GA BON no longer accepting Excelsior education; Speak up Cont. Updates!!

[zimsaint]

Hey All,

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:

[rnlately]

Excelsior sent me an email today stating that the Board had ruled that they will no longer accept ECs by endorsement even though they are licensed in another state. No date of making this official was mentioned; it seemed to be a done deal. The email was from EC's Dean of Nursing, Dr. Nettleton.

I received my email this am. I have also emailed the Ga BON member that is named in the letter voicing my concerns and I will also follow of with a formal letter sent via snail mail. Excelsior will also meet with the BON in Sept and they are requesting the support of students. I hope things work out in our favor because I really want to continue my education in this way and I don't really want to start over with ISU. Nevertheless, I plan to continue and complete my education whichever way the ball bounces.

[Pmdc]

I received my email this am. I have also emailed the Ga BON member that is named in the letter voicing my concerns and I will also follow of with a formal letter sent via snail mail. Excelsior will also meet with the BON in Sept and they are requesting the support of students. I hope things work out in our favor because I really want to continue my education in this way and I don't really want to start over with ISU. Nevertheless, I plan to continue and complete my education whichever way the ball bounces.

When I first heard of this a week or so ago, I sent e-mails to the GA BON and EC; still no replies. I am an EC grad from GA, and have received nothing, although I still receive e-mails from EC with the occasional announcement.

Can you guys post a copy of the e-mail?

I just saw a report (CNN, I think) yesterday that the U.S. is considering allowing 60,000 foreign-educated nurses to enter the country to help in alleviating the mounting nursing shortage. I personally have no problem with graduates of foreign nursing schools coming here to work as long as they are graduates of similarly accredited programs, can demonstrate clinical competence, and have the ability to communicate effectively with our patients, but for some states to allow this while simultaneously denying licensure to graduates of a U.S.-based NLN accredited (since 1975) and regionally accredited school of nursing who have years of clinical experience AND whose skills have been validated through rigorous clinical testing (CPNE) is simply outrageous.

I guess it's time that EC students and alumni unite to inform the uninformed or misinformed, and fight rulings such as these.

[KellyCCRN]

here is the email i received this morning. i am just sick to my stomach. i am supposed to take my last ec test monday. i guess at this point there is no use in applying for the cpne.

dear student:

last month the georgia board of nursing made a decision to no longer license excelsior college graduates by endorsement, a practice that they have followed for more than 25 years. it is important for you to know that excelsior college and the georgia nurses' association (gna) are working together on your behalf to have the board reconsider their decision. please read the attachments that provide additional information and request your action.

sincerely,

m. bridget nettleton, phd, rn

dean, school of nursing

here is the attachment that was with it.

important update: recent decision by the georgia board of nursing

august 5, 2008

dear student:

i am writing to make you aware of a recent decision by the georgia board of nursing (board) that impacts you as an excelsior college associate degree in nursing student.

in july the board made a decision to no longer license excelsior college graduates by endorsement, a practice that they have followed for more than 25 years. it is important for you to know that excelsior college and the georgia nurses' association (gna) are working together on your behalf. we are asking the board to change their position and to allow licensure of our graduates. our request is well supported by evidence focusing on our accreditation status, admission eligibility requirements, curriculum rigor, nclex-rn pass rates, and employer data.

the board has agreed to allow gna and excelsior to address the board at their september 17-19, 2008 meeting. it will be helpful to have students attend the meeting to lend their support to our efforts. if you are able to attend the meeting, please contact a staff member at the southern performance assessment center, gna office at

404-325-5536 (toll free 800-324-0462) or [email protected]. they will let you know the exact date and time that we will be on the board's agenda and the location of the meeting.

the impetus for the board's action is unclear. at this juncture, it seems that a change in statutory language is being interpreted by the board in a manner that is not congruent with the original intent of house bill 1041 that passed in july 2008. thus, in the best interest and safety of the citizens of georgia, we will be providing the board with additional information and will carefully address all their questions so that it can make a decision on complete and accurate information.

if you have questions about the board's recent decision, please address your concerns to the executive director at the address below. i am enclosing a fact sheet for your use when contacting the board.

sylvia l. bond r.n. msn, mba

executive director

georgia board of nursing

237 coliseum drive

macon, ga 31217-3858

email: [email protected]

phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]

[Pmdc]

Here is the email I received this morning. I am just sick to my stomach. I am supposed to take my last EC test Monday. I guess at this point there is no use in applying for the CPNE.

