I aM floored. I just received notice from GA Board of Nursing that they denied the endorsement of my MN RN license because I did not meet clinical practice requirements . When I called the board, they transferred me to a their Legal Nurse Consultant who stated that effective July 1, 2008 GA would no longer endorse RN license from Excelsior College students with no previous RN experience. She suggested that I go to my licensed state and work for a while then try again, but she could not give me a time frame.
Has anyone else experienced this. I thought we should at least have gotten some sort of notice/warning before this type of rule be adopted by the board. I am going to file a motion for reconsideration using an Attorney. Before I entered Excelsiors program I called GA Board to verify acceptance. I had been accepted to a traditional LPN to RN bridge program; I could have been almost finished their too. I am so sad right now. I have been crying for two days. I think I will need to see my doctor for Zoloft.
I have been an LPN for over 13 years doing Med/Surg for at least 10. I work on a hospital unit right now. THIS IS SO UNFAIR!!!:banghead:
Specializes in CHPLN- Cert. hospice/palliative care LPN.
]Good morning troops! I am still continuing to grow a national movement to fight this issue. This is ONLY THE BEGINNING! I first began this effort when the VA BON made a similar legislation, only to see that it has now happened in GA as well. It is IMPERATIVE that EVERYONE UNDERSTAND what is happening here. States aren't just "randomly" discrediting EC grads. It is coming from the TOP! I spoke personally to someone at the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) and THEY are the ones pushing ALL STATES to move to this new legislation. If it hasn't happened in your state YET, trust me when I say it WILL. These decisions are being made behind closed doors by a handful of "board members", only to be brought to public knowledge AFTER it becomes law. We need to join together and fight this! We must take it to the court of public opinion and pressure our elected state officials to, in turn, pressure the BON's to reverse this legislation. It is taking me a lot of time and effort to put this type of an organization together, but it is worth every minute! Even if some of us manage to earn our degree and become RN's in our current states, the degree/license will not be worth the paper it's printed on if you suddenly decide to move to another state. If you read these legislations CLOSELY you will see that they also say VERY CLEARLY that they will not grant RN licensure from educational distance avenues like EC EVEN BY ENDORSEMENT FROM ANOTHER STATE. They use the lame excuse of "required clinical hours" as the basis for this legislation, completely discounting our YEARS OF CLINICAL HOURS WORKED AS LICENSED NURSES. If I'm ALREADY LICENSED to be a nurse in my state, WHY ON EARTH do I need to be "retaught" the basic core of nursing?? That's why these programs are called "bridge programs" and RIGHTFULLY SO. I'm not disputing the need for more education, but the reality is the missing link for LPN's that needs to be taught is the "theory of critical thinking" piece. Programs like EC teach that. OK, I'm done with my morning rant. PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE... E-MAIL ME AND JOIN IN THIS FIGHT! LET'S TAKE IT ALL THE WAY!
"We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate." - Thomas Jefferson
Although not in GA, as an EC grad myself I am highly interested in this topic and would like to keep up with the latest developments.
It is however, somewhat confusing to keep flipping through the multiple threads on this exact same topic by the same OP. Is it possible to use one thread for posting the latest updates and info regarding the GA situation?
Just a thought.
Also, although somewhat off-topic with regard to GA, I find it interesting that states such as Serenity67's Virginia as well as Maryland have made these restrictions yet are part of the nurse licensure compact!!
VA And MD can make EC restrictions all they want. Under the compact, I can work as an RN in either state regardless as long as I maintain an address and RN license in a compact state. It makes no sense.
And the funny thing is, it is the NCSBN who was behind and endorsed the interstate licensure compact in the first place. The very people who supposedly are pushing state boards toward restricting EC grads for RN licensure.
If the basis for there decision is on the number of clinical hours earned, so to say, this does not apply to all EC students. What do they plan to do with students from traditional RN programs who already have there clinical hours....are am I not understanding what they are trying to say there reasoning is?
Specializes in CHPLN- Cert. hospice/palliative care LPN.
If the basis for there decision is on the number of clinical hours earned, so to say, this does not apply to all EC students. What do they plan to do with students from traditional RN programs who already have there clinical hours....are am I not understanding what they are trying to say there reasoning is?
