clinical hours each state requires...go to page 16.

https://www.NCSBN.org/Educational_Programs_Entry_into_Practice.pdf

Many students do think they must have a certain hours of medical, surgical, pediatrics etc and well, when I worked for states that had no clinical hour minimum mandated by the state, we faculty would go along with that perception (not lying of course) stressing that students realize they need to attend to meet the course objectives. If you miss 2/3rds of the clinical course, it is not my job to teach you the full course in 1/3rd the time. In addition, I do not know of any school that does not have a cut off for how much time a student can miss. The most time a student could miss in the schools I worked for was 10% total of classroom, lab and clinical (combined).  This was specified in the professionalism outcomes and we would lose a couple of students every year for going over 10% absence (and this was not negotiable no matter the reason.) If you called in for reasons like a family vacation (Spring break)  and then got the flu which was going to take you over the 10%, we did not negotiate. The faculty felt this was important because we get calls from prospective employers that want to know how much time a student has missed..."the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior" and I have known some students lost their dream job because someone else applied who had better attendance. 

 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

HAve family in VA ---Hospitals to consider

Sibley Memorial Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine -- oppened a 200 bed ED.  Hires New grads and  has ED position posted.

Innova Health System has Registered Nurse New Graduate Fellow program.