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:

[zimsaint]

When I started this thread and told everyone of my experience I think it offended a lot of people. Most people stated that what I said was not true. I decided to just sit back and wait for the chips to fall where they may. Now I know of another EC student who has been denied and yet another who is still waiting for an answer after three weeks; it is now past the 10-14 business days they usually quote. I was literally the first student from EC to be denied a GA license:down:. So it really hit me like a ton of bricks. I am still having to work as an LPN though I have RN license in three states. My family is seriously contemplating moving from GA; I will leave in December if this thing is not resolved.

However, I have hired an attorney who has done a lot of administrative law. He even worked as an administrative law judge and hearing officer for the board. He is also a Former Attorney General for the Georgia. He says that all hope is not lost we must wait and see. But there are options and the law is yet to be interpreted by the GA Supreme Court. I am sure Excelsiors Attorneys are working on this matter. I don't think they are going to just lie down and say "OK." But I didn't want to wait for them, so I hired my own.

I don't understand the rationale for this action. On any given day you can use internet search engines to look at RN opportunities; in Atlanta GA alone more than 500 jobs are available everyday. Even now as an LPN I earn 27.00-29.00 an hour. :rolleyes:Imagine how this is going to impact the shortage more and drive up the wages. I don't think the powers that be considered this. Not to even mention the foreign trained nurses they keep importing from third world countries. Do they think they are trained any better that we are? I recently heard from a nurse manager at one VERY LARGE local hospital chain that they many of the higher ups and nurse recruiters are going to the Olympics in China. She said while they were over there that they would be touring the school and looking at the nursing programs and graduates. She boasted on how this hospital system is looking to pioneer a program to bring "competent" nurses from China because they have so many. I guess since they can't outsource nursing jobs they will just import cheaper nurses. I do believe the spirit of capitalism is going to be the death of America. When are we as a nation going to wake up.

And just as a previous post wrote. I can run circles around any traditional new grad RN. I have over 13 years nursing experience at least 10 years in a hospital setting. They have no experience at all, yet they are more qualified because they went to a mental health and maternal infant clinical rotation for a week? I can't believe this is happening. Sorry for the long post....I am just venting.

Good Luck Everyone.

[rnlately]

If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Thigpen lives in my town. I'm assuming that we can send snail mail to the attention of each individual at the GA BON's general address. Anyway, like I said, have fingers will type.

:) 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

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

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.

I encourage all of you that can attend that meeting to do so, so your voices will be heard. You all can share the points/concerns you wish to voice to the board, so you'll all be on the same page. Wear your scrubs, too. Good luck to you all.

[Pmdc]

In reading the wording of the bill, it looks as if the BON's hands may be tied if this ends up being the final wording of the document. They are required to administer BON related business as the laws allow.

How do we get this ammended? Anyone here NOT sleep through high school Civics class?:zzzzz Anyone play golf/hunt/fish/go to church with the Governor?

[rnlately]

In reading the wording of the bill, it looks as if the BON's hands may be tied if this ends up being the final wording of the document. They are required to administer BON related business as the laws allow.

How do we get this ammended? Anyone here NOT sleep through high school Civics class?:zzzzz Anyone play golf/hunt/fish/go to church with the Governor?

If this is the case then we definitely have to get in contact with the house members and push for an amendment. We will have to get the addresses both physical and electronic of the representatives involved.

