Excelsior College nonLPN grads wrking in FL

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I am a nursing student enrolled in Excelsior colleges AS nursing program and am currently 5 tests from finishing their program. I recently received a letter from the school stating that the FL BON has changed their practice of granting endorsement or licensure to non LPN grads, stating grads must work for 2 years in another state or a federal facility. I have contacted the new Dirctor of the FL BON and he states that this is not a new change, that this has been the practice of the Board since 1996. When I called the BON before enrolling in the Excelsior program in 2004, I was told there were no stipulations, and have been told by several other students that they were told the same information. We are currently trying to get this changed or at least a grandfather clause for those of us who are so close to completion. We are also trying to locate any Excelsior RN grads (nonLPN) who are currently licensed in the state of Florida to discuss how their endorsement /licensure was handled. Please contact me if you would like to get involved in this fight, or if you are or you know a RN working in Florida that graduated from Excelsior. Thanks...

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I'm not sure if I'm understanding this correctly. Are you saying that in Florida, if a person has graduated from Excelsior with a degree in nursing, they are NOT eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN at that time? That they must take the NCLEX in another state (to get the RN license) and then work elsewhere for two years before receiving a FL endorsement?

Why doesn't this sound right to me?

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Yes, that is exactly what the new Director is saying has been the practice of FL BON since 1996.

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Huh. I'm taking a stab that the Florida BON doesn't recognize Excelsior as an accredited program, so doesn't accept it on its own as criteria to sit for the NCLEX. I had thought that once a program was "accredited", it meant for all States, but apparently that is not the case.

Interesting that once a grad from this program is licensed elsewhere and has had two years of experience, THEN they are considered worthy of endorsement of licensure by the Florida BON.

Much like the sometimes-taken "short-cut" route of LVNs to RN in California, this seems to be another "beware" (only for online programs). Sorry this is happening to you......how is it that you didn't know this earlier? I DON'T mean to say "it's your fault", but rather I'm wondering how it is that the SCHOOL didn't clue you in on this when you registered (since you are a Florida resident)? I would assume, if I were registering in an "accredited" program, that this would mean I could sit for NCLEX anywhere I wished, including my OWN State!

Also, I'm intrigued at the "non LPN" phrase....does that mean that LPN grads from Excelsior (is that a program there?) CAN become licensed in Florida? THAT doesn't make sense to me.

Good luck to you in finding out what to do next!

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Like I said I did call the BON before enrolling at Excelsior in 2004 and was told no problem. Excelsior just found out about this change that the new director has implemented and sent out letters to all Florida resident students that are close to completion. They are working with the board to try to resolve this, but the new director is a bit of a stickler and was not very accomidating in emails and phone calls to him. Non-LPN meaning students that were not LPN's proir to enrolling, Florida will endorse RN grads that were LPN's before starting the program. Thanks for your comments.

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Ah, I think I see where you're coming from now. You were told it was fine, when in fact it wasn't. Excelsior can't say it was a change they just found out about, when that change happened in 1996! Hardly new; that policy was in effect eight years before you enrolled! I can't believe that the school wouldn't know about it, but then, I'm frequently amazed at what administrations of various places miss.

I don't see how you can be "grandfathered in" if the policy was changed eight years before you began schooling. I don't know what recourse you'd have, but it seems to me that EXCELSIOR would be on the hook for this, somehow, for telling you that graduation from their program would allow you to sit for the NCLEX in Florida. Obviously, THEY knew you were not an LPN prior to enrollment (or at the time they admitted you) so if anything, they should have clued you in.

The only other thing that might help you out is if you can prove that this policy was NOT in effect in 1996, or in 2004 when you called to ask. I honestly don't know how to do that, other than to obtain actual copies of applications and policies and check the effective dates. I really feel for you on this one, I can't imagine how I'd be dealing with it if I were in your shoes. I really hope you CAN prevail!

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the florida bon has a new executive director named, rick garcia. he made the change due to his interpretation of the rule as stated by surgtech. prior to his time at the florida bon, the rule was not interpreted the way mr. garcia sees it. there are nurses that have taken the nclex for florida prior to his appointment without problems for years. excelsior can say there was a change, because there is a recent change. :)

ah, i think i see where you're coming from now. you were told it was fine, when in fact it wasn't. excelsior can't say it was a change they just found out about, when that change happened in 1996! hardly new; that policy was in effect eight years before you enrolled! i can't believe that the school wouldn't know about it, but then, i'm frequently amazed at what administrations of various places miss.

i don't see how you can be "grandfathered in" if the policy was changed eight years before you began schooling. i don't know what recourse you'd have, but it seems to me that excelsior would be on the hook for this, somehow, for telling you that graduation from their program would allow you to sit for the nclex in florida. obviously, they knew you were not an lpn prior to enrollment (or at the time they admitted you) so if anything, they should have clued you in.

the only other thing that might help you out is if you can prove that this policy was not in effect in 1996, or in 2004 when you called to ask. i honestly don't know how to do that, other than to obtain actual copies of applications and policies and check the effective dates. i really feel for you on this one, i can't imagine how i'd be dealing with it if i were in your shoes. i really hope you can prevail!

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Huh. I'm taking a stab that the Florida BON doesn't recognize Excelsior as an accredited program, so doesn't accept it on its own as criteria to sit for the NCLEX. I had thought that once a program was "accredited", it meant for all States, but apparently that is not the case.

Interesting that once a grad from this program is licensed elsewhere and has had two years of experience, THEN they are considered worthy of endorsement of licensure by the Florida BON.

Heck, in Georgia they won't license you from in state but you can take the NCLEX in another state and turn around and apply for your Georgia license and get it that way.

That's beaurocracy for you.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
the florida bon has a new executive director named, rick garcia. he made the change due to his interpretation of the rule as stated by surgtech. prior to his time at the florida bon, the rule was not interpreted the way mr. garcia sees it. there are nurses that have taken the nclex for florida prior to his appointment without problems for years. excelsior can say there was a change, because there is a recent change. :)

i hate to say this but the state of florida changes it's mind as frequently as some change their lipstick. back in 1991 they refused to allow any graduates from excelsior's program to sit for their state boards. this rule lasted all of six months. i suggest that anyone living here and facing this contact their state representatives and tell them about the problem. it might help if you can get some of the state representives involved.

if one goes to their website and typed in my name, if you knew it, you would find that it states my license was revoked. what they mean by revoked is i didn't renew my license in 2000. i was licensed in this state for twenty years. now, if i want an active license here, i have to submit an entirely new application and pay more then $200. it galls me to no end because i know they all ready have my old board scores.

woody:angryfire

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Specializes in NP / USAFR Flight Nurse.

Do you mean this is the case if you do not have an LPN license and you take your classes through Excelsior? I thought you had to have an LPN license just to apply for the ADN program?

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Do you mean this is the case if you do not have an LPN license and you take your classes through Excelsior? I thought you had to have an LPN license just to apply for the ADN program?

A former classmate of mine didn't get through our college's ADN program, but she made it through the first three semesters. Decided to go to Excelsior, as they required only that the first two semesters (of clinicals, etc) be completed before transferring (RN classes, no LPN license required). I don't know if that's the case for all; this is in NYS.

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Heck, in Georgia they won't license you from in state but you can take the NCLEX in another state and turn around and apply for your Georgia license and get it that way.

That's beaurocracy for you.

Beautiful. Makes entirely no sense to me whatsoever!

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