Excelsior Graduates/ Students Support Excelsior Maryland

ltsgnn · Feb 2, 2013

Sad situation. I was one of the last Excelsior grads licensed in Maryland in 2008. I recommend the program regardless of what certain BON's think. Although future students certainly need to consider their other options, if Excelsior seems the best one, go for it. Does anyone know if any research has been done to back up these unworthy-of-licensure claims made by various states, or if they just pop up randomly? It just seems strange that these policies should be based on nothing.

Exactly, "policies based on nothing" that's why I posted the Maryland Advocate for Excelsior College on this website. I'm hoping Excelsior graduates can join the forum to provide facts about the program including how it has helped them professionally, work role, professional activites, etc. We have a small group of Excelsior graduates working with supportive members of the Maryland legislature to remove the barricade Excelsior graduates have to deal with in Maryland.

lovetheocean · Feb 2, 2013

To the posters on this forum who stated that it is a "privilege, not a right" to have licensure, I want to let you know that it becomes a violation of your rights when you are issued a license and allowed to keep it for a YEAR, only to have it revoked simply based on criteria they approved in the first place. It's like buying a home and having the bank come back a year later and revoke your loan because they feel that they made a mistake and decided you really don't qualify for it. This woman's right to maintain her licensure was definitely impeded upon. The Maryland BON has embarrassed her, taken away her ability to earn a better living and stripped her of career potential at her place of employment. And I'm sure the media, Department of Social Services and Welfare Reform constituents would LOVE to be apprised of the fact that a single mom with earning potential was rendered unemployable by a government agency and told to pursue public assistance because they stripped her of a means to earn a living. Shame, shame, shame on them.

ltsgnn · Feb 15, 2013

Update Excelsior Maryalnd!!!!

Update on House Bill 624 – Good NewsBy ExcelsiorColl - February 15, 2013- 0 Comments

We have good news to report.

On Thursday, February 14, a hearing was held before the Health and Government Operations Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates on House Bill 624. Sponsored by Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-21^st District) and Nicholaus Kipke (R-31^st District), the bill re-opens a means for graduates of Excelsior’s associate degree in nursing program to be licensed by endorsement.

Under terms of the bill, Excelsior graduates will be eligible for licensure by endorsement if they have an unencumbered RN license from another state and have had at least 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the 12-month period prior to applying for a Maryland license. During the hearing, representatives of the College spoke in favor of the bill. Importantly, both the Board of Nursing and the Maryland Nurses Association also spoke in support of the legislation.

To put the 1,000 hour requirement into perspective, this is the equivalent of about a half a year’s worth (26 weeks) of full-time practice, assuming a 37.5 hour work week.

The next step in the process is for the Committee to move the bill to consideration by the full House of Delegates. Given the bipartisan effort by Delegates Pena-Melnyk and Kipke to introduce the legislation, the endorsement of the Board of Nursing, which worked with the delegates on the bill, and the support of the Maryland Nurses Association, the potential for passage in the House of Delegates is promising.

There is a companion bill in the Senate, SB 501, introduced by Senator Joan Carter Conway (D – 43^rd District), which will have a hearing February 27.

We will keep you informed as these bills move through the Maryland General Assembly. Thanks to your advocacy, this is a significant step forward in our work in the state.

elkpark · Feb 15, 2013

This woman's right to maintain her licensure was definitely impeded upon. The Maryland BON has embarrassed her, taken away her ability to earn a better living and stripped her of career potential at her place of employment. And I'm sure the media, Department of Social Services and Welfare Reform constituents would LOVE to be apprised of the fact that a single mom with earning potential was rendered unemployable by a government agency and told to pursue public assistance because they stripped her of a means to earn a living. Shame, shame, shame on them.

I agree it's an unfortunate situation and I feel bad for the woman, but I fail to see how she has a "right" to maintain a license that she didn't have a right to in the first place, that was issued in error.

vscruggs30 · Feb 15, 2013

Update Excelsior Maryalnd!!!!
Update on House Bill 624 – Good NewsBy ExcelsiorColl - February 15, 2013- 0 Comments
We have good news to report.
On Thursday, February 14, a hearing was held before the Health and Government Operations Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates on House Bill 624. Sponsored by Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-21^st District) and Nicholaus Kipke (R-31^st District), the bill re-opens a means for graduates of Excelsior’s associate degree in nursing program to be licensed by endorsement.
Under terms of the bill, Excelsior graduates will be eligible for licensure by endorsement if they have an unencumbered RN license from another state and have had at least 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the 12-month period prior to applying for a Maryland license. During the hearing, representatives of the College spoke in favor of the bill. Importantly, both the Board of Nursing and the Maryland Nurses Association also spoke in support of the legislation.
To put the 1,000 hour requirement into perspective, this is the equivalent of about a half a year’s worth (26 weeks) of full-time practice, assuming a 37.5 hour work week.
The next step in the process is for the Committee to move the bill to consideration by the full House of Delegates. Given the bipartisan effort by Delegates Pena-Melnyk and Kipke to introduce the legislation, the endorsement of the Board of Nursing, which worked with the delegates on the bill, and the support of the Maryland Nurses Association, the potential for passage in the House of Delegates is promising.
There is a companion bill in the Senate, SB 501, introduced by Senator Joan Carter Conway (D – 43^rd District), which will have a hearing February 27.
We will keep you informed as these bills move through the Maryland General Assembly. Thanks to your advocacy, this is a significant step forward in our work in the state.

I'm happy this is happening what can we do about California

Editorial Team / Moderator · Feb 16, 2013

EC is constantly working for acceptance in all states, and I'm sure that includes Cali. For now, that door remains closed. However, this MD info is great news. :)