Yeah, it is discouraging, but this has happened in numerous states throughout the years, and most of the time the states either finally agreed to allow EC without further stipulations, or they agreed to allow EC grads with extra clinical requirements or other stipulations such as LPNs only; which I do not agree with, by the way. We can't forget our Paramedics, can we?!

EC is vastly different from what the traditional nursing establishment (picture a black and white photo of a lady wearing a cap and cape) is accustomed, and until everyone is as informed as we are, it will continue to be placed under greater scrutiny than other, for better or worse, more traditional schools of nursing.

Unrelenting political activism, on the part of EC students, faculty, and alumni, as well as other well-informed supporters, is what it will take to change the attitudes of those who serve in decision-making capacities. We ALL MUST become involved TODAY, sending letters, e-mails, making phone calls, petitions, and whatever else it might take to convince the powers that be that we are a professional, educated, and politically active force to be reckoned with.

:up:Good luck with your test on Monday. Go and take it as if none of this senseless BS is happening. As for me, I've got some letters to write!

[KellyCCRN]

Thank you! We need more people like you to support us in this. I have worked with many EC grads and will attest to the fact that they are much more prepared than most traditional nursing school grads. I have been fortunate as an LPN to have the clinical hospital experience that I do. Not trying to toot my own horn but my clinical skills far surpass many of the seasoned RNs that I have worked with and I have an excellent reputation with the physicians that I work with for being the "go to" nurse when something needs to be done.

[rnlately]

Pmdc,

Fellow letter writing fiend here. I will send as many letters as need be because writing has always been and probably will always be my strong suit. I agree with you encouraging GANurse to go ahead and take the CPNE.

[Pmdc]

Thanks, and I'm glad to help! CraigB may have some resources available that might help, if you see his post a couple of pages back.

Does anyone have all of the contact info for the GA BON members? Posting their official state e-mail addresses shouldn't violate TOS since it's considered public information, right? If it is okay, then post them here so all concerned will have easy access to them. If not, we can use e-mail/PM. They really need to know not only what a bad decision they have made, but how many people their actions will negatively affect.

Also, has anyone figured out who sponsored the House Bill that they refer to in the e-mail, which seems to be the basis for their recent action? The politicians under the gold dome need to hear from us also.

Anyone feel free to PM or e-mail me with anything you would rather not post.

[Lorie P.]

Please let me know how and when to help with anything. I have only NC6/7 along with Micro biology and A&P to finish.

I know I do not want all my time, effort and dedication to go down the drain.

Can PM me with details.

[KellyCCRN]

This is all i found on HB 1041

HB 1041 - Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act; obsolete language; eliminate

- BILL SUMMARY: This bill would remove obsolete language concerning the designation of graduate nurses from the

Nurse Practice Act, as well as require applicants for Licensed Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Nurses undergo

a criminal background check as part of the application process.

- Authored By: Rep. Sharon Cooper of the 41st

- House Committee: Health & Human Services

- Rule: Open

- Amendments(s): N/A

- Yeas: 155; Nays: 1

I also found the bill in it's entirety at http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/versions/hb1041_HB_1041_AP_4.htm

Here is the part refering to endorsement

c) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall:

(1) Submit a completed written application and fee;

(2) Have passed a board recognized licensing examination following graduation from the a nursing education program approved by the board or which meets criteria similar to, and not less stringent than, those established by the board;

(3) Submit verification of initial and current licensure in any other licensing jurisdiction administering a board recognized licensing examination;

(4) Have practiced nursing as a registered professional nurse for a period of time as determined by the board or have graduated from a nursing education program within the four years immediately preceding the date of the application;

Sorry I know it's alot to digest. Pretty much what they are now saying is that EC does not meet their standards for education so they will not grant endorsement.

[rnlately]

Here is the link for HB 1041

http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/fulltext/hb1041.htm

[rnlately]

GaNurse,

I see we were thinking the same thing at the same time................lol.

[KellyCCRN]

:) Always a researcher. If it can be found I will find it!

I have been unable at this point to find contact info for the state board members only a list of names.

Susan Ayers, RN, BSN, MPH

Dr. Toni O. Barnett, PhD, FNPC

Mary Anderson, RN, MA, CNAA

Mrs. Linda Herren, RN, CRNA - President

Mrs. Delynn M. Keeton, RN, MN

Kellie R. Lockwood, RN, MSN

Mr. Scott C. Thigpen, RN, MSN, CEN, CCRN

Mrs. Karen Wessinger, BSHE - Vice President