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:
Yes!! Call and call and call!!! There is this one man that answers the phone in the Governor's office who can be rude and condescending, DON"T TAKE HIS CRAP!!!! Get angry before calling and if he gives you attitude, give it back, then ask to speak with his supervisor!
Just in case you need phone numbers, it just so happens I have a bunch, sitting right here next to me:D
Governor Sonny Perdue (I know this one by heart!): 404-656-1776
Secretary of State Karen Handel (her point of contact person): 404-656-2881
Sandy Bond (she is a point of contact at the BON for RN's, so you won't have to call that front number and be on hold for 45 minutes, then be treated rudely by their receptionists): 478-207-1648
Another point of contact at the BON (with whom Excelsior nursing board people communicates) is an email address, supposedly they are really good at returning emails: [email protected]
I am so proud of everyone on here! Your actions caused them to have a teleconference today, one that was not on their schedule last week! Keep making your noise!! THE MORE OF US WHO SPEAK UP, THE MORE LIKELY WE WILL BE HEARD!!
just spoke with georgette wilix at the attorney generals office. she is the para-legal taking the calls for the attorney who handles the bon in ga (janet jackson). she said she has no idea what the next step is, that this is a very unusual situation and she just doesn't have the answer. she is willing to turn my questions over to someone who may be able to help and they would give me a call. who is this person who knows the steps....i guess nobody knows. i will update you they return my call.
in the meantime, i am on hold waiting for info from the board. they tell me that the petitions have to go through the attorney general, when i asked what "go through means, what exactly does the attorney general do with them? again no answer, i was told that they work in conjunction with the boards. so i asked if my petition was in the group that was reviewed on weds. and it was (yeah, finally an answer). i then asked if she knew when i would hear something, she said it is and unusual case and she has no idea. i advised her that according to state law, i must be advised n writing no later than 60 days from the date my petition was posted on georgia net. she said she was aware and they would be abiding by the law. so, i was posted jan 17th....we will now keep on waiting....
maybe the attorney general's office will call me back today and i can fill you in.
the american spirit of free speech which founded out nation is alive and well in georgia. i have read your postings and have followed your plight since the georgia legislature took action to raise the standards of nursing in the great state of georgia. i am currently enrolled in a georgia board of nursing approved school and ccne accredidated program and the material from your posting has been of great interest in my nursing issues and professional development class. here have been some of the thoughts and discussions which we have shared about your choices and situations.
overall the nursing students in my discussions have been concerned by your inability to enroll in and complete existing nursing programs in the state of georgia. geographically there are over thirty schools within 50 miles of many georgia cities. many seats go unfilled due to lack of qualified applicants. qualified may range from a 2.0 gpa up to 4.0. it appears that many of you began your educational endeavors but transferred to non-traditional programs because of changes in your academic standing. while many of you believe there are no nontraditional programs in georgia, you should check with darton college and abac. abac allows individuals in the lpn and paramedic track to attend classes one day a week. surely one day a week is not too much to ask.
another discussion we have had centers on choices. many of you have chosen to start your lives and begin a family without thinking about your career goals. my classmates have chosen to obtain their career goals and later have families. research has shown that college graduates with career goals traditionally gain stable employment, have a secure future and have less family dysfunction because there is a decreased number of family stressors and financial burdens which in turn will allow children to obtain their goals. responsibility for choices made is a trait of a good professional.
clinical expertise is another concern of my focus group. we currently have over 600 hours of clinical experiences in campus skills lab, high tech simulation labs and with actual patients in a variety of acute care and clinical settings. you may feel that a two day clinical check off is enough to prepare you for a career in nursing but it truly is a patient safety concern. the feedback from qualified nursing faculty members who meet the rigid georgia board of nursing faculty qualifications have been paramount to our success. remediation in the skills lab and critical thinking and problem solving exercises, though they require a lot of energy and time have been the reason that we have been so successful. to place this into perspective let us examine the other professions such as medicine and dentistry. they continue to require more clinical experiences and their profession maintains high standards to ensure safety of their clients.
the topic of legal issues was also discussed. it is of great concern that when nurses are involved in legal cases that the credibility of the registered professional nurse is the basis for establishing competency and credibility. we feel that over 600 of hours of clinical experience are more beneficial in obtaining desired legal outcomes than a two day checkoff. a criminal attorney and the many legal nurse consultants always try to discredit their witnesses and this may prove challenging in the defense of a case.
