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...

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I commend you in your fight and wish you well. It doesn't hurt to fight.

I would also encourage you to fight Excelsior and demand a refund for misleading you. It is widely known that Florida only accepts Excelsior grads who have been practicing LPNs prior to enrollment and I seriously doubt that this is news to Excelsior. (Obviously not widely known enough for you and your friends) They took you for a ride and took your money and are going to leave you high and dry.

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Specializes in corrections, LTC, pre-op.
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...
There was only 7 tests when you started I know. Only took two tests in 3 1/2 years? Plus the clinical you need. Sounds like you may have dragged your feet a bit, your over a year away easily(takes an average of 6mos just to get a clinical test date). However Excelsior doesn't control the state of Florida. I hope the best for you. Get your degree and license yourself elsewhere is your only recourse it seems.

Larry Rn in Florida -Excelsior grad 2007

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
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?

No, one does not have to have an LPN license to apply to Excelsior's ADN program. This program came into existence in the late 60s, in an effort to increase the number of RN graduates, who gained their degree while continuing to work. Over the years it has expanded and included clinical testing areas all over the country. One has to have the necessary skills to pass the clinical components but one can gain those skills in a variety of ways.

I have a problem with the State of Florida putting restrictions on a program that is out of their state. I've lived here for twenty four years and found the nursing education not to be on the same level as it is in NYS, the state I went to school in and was licensed in. And the three years that I returned to NYS and went to graduate school, my opinion didn't change. Before leaving I had taken a series of nursing classes at USF, so I am not basing my opinion on here say. Programs in this state are extremely territorial. Two year programs were able to block USF from increasing their allowed number of students, in 1996, because of fear they would drop from their programs.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in corrections, LTC, pre-op.
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!

Sorry bad stab.

Larry RN in Fl 2007 Excelsior Grad

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Sorry bad stab.

Larry RN in Fl 2007 Excelsior Grad

This was helpful....how? Whatever.

Sometimes, people do try to understand or clarify an unclear post, as I did.

RNsRWe RN in NY 2006 NON-Excelsior Grad

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There are actually several states that do not accept the Excelsior Program for licensure. CA used to but not anymore. Those that enrolled prior to December, 2003 were allowed to get licensed there but not after. And they do not permit endorsement either.

Excelsior did give you incorrect information, but did you actually follow up with the Board of Nursing in Florida before you started the program?

This is something that should be done with any non-traditional program, and I always recommend that before starting any type of program for the RN. Especially since schools are popping up all over.

Since Excelsior did give you incorrect information, they need to stand behind what they told you, but was it actually in writing? That is something that the courts will ask you.

The Excelsior program is the old Regent's program from NY. And the requirements for getting in for years is that you had either the LPN license, were a paramedic, or a respiratory therapist. This is how it was for years. You at least had some clinical training in the health care field.

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States give accreditation to nursing schools, it is not a national standard. And each state can set their own requirements, and grant their own approvals. There are certain requirements of basic training that must me met, but a state can be specific as to how they want that training completed. This is why we state that the NCLEX-RN exam has reciprocity, but licenses do not. You need to meet the educational requirements of the new state, and not all programs will meet all requirements of all boards of nursing. Whether the ADN, or even the BSN, we have seen some that could not endorse without making up a course or two.

Even if you graduated from Excelsior two years ago, and decided that you now wished to work in CA; you would not be able to get a license there. Same with the LVNs that have gone thru the 30 unit program in CA, it is accepted there and they can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, and get an RN license; but they cannot endorse it to any other state.

Moving this thread to the Distance Learning forum since it is specific to that area.

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I spoke with Rick Garcia, Ex. Director Fl. BON, he said the previous director misinterrupted the court ruling of Licensure by Endoresment as did the staff, and while under his direction it was the practice of Fl. BON to accept licensure by endorsement for non-LPN Excelsior nursing graduates. So when students called Fl. BON ( which Excelsior encouraged ) prior to enrolling to verify the practice of Fl. they were informed that if they were non-LPN's they would need to apply for a license in another state then Fl would endorse that license ( by the way that is the meaning of licensure by endorsement ) I am one of the students who did call Fl. BON prior to enrolling, several times just to be sure I was understanding, and the information was consistant for each phone call. So if Fl. BON misinterrupted the meaning : Who actually misinterrupted ? Rick Garcia ? The previous Ex. Director ? Board Members ? Why was it misinterrupted ? Should Fl. BON be accountable to those students they informed to apply for a license in another state then apply for endorsement in Fl ? In my opinion YES ! I encourage all students who this affects to call, write or email Fl. Legislatives, go to myflorida.com , it has links to their emails & phone numbers. Also email the Senior Assistant Attorney General, Lee Ann Gustafson at [email protected].

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Specializes in corrections, LTC, pre-op.
States give accreditation to nursing schools, it is not a national standard. And each state can set their own requirements, and grant their own approvals. There are certain requirements of basic training that must me met, but a state can be specific as to how they want that training completed. This is why we state that the NCLEX-RN exam has reciprocity, but licenses do not. You need to meet the educational requirements of the new state, and not all programs will meet all requirements of all boards of nursing. Whether the ADN, or even the BSN, we have seen some that could not endorse without making up a course or two.

Even if you graduated from Excelsior two years ago, and decided that you now wished to work in CA; you would not be able to get a license there. Same with the LVNs that have gone thru the 30 unit program in CA, it is accepted there and they can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, and get an RN license; but they cannot endorse it to any other state.

Moving this thread to the Distance Learning forum since it is specific to that area.

If not accredited by the NLN the school is not worth your time.

Larry RN in Fl

Excelsior Grad which is recognized by the NLN

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No, you can apply for school at Excelsior with experience in the military as a corpsman and also experience as an EMT as well.

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I had to take other courses besides the nursing concepts classes, so I have not been dragging my feet by any stretch of the imagination. So you graduated from Excelsior recently and are working in Florida? Were you an LPN?

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Thank you , that is exactly what happened to me. When I spoke to Mr Garcia, he was very rude and stated that "this rule has been in effect since 1996 and noone would have told me that information about endoresement because it wasnt true"...I begged to differ but he just continued to over talk me and refused to budge that it has ever been any different. I have contacted my representatives in Florida, and Excelsior and since Florida was endorsing licensesure prior to Mr Garcia coming on board in May, they really did not mislead any students.

I spoke with Rick Garcia, Ex. Director Fl. BON, he said the previous director misinterrupted the court ruling of Licensure by Endoresment as did the staff, and while under his direction it was the practice of Fl. BON to accept licensure by endorsement for non-LPN Excelsior nursing graduates. So when students called Fl. BON ( which Excelsior encouraged ) prior to enrolling to verify the practice of Fl. they were informed that if they were non-LPN's they would need to apply for a license in another state then Fl would endorse that license ( by the way that is the meaning of licensure by endorsement ) I am one of the students who did call Fl. BON prior to enrolling, several times just to be sure I was understanding, and the information was consistant for each phone call. So if Fl. BON misinterrupted the meaning : Who actually misinterrupted ? Rick Garcia ? The previous Ex. Director ? Board Members ? Why was it misinterrupted ? Should Fl. BON be accountable to those students they informed to apply for a license in another state then apply for endorsement in Fl ? In my opinion YES ! I encourage all students who this affects to call, write or email Fl. Legislatives, go to myflorida.com , it has links to their emails & phone numbers. Also email the Senior Assistant Attorney General, Lee Ann Gustafson at [email protected].
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