Fl non-LPN Excelsior students

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Fl BON has recently made a decision regarding non-LPN students enrolled in the Excelsior nursing program, they will no longer accept licensure endorsement, you will have to practice in another state for 2 yrs. or can only practice in Fl at a federal facility for 2 yrs. then seek endorsement. Before I enrolled with EC I called Fl BON and they informed me they accept endorsement, now they are changing the rules which affects all non-LPN students REGARDLESS of the fact if you enrolled in EC when they did accept endorsement. I am emailing and calling Fl. BON Director Rick Garcia @ [email protected] or 850-245-4158 and other Fl. legistrators and I encourage other students to also do the same. I'm sure that I am not the only non-LPN who entered the program when FL BON informed students that Fl would accept licensure endorsement. To inforce this new decision on currently enrolled students is unfair. EC nursing program is accredited. I am encouraging other Fl non-LPN students to follow thru, email or call your representatives. You enrolled in the program based on the Fl BON regulations at that time and they should still apply.

You know the first time I spoke with Mr Garcia, he said that the ex-director and staff misinterpreted the "laws" and that what they did by endorsing was not consistent with the Boards policy. Now the Board is backtracking and saying no non-LPN has been endorsed ever?? Which is it?? :angryfire

I recieved another respnse from Senator Justice office today. Fl BON is saying they have never waivered from the non-LPN Stipulation of requiring 2 years employment at a Fl Federal facility or 2 years in another state. They are saying they have never endorsed the license of a non-LPN. And that is absolutely incorrect, they have endorsed the license of non-LPN's and that is exactly the information Fl. BON gave students by phone. So if they say they have never waivered then all the patients who recieved nursing care from non-LPN's who had thier license endorsed by Fl. BON would be able to file a suit against Fl. BON and the State of Florida because they failed to follow their governing board regulations.To me it sounds like they did not think this thru before acting on it.
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Specializes in NICU, Psych, Education.
So if they say they have never waivered then all the patients who recieved nursing care from non-LPN's who had thier license endorsed by Fl. BON would be able to file a suit against Fl. BON and the State of Florida because they failed to follow their governing board regulations.

Those patients would most likely have to show damages related to the care provided. It's a thought, but I think there are better ways of attacking this issue than filing frivolous medical malpractice suits.

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The previous Fl BON director was Mr. Copel, i think that is how to spell it. Yes, you are correct, they are back tracking, the respones are ambivalent. FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT ? It is not my goal to encourage a suit, however, Fl BON could be held accountable to those patients based on their own practices , Accountablity is the rule not the exception.Being accountable to the public is the reason governing boards exist.If BON says they have never endorsed license of non-LPN when in fact they have , where is the accountability ? Eric, thanks for the tip about going about it in other ways, but sorry to disappoint you, we came up with that before your advice.

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I talked to someone yesterday who has been actively involved in Fl nursing agencies for 15 years and she is optimistic that Fl BON will resolve the issue in the interest of the students who were enrolled with EC prior to 06/2007, now this is only her opinion. So lets keep our fingers crossed.She does not think the non-LPN's that were previously endorsed will be brought into this issue because they are aware that Dr. Coble did allow thier endorsement but they say he acted on his own and not under Fl BON stipulations. I still do not understand the part " he acted without the BON " and she did not elaborate.

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I received the same 'form letter' from Mr. Garcia's office several days ago, I assume from one of his staff because he us out of town.

It does state Fl BON has never allowed non LPN-RN endorsement in Florida.

To me, this is a BIG can of worms he has opened. My thinking is this: If he allows those that were enrolled prior to 6-2007, but not those after, why not? Is there education less? Is the reason just a date, but not knowledge? When he changes the status-quo where a presidents has been set, he is really asking for controversy. It's like, we will allow it, now we wont, but now we will, but only for those enrolled prior to this date....

Am I missing something here?

