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

gemini79 · Mar 31, 2009

This bill does not include RT who also do excelsior program.

Pmdc · Mar 31, 2009

This bill does not include RT who also do excelsior program.

I didn't notice that. I've known a couple of RTs that were EC RNs and they are very good. If the Governor signs HB-475, maybe we could convince a legislator to sponsor a bill next session to include RTs and hopefully to shorten those preceptorship hours.

I really don't think it makes sense to be required to complete the CPNE, then be required to complete 700 hours. Come on, the students enter the program with real experience, complete the rigorous CPNE to demonstrate competency, then will complete as many or more hours as a student in a traditional Paramedic/LPN to RN bridge program. If they're going to require all of that, then it would make sense for traditional students to be required to challenge the CPNE before being eligible in GA. I don't really believe that, but it makes about as much sense as the 350/700 hour requirement.

Anyway, I guess it's a start. Without all of the letter writing, e-mails, phone calls, face-to-face visits, etc., I would bet that none of this would have happened, and GA would have gone the way of CA and VA with nothing more than a whimper. Great job, guys!

dsmithkazk · Mar 31, 2009

Good Luck getting Preceptorships. Our ADN program where I work and most of other ADN programs are having problems securing clinical sites. So, I am not sure what we are going to do for those of us falling under the preceptor requirement. Guess, I will just plan on moving to another state. At least that option is open to me, unlike many others stuck in Georgia.

nikpik27 · Mar 31, 2009

I also have a question. What about Senate bill 49?? That is the bill being sponsored by Hawkins. I can't seem to find any information when I google it.

I believe that bill is more favorable to EC students than the other bill that is being introduced by Sharon Cooper.

Like someone else said, preceptorships will not go well in Georgia and EC will fall through the hoops here. It is ashame that something like that will happen and could possibly happen.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 31, 2009

It might be a good idea to inquire about nurse externships at your local hospitals. At least that way, you can get paid to get your preceptorship hours in. We do this in my area, and it works out well for both the student and the hospital, as both can "try before they buy".

Pmdc · Mar 31, 2009

I also have a question. What about Senate bill 49?? That is the bill being sponsored by Hawkins. I can't seem to find any information when I google it.
I believe that bill is more favorable to EC students than the other bill that is being introduced by Sharon Cooper.
Like someone else said, preceptorships will not go well in Georgia and EC will fall through the hoops here. It is ashame that something like that will happen and could possibly happen.

SB-49 was totally changed to a bill involving pharmacists and immunosuppressive medications. Sen Hawkins, SB-49's sponsor, then signed HB-475 as a Senate co-sponsor, and it was revised to its current version. I guess Rep. Cooper agreed to make it more palatable for him by allowing some of what he had introduced in SB-49.

As far as preceptorships, as you guys said, they will be a complete failure if not sponsored by some entity. The GA Board of Regents has expressed recent interest in non-traditional nursing education, so this might be a good place for them to start. It would also generate money for them in the form of tuition paid by EC grads. Even if it costs more in tuition for EC grads, at least it might limit problems with students having to find preceptors, facilities, etc.

sunshine06 · Mar 31, 2009

This bill does not include RT who also do excelsior program.

That is my concern, it doesn't say anything about RT's...what happened? I thought the other versions did, so as of now RT's would not be able to go through EC in GA and if we are currently enrolled I guess we better finish by the deadline of June 2011 according to this Applicants who, before July 1, 2008, entered a nontraditional nursing education program which meets the requirements of subsection (e) of this Code section and complete such program no later than June 30, 2011, shall be deemed to meet the criteria of this paragraph; provided, however, that the board shall have the discretion to require additional clinical hours of experience of applicants who (i) did not enter the nontraditional nursing education program as a licensed practical nurse, or (ii) entered the nontraditional nursing education program as a licensed practical nurse but does not have at least one year of clinical experience in a health care facility as a licensed practical nurse, if such applicant's clinical experience is deemed lacking by the board.

I guess that gives us an extra year. The first deadline was 2010.

Gemini79 and other RT's once this is signed does this go into effect immediately because I wonder if this why some have been denied because they are waiting for this so they can require you do additional clinical hours. I don't know. Just a thought.

rnlately · Apr 1, 2009

It might be a good idea to inquire about nurse externships at your local hospitals. At least that way, you can get paid to get your preceptorship hours in. We do this in my area, and it works out well for both the student and the hospital, as both can "try before they buy".