[motivatedlpn]

I Was Told Today From Ec That Gbon Is Meeting In Macon On Sept. 17,18,and Final Decision On The 19. About The Endorsement Of Rn's From Excelsior. They Have No Clue How It Will Turn Out, The Dean Also Stated That It Is Possible For Them To Waiver People That Are Already Enrolled, Or Ask For Clinical Hours For The State That You Are License With, Ec Is Encouraging Everyone To Please Aid In Stopping Any Action Via E-mail([email protected]),call(478-207-2440)fax[phone])or Attened The Meeting To Be Heard In Stand Up ,we Can Not All Depend On Others To Respond, If You Attend Ec Just Take The Extra Time And Contact And Voice. A Lot Of People Can Not Afford To Relocate Or Go To A Traditional School Daily. We All Do Ec For Various Reason , Let Us Not Be Subjected To No Licensure At All. This Will Have A Definite Impact On Healthcare And Countless Families, All I Ask Whatever State You May Be In Please Respond Or Try To Attend, I And All The Alumni Believe It Will Make A Bigger Difference Than No Response From Students At All, Thanks

[beachcomber64]

I'm sorry I can't help u w/ ur ? re: GA's laws, but I had a question about EC if u don't mind. What did u have to do with the clinical part to pass. I'm currently an LPN going to a traditional college for my RN degree. Just curious about EC.

[Pauliegirl]

To all our Georgia students:

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!!

Please contact the stateboards office at Excelsior College for all information regarding applying for your RN license in the state of Georgia...

Paula

Adm. Asst.

Excelsior College

State Board Office

888-647-2388; prompt 1-3-1-5

[email protected]

[oeue2007]

In reading the wording of the bill, it looks as if the BON's hands may be tied if this ends up being the final wording of the document. They are required to administer BON related business as the laws allow.

To me the wording of the bill is as clear as mud so as to allow the BON to include or exclude whomever they choose. I'm sure these changes were initiated by the BON and pushed through the legislature by the BON lobbyists.

Why they have such a problem with EC is beyond me when it seems that most of the nursing programs in N. Georgia have waiting lists. Does Georgia want RNs or do they just want to control everything? Why don't they make their traditional programs more accessible to non-traditional students instead of spending all of their efforts fighting Excelsior? I tried to enroll at two state schools where NO ONE could give me straight answers re: credits and requirements. I was in another traditional LPN-to-RN program where they kept changing clinical schedules and throwing in extra "orientation", etc. days to make it as difficult as possible to coordinate work and school. "We really don't want you to work while you're in school." Yea, me neither, but not many of us are doing so by choice! GRRRRR!

[gradyrn2b08]

This is wonderful!!! (NOT) I just returned from a 10-day vacation in New Hampshire to find out that I can not work in the state I live in!! I passed my CPNE 6/30/08 and now I am screwed. It is my understanding that EC knew about this for a long time and never forewarned any of the Georgia students!!! I am so upset with this situation and have no idea where to begin as far as fixing this problem. EC wants Georgia student to come to the GBON meeting in Sept to support EC. I say we all go and support ourselves and screw EC like they screwed us:banghead:. They did not forewarn us because they wanted us to continue to pay them money!! You can all go online and read the bill that Georgia passed regarding this issue!! Just type in Georgia Bill 1041!!! But we should all stay positive if possible!! "When life gives you Lemons, make lemonade." That always sounded better when my Grandma said it!!!

[rnlately]

I don't know if I'm frustrated with EC but I know I am definitely frustrated with GABON. I've seen nothing to the effect of HB 1041 posted on the licensing website unless I overlooked it and not only that; I called GABON last week and was told by an employee that EC grads could apply for licensure by endorsement. It is ultimately the responsibility of GABON to provide us with accurate information either by mouth or via their website.

[zimsaint]

Good News.. (of sorts). I spoke with the GBON Legal Consultant who advised me when GBON denied my endorsement application. She stated that it was because Excelsior did not offer students any Mental Health and Maternal Infant clinical experience. She also stated that the board was looking into ways that we could meet these requirements and developing a sort of bridge program, most likely private vendors of course. I think this will be another way for others to make money. Watch and see how many schools pop up after this. Anyway, if it helps us get our license, we will just have to bite the bullet. Also EC offers clinical rotations in this area in other states; they too may offer it to us. I think we should lobby them for FREE tuition for this because we were not forewarned. At the very least we should only have to pay a minimal administrative fee.

GradyRN2b08 are you in Atlanta? Will you PM me.