]The way they avoid "specifically" naming EC as "unacceptable" is by making the law specific to "state expectations for state approved nursing programs" to be accepted in their state. They hold all schools responsible for seeing that their program meets both the required combination of classroom theory combined with the required actual clinical education hours. The end result is that EC does not meet "their standards" of education programs, therefore removing the EC Assoc. RN program from the list of "approved state nursing programs".
Specializes in CHPLN- Cert. hospice/palliative care LPN.
Although not in GA, as an EC grad myself I am highly interested in this topic and would like to keep up with the latest developments.
It is however, somewhat confusing to keep flipping through the multiple threads on this exact same topic by the same OP. Is it possible to use one thread for posting the latest updates and info regarding the GA situation?
Just a thought.
Also, although somewhat off-topic with regard to GA, I find it interesting that states such as Serenity67's Virginia as well as Maryland have made these restrictions yet are part of the nurse licensure compact!!
VA And MD can make EC restrictions all they want. Under the compact, I can work as an RN in either state regardless as long as I maintain an address and RN license in a compact state. It makes no sense.
And the funny thing is, it is the NCSBN who was behind and endorsed the interstate licensure compact in the first place. The very people who supposedly are pushing state boards toward restricting EC grads for RN licensure.
]Good point about trying to consolidate the GA (and VA!) topic to one thread. I think that is beginning to happen all on it's own, as evidenced by the increased postings to only 2 threads dealing with this topic, and the decrease in posts on the other threads.
]
]In regard to the issue about the "compact states", if a nurse MOVES from one compact state to another, the new "home" state licensure CAN STILL BE DENIED... REGARDLESS of the fact you moved there from a different "compact state". Here is an exerpt from the Compact State Agreement that supports that point (pay special attention to #4):
]
A nurse changing primary state of residence, from one party state to another party state, may continue to practice under the former home state license and multi-state licensure privilege during the processing of the nurse's licensure application in the new home state for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. (Statutory basis: Articles 4B, 4C, and 4D[1])
The licensure application in the new home state of a nurse under pending investigation by the former home state shall be held in abeyance and the thirty-(30) day period in section 2b shall be stayed until resolution of the pending investigation. (Statutory basis: Article 5)
The former home state license shall no longer be valid upon the issuance of a new home state license. (Statutory basis: Article 4D[1])
If a decision is made by the new home state denying licensure, the new home state shall notify the former home state within ten (10) business days and the former home state may take action in accordance with that state's laws and rules.
]This is yet ANOTHER reason why I am spending so much energy trying to get an organized group of folks to fight this legislation preventing EC RN grads from obtaining licensure. If we don't all work to ammend this legislation on a national level, we will soon see the extinction of the EC RN program altogether.
I have read the many post on various forums in regards to this critical topic, and yes, I too am an EC student affected by this legislation. Too many people are placing the blame solely on the GABON as opposed to EC. This is not newfound information for the college and yes it most likely has been pending for quite some time. I was informed by the GABON that EC knew about this situation since January 2008 in writing, and as of May 2008, had taken no positive actions to correct the curriculum requirements for the GA nursing students. It is also my understanding that 250 precepted clinical hours is all it would have taken to avoid this legal catastrophe. I am certain that the validity of this information as well as all of the other things which have been said/written over the past few days will be validated in September.
I find it very disheartening that yes, I too have sweat and perservered through this program only to now find out this late in the game that I can't be licensed in the state where I live. But life will go on, and so will my career as an RN. There are so many options available to me, as well as the many other GA nursing students who desire to fulfill their professional dreams. Yes, I agree that we, the EC nursing students of GA must ban together and fight for what we have worked so hard for, but we must organize and be professional in our approach. Remember we represent one of the most well respected professions on earth.
The many inappropiate posts I have read (not only on this forum) and the many angry, fingerpointing emails of blame which have been sent not only to the GABON as well as any legislators should cease. This will only make matters worse for us, the students affected. The anger,blaming and posts of outrage must end. We need positive, amicable solutions. We the students in GA need the GABON to hear us, understand our plight, and immediatley side with 1) the students who have passed the CPNE and or state boards in another state and seek endorsement, 2) the students who are waiting for their academic records to be updated by EC for graduation/completion to take boards, 3) students who are taking CPNE in the very near future, and 4) any EC student who is adversly being affected since this legislation passed. We the students of GA who are immediately affected are professional, competent, caring, healthcare providers, and would like to right to practice in the state where we live.