This is my thinking also. Also, seems to me that if you are already working in a hospital they would be more than willing to offer you, their employee, a preceptorship. At least I think that is a workable solution in my area.

gemini79 · Apr 1, 2009

I am very upset by this! I am going to send my waiver back in as soon as possible so they can not try to apply yjis law to me. But if it is anything like the other law it should go into effect in July.Nut my waiver was denied because i had no proof of clinical and was told to send my RT license in with the appeal.

gemini79 · Apr 1, 2009

I was talking to GwenDobson at the board of nursing and asked where is my letter from the board so that i can appeal my waiver denial and was bascially told that all paramedics and RT waivers would be denied because of lack of clinical nursing experience. She stated that one must have at least 500 hours of clinical nursing experience to be endorsed in. I told her that you can also have graduated from a nursing education program to qualify for endorsement. I then went and read the rules for endorsement and according to my understanding of the law they have never had a reason to deny us licensure because we are doing it by endorsement not examination! I am posting the law and would like responses to see if I am understanding the law correctly.The law says nothing about a nursing program being approved by the sate for endorsement!

410-7-.01 Licensure by Endorsement for Registered Nurses Licensed in

Another NCLEX-RN (SBTPE) Jurisdiction. Amended.

(1) An applicant who is licensed as a registered nurse in another jurisdiction must:

(a) have graduated from a nursing education program prior to passing a licensing

examination recognized by the Board as valid for licensure as a registered nurse in

Georgia:

1. the current National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses

(NCLEX-RN) for which a passing result must be achieved.

2. earlier series of the NCLEX-RN and State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) if all

required parts of the test were taken and graded, and if the scores qualified the nurse for a

license in another licensing jurisdiction or country using either the NCLEX-RN or

SBTPE at the time of licensure;

3. licensing examinations administered by the Board of Nursing of another state or

territory of the United States prior to 1951, if the scores qualified the nurse for licensure;

(b) be currently licensed under the laws of another NCLEX-RN jurisidiction until

licensure in Georgia is approved;

(b) above on a form provided by the Georgia Board of Nursing.

(2) The applicant shall submit a completed application, on a form provided by the Board,

a photograph, the required fee, and requested supporting documents.

(3) The applicant must be able to document one of the following within the four (4) years

immediately preceding the date of current application:

(a) three (3) months or 500 hours of licensed practice as a registered nurse;

(b) graduation from a nursing education program within the four (4) years immediately

preceding the date of current application; or

immediately preceding the date of current application.

(4) An applicant who is unable to meet the requirements of 410-7-.01 (3) (a) (b) or ©

must satisfactorily complete both of the following:

(a) 40 hours of study relevant to nursing practice within one (1) year of the date of

application. Relevant study must include at least four (4) different content areas to

include cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and Georgia Board of Nursing Law (Nurse

Practice Act) and Rules. The Board may waive this requirement if the applicant has

passed NCLEX-RN within the four (4) years immediately preceding the date of current

application.

(b) 160 hours, (or amount specified by the Board) of relevant nursing practice in

accordance with the criteria specified in 410-6-.02 (2) (f) 1. through 7.

(5) An applicant who has submitted a completed application accompanied by evidence of

current licensure in another NCLEX-RN jurisdiction may be issued a temporary permit to

practice as a registered nurse for six (6) months.

(6) A temporary permit or permanent license must be presented to the employer prior to

employee's beginning any nursing position (including orientation) for which current

Georgia licensure as a registered professional nurse is required.

(7) An applicant who holds an endorsement temporary permit may use the title registered

nurse (R.N.).

(8) An application is considered valid for one year from the date of submission. After one

year, an applicant must submit a new application, photograph, required fee, and those

supporting documents which are subject to change.

(9) An applicant who is under investigation for possible violation of any Nurse Practice

Act may not be issued a license until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the

Board. If the charges are substantiated, the license may be denied or sanctioned despite

the applicant's meeting all other criteria for licensure.

(10) An applicant for licensure by endorsement who has begun employment as a

registered nurse in Georgia prior to issuance of a temporary permit or license shall be

subject to a referral to the Legal Services Office for a Consent Order which may include:

(a) a public reprimand; and

(b) a fine of $50.00 per month (up to $250.00) for practice between two (2) and six (6)

months (or any portion thereof);

seven (7) and twelve (12) months;

(d) a fine at the Board's discretion for unlicensed practice extending over one (1) year.

Am I interpreting theis law correctly?

nikpik27 · Apr 1, 2009

Instead of talking with her, talk to Sylvia Bond. Request and demand that you speak with her!! And let me know what happens.

dsmithkazk · Apr 1, 2009

If the new law has not gone into effect then shouldn't paramedics and RT's fall under the grandfather clause waiver that was published due to the Governors actions?