the current economic environment in georgia has also been discussed by my class. while many of you believe there is a nursing shortage, hospitals throughout georgia are experiencing economic concerns leading to cutback in nursing staffing and reduction of hours. the current economy will probably lead to lower reimbursement and less money for patient care activities. we predict that nurses will be taking on additional duties such as respiratory therapy treatments, physical therapy exercises and phlebotomy. in many facilities these multiskilled nurse practitioners are in demand. employers are going to be faced with the need to employ registered nurses who have completed a multitude of skills and have experiences in a wide variety of complex disease processes. when faced with completing peer interviews with graduated of institutions such as georgia baptist, medical college of georgia, darton, and macon state, we feel that the applicants will be selected based on their extensive educational background. clinical experience as lpn's and paramedics are just that. registered nurse clinicals in professional schools require a multitude of complex clinical think skills in order to produce positive patient outcomes. lpn and paramedic clinical experiences are task focused. the overall coordination of care delivery is ultimately delivered by registered professional nurses.
the nclex-rn is a test specifically designed to measure entry level competency. the structured orientation and emersion into the role of the professional nurse may prove to be a challenge for individuals who do not have a broad educational experience. it is estimated that acute care settings spend over $40,000 on the orientation of a new graduate. in corporate america individuals who cannot become productive in the workforce will be replaced.
the georgia board of nursing is our regulation body. as we prepare for graduation and completion of our georgia board of nursing applications and person-vue nclex-rn testing we would request that you please allow us to process our applications and then resume your protest. we too have loans to repay, jobs awaiting us and many life plans to get on with such as a starting a career and family.
our class discussion became so concerned that we too began a campaign to notify state officials and the legislators in the house and senate that we want our high standards for the profession of nursing upheld. the georgia nurses association represents less than 3% of the registered nurses in the state of georgia and their membership continues to decrease as nurse educators in the state drop their membership. just in case you are unaware, the gna currently generates their revenue from the clinical check offs you take three or four times. while your letters and postings are filled with emotions, they lack the energy needed to overturn the high standards in the georgia approved nursing programs. in fact you may find difficulty transferring into their programs if you so desire. the media moments have been filled with passion but the media has moved on to other stories in the legislature like the budget, nuclear energy and jobs. you may want to continue sending your money to gna but our group discussion felt this was unethical to take money from your vulnerable population of individuals who do not have adequate financial resources. upon graduation we do not expect to join this organization because it does not truly represent the same values and professional attributes as our profession.
all in all you should consider advancing your career and applying to a georgia approved nursing school and join us in elevating the nursing education standards in georgia. thanks for posting your thoughts on this open forum. they have proved very valuable for discussions in my class and have helped me obtain an excellent grade on my professional issues paper.
leaders of the georgia association of nursing students will also be receiving a resolution calling for higher standards for nursing education in georgia. we salute the legislators and georgia board of nursing for their stand for excellence in patient care and safety.
Mary Anna, if you had truly done your homework on this subject, instead of taking such an elitist, "holier-than-thou" attitude, you would see that the students of EC have extensive medical backgrounds, either in the military or in traditional nursing schools or as LPN's and paramedics. They are required to take Nursing Theory throughout their courses, as well as other related courses that most nursing programs do not require. These students are resourceful, tenacious and are some of the quickest thinkers whom I have ever had the pleasure of working alongside. Many of them go on to further their education and become nursing administrators, nursing educators, CRNA's and so forth.
By the way, I did attend a traditional, accredited nursing program, and, if you had truly been following this blog, you would had seen my story. I was four weeks away from graduating at the TOP OF MY CLASS, had been named the scholar of the year at my college, when a huge tragedy struck my family, forcing me to have to move to another state before being able to sit my final exam. I had completed ALL of my clinical time (at Shands at the University of Florida, no less!) and only lacked one easy exam and my final. Instead of opting to wait on another nursing school's waiting list, I opted (at the urging of my nursing program's director!) to go through Regents. I am now a critical care nurse who specialized in infectious disease with 10 years experience in four other states. I have never had to be disciplined and I am the nurse families ask for, again and again.
In addition, my husband has had to work with nurses from your "higher educational standards" traditional nursing schools in Georgia, and guess what? The ones he has experienced stumble over their own two feet when it comes to taking care of critical patients, and many do not adhere to the same basic standards of nursing that other nurses from other states follow!
Stop allowing yourself to be spoon-fed the propaganda. You are obviously young and green and impressionable, and haven't a clue what the REAL world is like! Open your mind and learn something about these nurses as you read on. This was written by my DH:
There is a huge controversy here in Georgia involving the Georgia Board of Nursing
and the University of the State of New York-Regents/Excelsior College nursing program,
which is located in Albany, NY, and it is depriving the citizens of Georgia of
better-than-competent Registered Nurses to fill their
hyper-critical nursing shortage.
Georgia Board of Nursing, led by board president Dee Keeton, decided
that graduates of USNY Excelsior college are not good enough to be nurses
in Georgia. Her stance is USNY Excelsior College does not conform to the
"high educational standards" set in Georgia.
