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:
I do have a call into Ed Rynders co-chair of the committee who also happens to be my represenative from my home town. I spoke to him at length before when all this started. We'll see what he has to say this go round! I plan on finishing my e-mail and phone call campain as soon as I return from the CPNE on 3/2.....actually assuming I pass I may start next sunday seeing as how I'm staying over!
I have been following this thread all day but have been unable to post because I have yet to master my blackberry. :chuckle
Pmdc: YOU FREAKIN' ROCK (yes I'm yelling). I definitely hope your letter gets published.
GaNurse: I hope you knock it out of the park at the CPNE.
To everyone else: I think that we are all doing a good job of not just setting back and accepting what's being handed to us. I know this seems like a long drawn out battle but we mustn't give up; that's what they want us to do. I've sent a pile of emails and am prepared to follow up with more if need be. Also my printer is fully loaded with ink and armed with paper and I'm ready to type a letter to be sent via snail mail at a moments notice. Let's please be encouraged and stand strong.
Remember, Monday, LIGHT THEIR PHONES UP!!! Let's make sure the governor, the speaker of the house, the hhs committee, the secretary of state, the house of representatives and the reps and senators in your area have plenty to do on Monday!!! Let them know we will NOT SETTLE ON BEING TREATED AS SECOND RATE, FOR WE ARE TOP NOTCH NURSES!!!:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:
Email, phone, fax, repeat.....
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK EVERYONE!
Oh, and GaNurse? Good luck, be strong, be confident, and remember to breathe! We will be thinking about you!
Pmdc, I'll bet if you copy and paste your awesome letter to them, and if we ALL sent them this story, then they will cover it.
Also, they have a place to start a blog on their website. Would anyone else go to the blog if I started one? I think if we get the blog to a more public place, where more non-nursing people who probably don't know what is going on, it might help add to our numbers. I have already sent them information for a potential story, but I think we all need to do it so they will take us seriously.
EDIT: Here is also a blog concerning Dee Keeton's letter to the AJC:
Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.
I hate to be this way (again) but I have no confidence in EC's chances if they hinge on Georgia politics. The so called nursing and political leaders here are the worst. That is why this state was the last to get prescriptive authority for NPs. Last. And guess what? It still is lame. So lame that some NPs still practice under the old guidelines. How proud the nursing leaders must be.
As I mentioned before they can kick this all around forever. They can afford to wait even as EC students are suffering. Remember these leaders are nurses. You know, that Johnson and Johnson TV commercial that paints nurses to be so kind and compassionate. Right. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ONE LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU GUYS. NOT ONE LITTLE BIT. And just so you know, this hold it in committee thing works well for politicians. They can say they voted or would have voted for it so they can look good, yet here we still are.
So my question is this. Has anyone contacted a lawyer? It seems that with some recent statements made in print by Keeton that perhaps something can be done. If you guys really want this I feel that the fight must be taken to them. I am sorry, but emailing some local politician isn't going to do anything. We just had an election and did any of these idiots lose their spots. Newp. Ms Cooper is fine. I promise you this: She is not worried about EC students.
I am not saying that you guys should lose hope, but more will have to be done than emails or blogs. I would consult a lawyer to see if there is a case for liable, slander, anything. Just my opinion. Not trying to offend.
I hate to be this way (again) but I have no confidence in EC's chances if they hinge on Georgia politics. The so called nursing and political leaders here are the worst. That is why this state was the last to get prescriptive authority for NPs. Last. And guess what? It still is lame. So lame that some NPs still practice under the old guidelines. How proud the nursing leaders must be.
As I mentioned before they can kick this all around forever. They can afford to wait even as EC students are suffering. Remember these leaders are nurses. You know, that Johnson and Johnson TV commercial that paints nurses to be so kind and compassionate. Right. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ONE LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU GUYS. NOT ONE LITTLE BIT. And just so you know, this hold it in committee thing works well for politicians. They can say they voted or would have voted for it so they can look good, yet here we still are.
