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:
Hi, I am interested in joining the forces on a national level. I agree this is not just a few states issue. I have over 30 years experience in 4 different states as an LPN in mostly specialty areas, ER, ICU, Neuro, Peds, etc. I am taking my last NC test on Tueday and then the cpne. I really do not want this to be for nothing. I had a handicapped child that I had to take care of, work, and try to do this program. He passed a couple of years ago, so this year I have been going strong. I have to work full time so going traditionally is not an option. please email me.
Reply to Trinity - Are you kidding? You obviously haven't taken Excelsior's course. What is "too good to be true" about their course? You sound as if you think it's a 'diploma mill' which is how I know you are obviously unaquainted with the EC program. I work with BSN graduates from Georgia's finest who can't hang fluids on an IV pump when they come out of school, and lowly LPNs such as myself who had 700 clinical hours in LPN school in Georgia have to orient these new grads. They are so clueless in terms of clinical skills when they come out of school that I feel sorry for them. I know several who had to take boards multiple times to pass. I don't know why the sour grape attitude, but your opinion stems from something other than the facts. EC students aren't 'allowed' to sit for boards in Georgia because our state has a different accrediting agency. EC students can take boards in states with the same accrediting agency as New York, but I guess all the NY nurses are unsafe and should not be allowed to practice in Georgia.
Specializes in CHPLN- Cert. hospice/palliative care LPN.
Hi, I am interested in joining the forces on a national level. I agree this is not just a few states issue. I have over 30 years experience in 4 different states as an LPN in mostly specialty areas, ER, ICU, Neuro, Peds, etc. I am taking my last NC test on Tueday and then the cpne. I really do not want this to be for nothing. I had a handicapped child that I had to take care of, work, and try to do this program. He passed a couple of years ago, so this year I have been going strong. I have to work full time so going traditionally is not an option. please email me.
]I just sent you an e-mail with information. I am organizing a national group. It's going to take some time, but we're going to give it our best shot! Welcome aboard!
I am currently a LPN in Georgia. I spent a lot of time working on my RN with Excelsior in the past, and just recently spent about $400 more to start working on microbiology again through excelsior. I had the intentions of getting my RN by means of excelsior. I know several RNs in Georgia who got their RN after utilizing Excelsior's program, so they always inspired me to do it too.
Trinity, I'm sorry -- I know you must be VERY frustrated, as are all the Georgia folks affected by this unfortunate turn of events. But keep your chin up! Some good might come out of the September meeting -- EC students have a lot of people going to bat for them, including the GNA, from what I understand.
Another thought for you -- ISU's LPN-BSN program. I believe they use some EC exams for their classes, so all your work might still count for something.
Reply to Trinity - Are you kidding? You obviously haven't taken Excelsior's course. What is "too good to be true" about their course? You sound as if you think it's a 'diploma mill' which is how I know you are obviously unaquainted with the EC program. I work with BSN graduates from Georgia's finest who can't hang fluids on an IV pump when they come out of school, and lowly LPNs such as myself who had 700 clinical hours in LPN school in Georgia have to orient these new grads. They are so clueless in terms of clinical skills when they come out of school that I feel sorry for them. I know several who had to take boards multiple times to pass. I don't know why the sour grape attitude, but your opinion stems from something other than the facts. EC students aren't 'allowed' to sit for boards in Georgia because our state has a different accrediting agency. EC students can take boards in states with the same accrediting agency as New York, but I guess all the NY nurses are unsafe and should not be allowed to practice in Georgia.
Obviously you didn't thoroughly read my post which said that I had worked on the excelsior program and had been recently working on it... so, you are mistaken in your idea that I am "unacquainted with the program"... I am VERY familiar with the program and have been enrolled officially, thank you. And, yes, let's examine "too good to be true".... here it is:
no class room time
no clinical time
no rigorous schedule...
there's 3 examples of why it's too good to be true. I don't know why you have YOUR sour grapes attitude. I'm done posting and reading here, no need to reply, I could care less. Good day.