She also stated that passing the approximately 3000 fully qualified graduates
of USNY EC or nurses from other states who graduated from USNY EC
"would not help the nursing shortage". Now, by my calculations,
3000 RN's, if they took 4 patients every shift they worked, that is
12,000 patients that did not have to go to
an overworked, tired RN who is having to take extra patients
every shift and having to work extra days to fill
empty slots on the schedule. Therefore, you have RN's who are not
overtired and not becoming increasingly jaded.
President Keeton, to this day, has not put forth any evidence
backing her opinion. It was just her opinion,
without scientific basis. And, when confronted with the bill
he signed into law, Governor Sonny Perdue stated that
there was no evidence that USNY EC graduates were of any
threat to the citizens of Georgia or less than competent,
therefore, should be allowed to work.
Ms. Keeton gained support in the House of Representatives from
Representative Sharon Cooper, and, this past
summer, they passed a bill (which was a rider on a legitimate bill,
which was written in part to start doing
criminal background checks on nurses coming in from other states)
which, essentially discriminated against
graduates of USNY EC by taking away their rights to work as
Registered Nurses in Georgia.
This included very experienced Registered Nurses
(with 10 years plus experience) who have worked in other states
in such fields as critical care and open heart recovery, nurses
who have squeaky clean records and who came to
help ease the hyper-critical shortage here in Georgia.
Upon Governor Perdue's urging, applicants from USNY EC
for nursing licensure by endorsement (meaning
the applicant has been licensed in one or more states other than Georgia)
were allowed to file a waiver that would,
supposedly, allow these nurses to get their licenses.
President Keeton did not agree with the Governor and,
even as I write this to you, has not allowed any of
the applicants who have filed their "waiver" with the BON
to become RN's. She, in fact, has taken a very
public stance against USNY EC graduates and against a bill,
called Senate Bill 49 (SB 49), which would
reinstate the rights of USNY EC grads to obtain their licenses fairly.
Representative Cooper, along with President Keeton, has created
HB 475, which would severely limit the
ability of USNY EC grads (years of experience matters not)
to get a RN license.
ONCE AGAIN, let me stress that their opinion is simply that,
a biased opinion, not backed by any
hard-core scientific evidence!
SB 49, sponsored by State Senator Lee Hawkins, which would
reinstate these competent nurses'
rights to be licensed in the state of Georgia, passed the
Senate by a wide margin (yeas 46, nays 2).
It was then sent to the Health and Human Services Committee
at the House of Representatives,
headed up by Representative Sharon Cooper!!!!
Talk about letting the fox guard the henhouse.....
This bill is now sitting securely under Representative Cooper's
lock and key in the Committee,
and intends to keep it there until the bill dies in Committee!!!
Excelsior's nursing program is no walk in the park, as
Rep. Cooper's and President Keeton's fear-mongering propaganda
would have you believe. It is a non-traditional program,
which requires the student to be committed and tenacious.
The students enrolling into this program have to really,
really want to succeed in order to get through the program,
and not everyone gets through this program.
This program has been a Godsend to individuals
who were in the military, serving their country,
and to military families who could not commit to
a stationary program, in case they were moved
by the military.
It is also a Godsend to those individuals who have to
work full-time to support a family,
helping them to better themselves,
albeit not without additional hard work. They have
to commit many hours every day to studying and researching.
The requirements to be able to enroll in EC are extremely
strict, and only those with years of relevant experience are
accepted.
Here are some hard-core facts about Excelsior College:
*More than 1,000 Excelsior graduates have been proudly
and competently practicing as RNs in
Georgia for more than 30 years.
*Excelsior's nursing program has been nationally accredited
since 1975 and is one of only 13
Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education in the nation.
*Its graduates consistently pass the national licensing exam
at a rate equal to or higher than
the national average.
*The Excelsior program is open only to those who already
have significant health care experience
in specific fields and to earn their degrees students must
pass a series of nationally recognized exams
plus rigorous hands-on examination of clinical skills.
*This bill (SB 49) will enhance public safety by addressing
the State's critical nursing shortage.
*It does so by opening up opportunities for adults with
significant healthcare experience, who have
completed a rigorous program of study and demonstrated
clinical competence, to join the RN workforce.
*It does so at no cost to the State of Georgia.
*It does so without creating competition to in-state
nursing programs.
*It enables Georgia to take a national leadership position
in approaching the nursing shortage in a
positive and innovative way.
Number 3 on the above list is significant. The NCLEX is a
nationally standardized exam that graduates
sit to obtain their nursing licenses. EC grads have a 90% pass rate
on the nursing boards. This is actually
higher than MOST OF THE NURSING PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA.
It is right on par with Emory University,
which is at 93%, and Mercer (president Keeton's alma mater), which is 88%.
Below is a listing of schools in Georgia and how they did between
In closing, don't let these words stay where they are.
Take them to the general public. Create a
wave of determination that will spread to everyone in
Georgia with a strong, resounding voice that
says, these nurses are competent, we need more of
them for good healthcare. The bottom line is,
we need these nurses!