I have read that people want to file a classaction lawsuit against the GABON, but not EC. This is nonsense. EC was supposed to have been our voice, our first line of defense, and they dropped the ball. California was the start, and Georgia won't be the end. I am certain of this. It's odd how full disclosure can be made from EC in regards to tuition increases year after year, but they failed to inform the students of pending legislation which would affect our futures.
EC was NEVER considered a GA state approved school of nursing, thus the reason students had been allowed to endorse their license into GA. EC never sought to become an approved school in GA or any other state for that matter, except NY where they are centrally located.
I too wonder how this entire mess began. Was it because GABON had warned EC far too many times that the nursing curriculum needed to be revised with a clinical component? Was it the direct result of an EC student falsifying information on their application for licensure by endorsement? Or was it something else. We may never know the truth behind the sudden changes implemented. Now, every EC student who is affected by this must decide what their fate will be. I am not relying on a swift and amicable solution in September. are you?
Formyfly had a very good point. When my application was rejected by the GBON, I was told that it was because we lacked the clinical practice hours in Maternal Infant and Mental Health Nursing. Some students accepted under the over 50% rule may have already done these clinical rotation in their previous programs prior to Excelsior. If I was in that position I would definitely still apply and send in my transcript from the other school as well. It will be interesting to see if they still get rejected.
I am also a senior at Clayton State University (Psychology Major). I have been advised by a Nursing Program faculty (who is also a CE for Excelsior) that she will propose a program that will assist EC students in bridging and completing requirements to the school's Provost and Nursing Department Chair as soon as she knows what GA is going to require. I have seen at least 4 or 5 CSU Nursing Faculty doing weekend clinical rotations at one local hospital. They too are shocked, and held the program in high regards. In fact Clayton State University accepted Excelsiors Students nursing credits with completed degree and GA RN licenses to do the RN to BSN completion program. They too, are going to lose a lot of students to the BSN completion program. I was planning to start this Aug 18th. Now I can count that out.
Specializes in CHPLN- Cert. hospice/palliative care LPN.
I have read the many post on various forums in regards to this critical topic, and yes, I too am an EC student affected by this legislation. Too many people are placing the blame solely on the GABON as opposed to EC. This is not newfound information for the college and yes it most likely has been pending for quite some time. I was informed by the GABON that EC knew about this situation since January 2008 in writing, and as of May 2008, had taken no positive actions to correct the curriculum requirements for the GA nursing students. It is also my understanding that 250 precepted clinical hours is all it would have taken to avoid this legal catastrophe. I am certain that the validity of this information as well as all of the other things which have been said/written over the past few days will be validated in September.
I find it very disheartening that yes, I too have sweat and perservered through this program only to now find out this late in the game that I can't be licensed in the state where I live. But life will go on, and so will my career as an RN. There are so many options available to me, as well as the many other GA nursing students who desire to fulfill their professional dreams. Yes, I agree that we, the EC nursing students of GA must ban together and fight for what we have worked so hard for, but we must organize and be professional in our approach. Remember we represent one of the most well respected professions on earth.
The many inappropiate posts I have read (not only on this forum) and the many angry, fingerpointing emails of blame which have been sent not only to the GABON as well as any legislators should cease. This will only make matters worse for us, the students affected. The anger,blaming and posts of outrage must end. We need positive, amicable solutions. We the students in GA need the GABON to hear us, understand our plight, and immediatley side with 1) the students who have passed the CPNE and or state boards in another state and seek endorsement, 2) the students who are waiting for their academic records to be updated by EC for graduation/completion to take boards, 3) students who are taking CPNE in the very near future, and 4) any EC student who is adversly being affected since this legislation passed. We the students of GA who are immediately affected are professional, competent, caring, healthcare providers, and would like to right to practice in the state where we live.