So my question is this. Has anyone contacted a lawyer? It seems that with some recent statements made in print by Keeton that perhaps something can be done. If you guys really want this I feel that the fight must be taken to them. I am sorry, but emailing some local politician isn't going to do anything. We just had an election and did any of these idiots lose their spots. Newp. Ms Cooper is fine. I promise you this: She is not worried about EC students.
I am not saying that you guys should lose hope, but more will have to be done than emails or blogs. I would consult a lawyer to see if there is a case for liable, slander, anything. Just my opinion. Not trying to offend.
My prayers are with you,
Ivan
I agree with you completely. Unless they feel some pressure on themselves (by being sued), they are not going to change a thing. I did email everyone, but I feel like it won't do any good.
I will continue with EC and move out of state as soon as I am finished.
I'll go to 11 alive and check out the blog. Pressure from some lawyers would be good. It it may come down to that.
Has anyone even actually got endorsed or know anyone who has since January when they were suppose to be allowing endorsement by waiver or petition or something? I think someone asked earlier a couple pages back. That concerns me as I am study and if finish by next like they said but still can't get endorsed. Or if they tack on clinical hours....how do we complete these? Will hospitals allow to do them there or do you have to go out of state? Then after all that it is still vague because they can let in who they want or don't want.
I know some stated they were going to move when they finish if this doesn't pass. I can't move...I can travel for a few months if need, but I can't move or always travel out of state for extended peroid of times forever. That will not be that feasable for me and family long term.
I hope EC graduates are getting endorsed soon. If not what is status of your endorsements anyone? Are they telling you guys anything when call to check on it?
Nope I don't think anyone has got endorsed yet. I mailed mine in at the first first of January and haven't heard a thing. Everything has been pending on my application since the day they received it. It says on the waiver form that the maximum time they have to make a decision is 60 days. So I am counting down and if I don't hear something soon I am resorting to getting a lawyer! I will not let them win this battle, I have worked to hard and spent to much money to let them get by w/ this. I would like to hear from any others that have applied for endorsement.
I just spoke with a point of contact with the Secretary of State's office. He gave me the number of Sandy Bond, RN, who is over the RN licensure. Here is her number:
Sandy Bond, RN: 478-207-1648
Now, having said that, I also told him that I need my license THIS WEEK, or I risk losing a second job because of the board's decision.
If that happens, I am going to go and stand in the unemployment line and I am going to invite the media to come stand in the line with me. That way, they can directly pose the question, why is it a RN with ten years experience is being denied licensure when Georgia is facing its most critical nursing shortage in its history?
In addition to the stress this shortage is putting on our health care systems, how much worse is it going to be when a bunch of nurses apply for unemployment benefits?
If it comes to that, would anyone like to join me? There is strength in numbers, you know....
I wrote to the governor again to ask him to speed up the process for excelsior graduates. does anyone know the process of awaiver and all it invloves. I know it has to be more than waiting 15-60 days.
It outlines everything that has been happening. Please, go to this link and put your letters that you have sent to the politicians of this state or just leave your comments. That blog will reach a bigger audience and hopefully garner more support for our cause.
It's lengthy, but it had to be because the right margin cut into the original message. So, I had to shorten the sentences to make it fit.
EDIT: This was written by my DH, by the way...:redbeathe
I went to the GA BON's website and checked their schedule for meetings...they are doing a teleconference tomorrow, 2/25/09, at 3:30 pm!
Everyone who has filed a waiver, go to their website and check the status of your application. Is there anything different you notice on your "pending" blocks?
. 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.
:yeah:
KellyCCRN
222 Posts
I do have a call into Ed Rynders co-chair of the committee who also happens to be my represenative from my home town. I spoke to him at length before when all this started. We'll see what he has to say this go round! I plan on finishing my e-mail and phone call campain as soon as I return from the CPNE on 3/2.....actually assuming I pass I may start next sunday seeing as how I'm staying over!