SUPPORT SB 49!!
I'm so sorry to inform you, Mary Anna, but there is a change in the atmosphere in this country. Elitism and discrimination will no longer be tolerated, and, seeing how Georgia, as usual, is still lagging behind the rest of the nation, this state is going to have to learn to catch up with the rest of the nation before it can attempt to be a leader in healthcare.
My only real comment is that referring to the CPNE as "a two day clinical check off" demonstrates a very familiar lack of understanding of all that the CPNE encompasses.
Maryannahanna, I do appreciate your civil tone, but I disagree with your viewpoint. Have a lovely day, and thank you for your inaugural post on Allnurses. Welcome to the forum.
By the way, was anyone else offended by her statement about true professionals don't start their families before getting their degrees? How dare you, Mary Anna! It has been proven, time and again, mature students do better with their grades and their programs than the young, green students who still want to go to their little sorority parties! We also have a better sense of how to prioritize tasks AND are more compassionate, because we have something you don't: LIFE EXPERIENCE!
By the way, I am NOT a member of the GNA. You are just spouting the same crap that was in Dee Keeton's letter. Here's a suggestion: TRY THINKING FOR YOURSELF! If you let others do your thinking, you will be a very ineffective nurse. Sad, but true, dear.
gobsmackednurse, please don't let this person get you upset. Her post was obviously meant to ruffle feathers; otherwise, why would she post it in the distance learning forum, knowing how many EC students/grads frequent this forum? Rather like walking into a stranger's home and urinating on the floor, is it not? Even couched in a civil tone, insults are insults. But we're better than that.
I know this is hitting so close to home for you ... actually IN your home. Hang in there.
Upon reading the post by the highly educated super student, I began to pound at my key board in opposition. I have since decided not to dignify her opinion with a response. I believe my time and effort are better spent concentrating on the law makers.
Thanks so much to both of you! Yes, it does hit close to home, and passive-aggressive people like that are not worth my time. My time and efforts are worth so much more than her. Thanks for the support!!
In response to Mary Anna's post. Just a few things...everyone situation is different as far as education, family, kids, marriage and other things. People decide when or when not to get married, have kids, further their education. Others maybe in a situation by not only their choice but by choices of others such as a father leaving his family or not giving support, etc. I have respect for everyone no matter what their situation is. I personally am marrried but do not have kids yet and I am delaying parenthood by choice. I also plan on staying home mostly with my (future) young kid/kids and then working only on PRN to parttime until older. That's my choice. Just as some moms stay home and don't work others work full-time and a lot do some where in between. I respect everyones situation and choices. They are young, old, singles, marriend, single parents, and etc. It dosn't matter.
Also you metioned something some left traditional schools becasue of maybe grades or time contraints. First I never attended a traditional school so I never left ...maybe some left because of other situations in their life. I want to work full-time and go back to school. I do not want to stop an income if I do not have too. I'm trying to build financial security and if I can do both....I'm going to do both. If the opportunity is there why not take it. Who cares what the reasons are.
Mentioned was something about Nurses taking on more responsibility such as Respiratory, Physical Therapy, etc... Uh..I am an Respiratoy Therapist. So, already know how do my job. I want to go into nursing because I have been lucky to have worked around other nurses who love and have passion in what they do...and given me the motivation to go. Nursing will give me more interaction with my patients that I am looking for and other opportunites of area of work and advancement that Respiratory doesn't give me for the future. I also want to take my skills overseas into mission fields.
What would keep us from taking on more tasks as you said..because we went to EC.
Anwyays, what ever the reason,age, backgroud, or situation..we all should be supported of each other in their aspirations in life.
. 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:
gobsmackednurse
86 Posts
Yes!! Call and call and call!!! There is this one man that answers the phone in the Governor's office who can be rude and condescending, DON"T TAKE HIS CRAP!!!! Get angry before calling and if he gives you attitude, give it back, then ask to speak with his supervisor!
Just in case you need phone numbers, it just so happens I have a bunch, sitting right here next to me:D
Governor Sonny Perdue (I know this one by heart!): 404-656-1776
Secretary of State Karen Handel (her point of contact person): 404-656-2881
Sandy Bond (she is a point of contact at the BON for RN's, so you won't have to call that front number and be on hold for 45 minutes, then be treated rudely by their receptionists): 478-207-1648
Attorney General's office: 404-656-3300 (fax:404-657-8733)
Another point of contact at the BON (with whom Excelsior nursing board people communicates) is an email address, supposedly they are really good at returning emails: [email protected]
I am so proud of everyone on here! Your actions caused them to have a teleconference today, one that was not on their schedule last week! Keep making your noise!! THE MORE OF US WHO SPEAK UP, THE MORE LIKELY WE WILL BE HEARD!!