I have read that people want to file a classaction lawsuit against the GABON, but not EC. This is nonsense. EC was supposed to have been our voice, our first line of defense, and they dropped the ball. California was the start, and Georgia won't be the end. I am certain of this. It's odd how full disclosure can be made from EC in regards to tuition increases year after year, but they failed to inform the students of pending legislation which would affect our futures.
EC was NEVER considered a GA state approved school of nursing, thus the reason students had been allowed to endorse their license into GA. EC never sought to become an approved school in GA or any other state for that matter, except NY where they are centrally located.
I too wonder how this entire mess began. Was it because GABON had warned EC far too many times that the nursing curriculum needed to be revised with a clinical component? Was it the direct result of an EC student falsifying information on their application for licensure by endorsement? Or was it something else. We may never know the truth behind the sudden changes implemented. Now, every EC student who is affected by this must decide what their fate will be. I am not relying on a swift and amicable solution in September. are you?
strengthcouragewisdom
]I agree with your point about remaining professional. I live in VA and have been working directly with the assistant dean of EC regarding this matter. I will be making a public comment at the next VA BON meeting in Sept. and I can only speak for myself when I say that I am not trying to point fingers or place blame on the BON or the legislators. I truly believe there is a fundamental misunderstanding regarding the EC curriculum that needs to be brought to light. In an organized, professional manner it is my intention to attempt to bring this issue out of the "boardroom" and try to ammend the legislation. That is where contacting state elected officials comes in. I certainly do not blame the legislators for simply "signing off" on laws written by the very people they have deemed to be "the experts". However, they have only heard one side of the argument.
]
]I am very happy to hear that you have so many other options available for you, as you mentioned above, but with all due respect, everyone's situation in life is different and it would be unrealistic to assume that this is the case for everyone. So while I agree with you on remaining a professional and respectful advocate for the cause, I do feel it's a cause worth addressing.
If 250 hrs of clinical is what is/was needed, I wonder if the BON would reconsider if EC agrees to abide by that rule. I would be more than happy to do local clinicals if necessary. I just don't like the idea of not having any options.
"It is also my understanding that 250 precepted clinical hours is all it would have taken to avoid this legal catastrophe."
Maybe I've missed something, but where did this come from? It doesn't seem so unreasonable, especially now.
I don't see where it would have produced a more professional, safer healthcare provider than someone who had to pass the CPNE. I've seen way too many people skate through precepted clinicals to believe that. But, if that's all it would have taken to avoid the current mess, then I'm sure every student would have gladly complied, and EC should have as well. Geez, whatever it takes to gain states' acceptance, passing the expense on to the students, as any other school would do.
If they would just change over to this clinical requirement, then allow everyone who was enrolled in the program before July 1 to use the CPNE and endorse in to GA as they previously allowed, then why wouldn't everyone be happy? Am I over-simplifying this, and does that seem legal (according to the wording of the new law) and fair to future students?
Another thing though, if they changed over to a precepted clinical, then graduates should be able to take boards and gain initial licensure in GA rather than all of that endorsement stuff. That's my opinion anyway.
I agree with you, strengthcouragewisdom, that we must take a very high professional road in all of our dealings with GBON, EC and our legislators. I also think that attacking new traditional RN grads is not helpful. We all know how it is out there and we were all new nurses at one time.
HOWEVER, the GBON has sections on their web site entitled Board Rules and Proposed Rules. To this MINUTE, there is nothing posted in either section that indicates that their rules for licensure by endorsement have changed or that there are any potential changes in the near future. I assumed that this was an accurate source of information and SCOURED the language of the rules before paying one dime to EC. The fact that there is no indication of a change in policy forthcoming and knowing many EC graduates who have had no problems receiving their licensure by endorsement in GA, I proceeded in good faith. I feel that the GBON knew exactly what they were doing and acted in a stealthy manner to accomplish disenfranchising EC grads with no warning. This change in the law was buried in a bill that appeared to be primarily about fingerprinting new licensees. I think that the goal of the Sept. meeting has to be very sharply focused on negotiating some compromise (grandfathering) to facilitate those of us near program completion. We can't work for EC's future in GA; they will have to do that for themselves.
