Excelsior & State of California

Nursing Students Excelsior

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My best friend is a dependent wife in the armed services. She's interested in signing up for Excelsior College but her husband might have orders to California. She wants to know I'd there anyone who lives in California and able to work as a RN in that state. . Please let me know she's very concerned.

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There are Excelsior grads who are licensed and practicing nursing in CA, but they graduated and got licensed prior to the cut-off date set by the BR (was it 2003?) If your friend is looking at starting school now, she will not be able to get licensed in CA (as an Excelsior grad). However, for what it's worth, you can work in any Federal facility (the entire VA system, military facilities or healthcare centers) with a license from any state, not necessarily the state in which the facility is located. So, an Excelsior grad licensed in any other state can work in CA in a Federal facility.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
There are Excelsior grads who are licensed and practicing nursing in CA, but they graduated and got licensed prior to the cut-off date set by the BR (was it 2003?)
Persons who enrolled in Excelsior prior to December 2003 were eligible to attain licensure in CA, but people who enrolled after this date are out of luck.

I only know of one person who found a way around this ruling, and it is because he was an attorney who completed an online BSN program in 40 days after threatening to sue the CA BRN.

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Persons who enrolled in Excelsior prior to December 2003 were eligible to attain licensure in CA, but people who enrolled after this date are out of luck.

I only know of one person who found a way around this ruling, and it is because he was an attorney who completed an online BSN program in 40 days after threatening to sue the CA BRN.

Okay. I just was thinking if your working as a ln RN for 6 years and wouldn't take it is crazy

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Okay. I just was thinking if your working as a ln RN for 6 years and wouldn't take it is crazy

It doesn't matter how long you've been working as an RN elsewhere. If you don't meet the educational standards required for licensure in CA (which Excelsior grads do not), you don't get a license. Actually, that is true in every state (if you don't meet the educational standards, you don't get licensed), it's just that different states have different standards and requirements.

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Okay. I just was thinking if your working as a ln RN for 6 years and wouldn't take it is crazy

Yup, makes sense to all the other states that don't initially accept Excelsior grads either, but California has their own view on things.

I just find it ironic that a LVN that has been working for 20 years decides to go to Excelsior and receives their ASN can't get licensed as a RN in California, but a LVN that has been working 1 year in California can do the LVN to RN 30-unit option and be an RN in California (nothing against those that choose this option).

The even more ironic thing is that those LVN's that choose this route probably can't work in other states as an RN since they did not graduate from an accredited degree program and do not have a degree (but may be able to if they go and get a ASN/BSN).

California allows a LVN to become an RN with no clinicals other than LVN school, but does not allow a LVN that goes to an accredited school ad graduates with an ASN to become a RN because they did not do more clinicals?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Okay. I just was thinking if your working as a ln RN for 6 years and wouldn't take it is crazy

I have 13,000+ hours/seven years of RN time (ED/trauma), and California will never license me as things stand right now.

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Yup, makes sense to all the other states that don't initially accept Excelsior grads either, but California has their own view on things.

I just find it ironic that a LVN that has been working for 20 years decides to go to Excelsior and receives their ASN can't get licensed as a RN in California, but a LVN that has been working 1 year in California can do the LVN to RN 30-unit option and be an RN in California (nothing against those that choose this option).

The even more ironic thing is that those LVN's that choose this route probably can't work in other states as an RN since they did not graduate from an accredited degree program and do not have a degree (but may be able to if they go and get a ASN/BSN).

California allows a LVN to become an RN with no clinicals other than LVN school, but does not allow a LVN that goes to an accredited school ad graduates with an ASN to become a RN because they did not do more clinicals?

This happens because the state of CA has an agenda when it comes to licensing their RNs if those prospective RNs had anything to do with Excelsior College after 2003. The individual pays the price for some political payoff that benefits no one but the power structure that put the EC ban in place. Ask yourself what changed about this nursing program in 2003 that made it unacceptable in January 2004 but acceptable in January 2003? Your answer will be that absolutely nothing changed.

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Is there a court case where an individual that may have graduated use in order to challenge the "case by case" scenario?

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Specializes in Primary Care.

So, I work for the UC system which is federal... If I were to obtain my RN from Excelsior, could I continue to work for the medical center? Also, if I were to take an ADN-BSN or MSN program, would my license be recognized as an RN? I'm not quite understanding. Thanks in advanced!

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So, I work for the UC system which is federal... If I were to obtain my RN from Excelsior, could I continue to work for the medical center? Also, if I were to take an ADN-BSN or MSN program, would my license be recognized as an RN? I'm not quite understanding. Thanks in advanced!

The BSN and MSN would not substitute for the course that provided you with the means to obtain your initial RN license, so no go with CA. As for the employer, you need to ask at HR. Typically, federal employment accepts anything (VA and civil service), but not necessarily in this case. (Unfamiliar with how the federal employment system is in place for the UC system. I would think, if anything, it would be a state of CA job). If you still have any questions after talking to your HR, you can get clarification from the BRN.

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Specializes in Primary Care.

Thanks, caliotter3. I got this reply from Excelsior this afternoon:

California will not allow you to get your RN license in their state with our degree. However, you can work in a government facility, like the VA or a Federal prison, but you would need to get licensed in another state in order to do so. If you have further questions you can reach out to the California State Board of Nursing.

Our Associate in Nursing degree program takes at least 3-3.5 years to complete.

We do not have clinical rotations but we do have a clinical exam at the end of the program called the Clinical Performance in Nursing Exam (CPNE).

CPNE®: Clinical Performance in Nursing Exam®

This is a skill-based evaluation, in an acute care setting, that measures your ability to demonstrate the behaviors and skills expected of an entry-level registered nurse. The exam evaluates your application of the nursing process in the care of adults and children who are experiencing potential, actual, and/or recurring health problems that require intervention. This assessment is worth eight credits. There is currently a 12 month waiting period to take the Clinical Performance in Nursing Exam.

Excelsior College is a regionally accredited institution. You would need to ask the school you plan on attending if they accept our credits for transfer.

I guess it's brick and motar for me.

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