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Ronnie22, It is my understanding that Rick Garcia is saying Fl BON will not endorse for non-LPN's now or in the future, regardless if you were enrolled prior to his reviewing the stipulations and that Fl BON never had a Stipulation that stated non-LPN's could be endorsed into Fl and that Dr. Coble acted on his own, Fl BON never gave him permission to vary from the Stipulation and Fl BON misunderstood the Stipulation so therefore they misinformed the students. However the students and Excelsior is asking for Due Process, we are asking Fl BON to endorse those students who were misinformed by Fl BON and were enrolled prior to June 2007.This is a hardship on those students and they deserve Due Process.

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I wanted to share this with Excelsior students, when you go to do your fingerprints please take several copies of the forms, I went today with one form and after waiting for awhile the cop made a few mistakes so I am not sure if the prints will fly, however, I am sending them, we will see. So do not make the same mistake I did.

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I am confused as well to that "he acted on his own without the BON", how can the director of a board act on his own for years without being put in check by other members? And now what makes Rick Garcia the end all, say all on the matter. Does the director of the board have that autonomy to act without support or make decisions by themselves? That seems to go against the whole premise of why a Board is set up with numerous members, does it not?

I talked to someone yesterday who has been actively involved in Fl nursing agencies for 15 years and she is optimistic that Fl BON will resolve the issue in the interest of the students who were enrolled with EC prior to 06/2007, now this is only her opinion. So lets keep our fingers crossed.She does not think the non-LPN's that were previously endorsed will be brought into this issue because they are aware that Dr. Coble did allow thier endorsement but they say he acted on his own and not under Fl BON stipulations. I still do not understand the part " he acted without the BON " and she did not elaborate.
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Specializes in Emergency.

I talked with Paula at Excelsior College's State Boards Office and they are planning to get on the agenda for the October 10-12 meeting in Jacksonville. She asked me to put the request out on this forum to send them all the letters and responses that you have given and recieved from Mr. Garcia, Senators, Congress members, or other people and e-mail or fax them to [email protected] or (518) 464-8777. With so much at stake for us, I am planning on attending the meeting. It is at the Hyatt at

225 East Coast Line Drive

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

32202

Tel: +1 904 588 1234

Fax: +1 904 634 4554

The rates are a LITLLE HIGH $229. Of course its on the water.

Lets cross our fingers that Excelsior and the Fl BON will come to a good "compromise".

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I think if the Fl. BON does not realize Excelsior nursing students are not 'fresh off the street' students/nurses. Maybe they will reconsider the decision if Excelsior can express to the board the type of students that take the program. I believe Mr. Garcia is just ignorant of the caliber of students Excelsior is producing. Many, if not all have years of clinical experience. I see nurse externs that are totally in the dark about actually being a nurse. It is not a derogatory statement about their school, but just a fact, nurses fresh out of school have little clinical experience. Most schools teach nurses to be 'floor' nurses, or general nursing. Specialty nursing is, well a specialty that most -I feel- is what Excelsior nurses will practice.

There is several months before the meeting, so if we can inform the representatives of our concerns, they will not be in the dark like BON.

Is there a list of state officials that will be there?

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According to an email from Rick Garcia today that I received, Excelsior has not made a request to be put on the agenda for Octobers meeting. They have until the 28th of this month to request it. I will be faxing all my correspondence to Dean Nettleton tomorrow as requested by them. Her fax # 518-464-8777. Also, I have found the ex-executive director of BON, Dr Coble. He is the president of South University in Tampa. I would like to call him and request an appointment to speak with him about what is going on. Is there anyone in the area that would be interested in meeting with him with me? Let me know so we can figure out a good time to request an audience with him. Thanks.

I talked with Paula at Excelsior College's State Boards Office and they are planning to get on the agenda for the October 10-12 meeting in Jacksonville. She asked me to put the request out on this forum to send them all the letters and responses that you have given and recieved from Mr. Garcia, Senators, Congress members, or other people and e-mail or fax them to [email protected] or (518) 464-8777. With so much at stake for us, I am planning on attending the meeting. It is at the Hyatt at

225 East Coast Line Drive

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

32202

Tel: +1 904 588 1234

Fax: +1 904 634 4554

The rates are a LITLLE HIGH $229. Of course its on the water.

Lets cross our fingers that Excelsior and the Fl BON will come to a good "compromise".

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hey surgtech, any new info?

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