I'm in Louisiana but my feeling on this, is that for the legislation to make sense, the board will have to retroactively take licenses from those who have already been licensed in GA, after all what is the difference between an EC student trying to get the license on January 2, 2008, and one trying to get theirs on July 2,2008?
And even if Excelsior knew about this, I really don't see what people would want them to do besides notify students. I mean think about it, if EC changed their program for one state, they would have to do the same for evryone, that made threats of chaning their rules after decades.
Also, Excelsior does not, and should not be a a GABON approved school of nursing, reason being it is not a GA school of nursing period, they have the approval of the state that the school resides in, and their students are eligible to take the same natial exam as any other nursing school's grads. And if states want to stop people from making that arguement, well they need to banish the NClex and go back to state pool exams, that are not natially normed.
Also, even if this stupid legislation had to come into play, I ould think that it would only be reasonable of the GABON to give a "students enrolled by", or "students that have graduate by" date to be granfathered in. And if they don't alll that I can say is they had bettr watch out for any EC students, that got assurance in writing of their ability to endorese in, if they completed the program. And that is why a paper trail is always best.
And another thing for all states that don't accept, EC grads, I have always wondered what they would have to say to an EC grad with 10 years of floor experience, and an immpecable record? "Well you can'tt be locenced her because the school of nursing that you graduate from 10 years ago, didn't provide you with enough, or cocurrant clinicals, so you TEN YEARS don't matter here.
Lastly, I can't wait until 20/20 or 60 minutes does an expose on some of the "approved" schools of nursing in these states only to reveal that most nursing schools clinicals don't give students hands on experience that their state BONs claim.
What we really need are for the alumni of Excelsior AKA Regents to all come forth from all states, and provide their educational experiences, certifications, and degrees after EC, their resume showing their clinical experience after EC, and get a database of the first time NClex pass rates from the start. What we also need, is for NON EC students, who are new grads at traditional programs, to come forth and volunteer to take the CPNE, and compare their results, with those of a random sample of EC students. I bet this will open some eyes. Hey, invite the nurses on the board to take the CPNE too.
. When I called the board, they transferred me to a their Legal Nurse Consultant who stated that effective July 1, 2008 GA would no longer endorse RN license from Excelsior College students with no previous RN experience. She suggested that I go to my licensed state and work for a while then try again, but she could not give me a time frame.
serenity67
70 Posts
]Good morning troops! I am still continuing to grow a national movement to fight this issue. This is ONLY THE BEGINNING! I first began this effort when the VA BON made a similar legislation, only to see that it has now happened in GA as well. It is IMPERATIVE that EVERYONE UNDERSTAND what is happening here. States aren't just "randomly" discrediting EC grads. It is coming from the TOP! I spoke personally to someone at the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) and THEY are the ones pushing ALL STATES to move to this new legislation. If it hasn't happened in your state YET, trust me when I say it WILL. These decisions are being made behind closed doors by a handful of "board members", only to be brought to public knowledge AFTER it becomes law. We need to join together and fight this! We must take it to the court of public opinion and pressure our elected state officials to, in turn, pressure the BON's to reverse this legislation. It is taking me a lot of time and effort to put this type of an organization together, but it is worth every minute! Even if some of us manage to earn our degree and become RN's in our current states, the degree/license will not be worth the paper it's printed on if you suddenly decide to move to another state. If you read these legislations CLOSELY you will see that they also say VERY CLEARLY that they will not grant RN licensure from educational distance avenues like EC EVEN BY ENDORSEMENT FROM ANOTHER STATE. They use the lame excuse of "required clinical hours" as the basis for this legislation, completely discounting our YEARS OF CLINICAL HOURS WORKED AS LICENSED NURSES. If I'm ALREADY LICENSED to be a nurse in my state, WHY ON EARTH do I need to be "retaught" the basic core of nursing?? That's why these programs are called "bridge programs" and RIGHTFULLY SO. I'm not disputing the need for more education, but the reality is the missing link for LPN's that needs to be taught is the "theory of critical thinking" piece. Programs like EC teach that. OK, I'm done with my morning rant. PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE... E-MAIL ME AND JOIN IN THIS FIGHT! LET'S TAKE IT ALL THE WAY!
"We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate." - Thomas Jefferson