Oh No!!!! I just received an email from Excelsior that Texas BON said that Excelsior is not "substantially equivalent" to other programs. They want to require traditional clinical training for Excelsior's associate degree nursing graduates. What if they would eradicate it completely??? I am so nervous now, I just started this program.
Here is a copy of the letter...
Your Urgent Help Needed
Contact Your State Legislators Today
I am asking for your help in contacting your state legislators urging them to support bills that have been introduced that will maintain Excelsior's nursing program as a viable option for working adult, health care professionals to become RNs.
During last year's session, the Texas Legislature modified the Nursing Practice Act in an effort to open Texas to innovative nursing programs and provide guidance to the Board of Nursing in approving out-of-state programs by requiring it to approve a program approved by another state if the standards of that state are "substantially equivalent." Unfortunately, the Board of Nursing has indicated that it does not view Excelsior's program as "substantially equivalent" to Texas in-state programs, and it wants to require traditional clinical training for Excelsior's associate degree nursing graduates.
This is despite the following facts and indicators of program quality:
* Excelsior College is approved by regulators in our home state of New York.
* Excelsior is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
* Our School of Nursing is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission - the associate degree program has been continuously accredited since 1975.
* The School has twice been designated as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing and is one of only 13 such centers nationwide.
* Excelsior's graduates consistently pass the national nurse licensing exam (NCLEX-RN) the first time at a rate equal to or higher than the national average.
Two Legislative Bills are Being Introduced
Two identical bills have been introduced, one each in the Senate and House, that will provide for continued recognition of our School of Nursing as being "substantially equivalent" to Texas in-state programs.
* The Senate bill is SB 1397 (introduced by Senator Deuell)
* The companion bill in the House is HB 3230 (introduced by Representative Pitts)
You may view these bills at this Web address by entering the bill numbers into the "Search Legislation" box at the top of the middle column: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us.
Without the guidance that these bills will provide to the Board of Nursing, Excelsior's nursing pre-licensure program as an alternative, nontraditional means for working adult professionals to become an RN may be in jeopardy.
Send Letters of Support
We need you to send letters and emails to your state Senator and Representative today asking them to support these bills. If they are not members of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee or the House Public Health Committee, ask them to urge their colleagues who are on these committees to support the bills. Hearings on these may take place as early as March 31, so please send your letters and emails right away.
To locate the address for your Senator and Representative go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us and fill in your address in the "Who Represents Me?" box on the right-hand side of the page.
These letters should be in your own words and should tell the legislators your story:
* Why you want to become an RN and how important it is to you and your family.
* Why you chose Excelsior College to earn your degree.
* How your current and past clinical experiences are helping you to achieve your goal.
* Let them know how rigorous the program is.
Be sure to include the program quality bullet points listed above and to write a letter that is professional in nature. You want to make a good impression of yourself and Excelsior's program.
Please send copies of your letters and emails to [email protected] so we know which legislators have been contacted.
Thank you,
Bridget Nettleton signature
M. Bridget Nettleton, PhD, RN
Dean, School of Nursing
It makes me sick... I just started this and now it may be taken away... ugh....
Mandy