By God I think you're on to something! Not only should we as EC grads have our licenses taken away, they should go back and take the license of EVERY nurse who graduated from a diploma program in the 70s and 80s whose clinical and other academic requirements did not meet the standards of a law enacted in 2008. :smackingf The difference is, it was legal before July 1, 2008, and met the state's requirements for endorsement, but not now (at least according to the current interpretation by BON).
Don't think for a minute that those of us who completed this challenging program are not fighting for you guys now just because we have finished and moved on! Not for a minute! And to say "it's too good to be true" because there is no clinical? The CPNE is EC's clinical requirement. It's just different than GA's current requirements and has as of yet not been accepted. If they would only open their minds. I think if you or Board members had taken it, you would probably think a little differently about it being NO clinicals. Ask anyone who has taken it if they felt that during this test it was too good to be true.
Aside from all of that, EC will probably have to add a precepted clinical component to meet that clinical LEARNING requirement. At least those enrolled after July 1; the rest should be endorsed as before. Whatever works! Get these students through so they can be licensed in GA or any other state is what I think. I don't care how it's done as long as it's done and works for the students.
I know you said you're no longer reading or posting here, but the voices in my head told me I had to respond............
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
A friendly reminder to please stay on topic of the thread. This is a time for EC students and grads to stand together, not to begin arguing with each other. Trinity took the time to explain her statement. Please, let's all get back on the same page.
I must drop my opinion on this one, PLEASE STICK TOGETHER!!!!!!! I cannot begin to imagine anyone's feeling when they first found out the news of this decision, but ALL nurses of each state and degree MUST stick together, everyone is at risk here, if one state can do this, so can every other state in the U.S.!!!!!! Next they will say no more diploma programs, no more ASN programs, then what, no more LPN/LVN? I have learned more at EC than in the traditional RN program I was enrolled in and I am going to be a better nurse for it. Please NO ONE GIVE UP, lets all stand up for each other and fight this together, no matter what state you live in or what program you come from, or what degree you will hold, for that matter!!!!!!!
I agree with you on skating through clinicals!!!!! I have seen it FIRST HAND....there were many, many students in my traditional RN program that I would not let take care of me, or my dog for that matter.
I have passed 100% of my clinicals in that program and am very FEARFUL of what lies ahead for my CPNE, in the traditional program I did not have an instructor sitting over me each time I was in contact with my patients, as a matter of fact once you are checked-off on a skill you can perform it on your own.
I have to say I have met one women who forgot to wash those hands first and had to repeat that experience.....in my old program, my instructor wouldn't have known if I would have even washed my hands at all that day. Please don't get me wrong, I am NOT trying to knock any nursing program, if all would have went as planned I would be a graduate from there... I am just trying to say, just b/c you got that clinical experience, in that traditional program, does not make you a better nurse than someone from EC!
I definitely agree, fighting and being catty towards each other is going to do absolutely no good. We all know the time and effort it entails to get through EC now we just have to make others understand it....or at least try to.
I am NOT trying to knock any nursing program, if all would have went as planned I would be a graduate from there
This reminded me of an important point to be made in Sept. and in our letters to GBON and representatives. We all ended up at EC for a reason and that is because of the gap in GA nursing education. They have no programs that are truly geared towards WORKING LPNs bridging to RN. It is very tough because they schedule only for traditional day students who aren't trying to squeeze in 3 12-hour shifts along w/ school. ABAC and Darton are the only programs that I know of that are even attempting to recognize that most of us HAVE to work by offering one-day-a-week programs. I was flat out told by three instructors at three different state schools "We really don't want you to work while you're in school."
. 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.
zess0829
5 Posts
Hi, I am interested in joining the forces on a national level. I agree this is not just a few states issue. I have over 30 years experience in 4 different states as an LPN in mostly specialty areas, ER, ICU, Neuro, Peds, etc. I am taking my last NC test on Tueday and then the cpne. I really do not want this to be for nothing. I had a handicapped child that I had to take care of, work, and try to do this program. He passed a couple of years ago, so this year I have been going strong. I have to work full time so going traditionally is not an option. please email me.