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:
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Just a reminder to let's please stay on topic here: the topic being discussion of current legislation in GA re: EC, and support of the students affected by this.
Please report any further attempts at derailing the thread by using the report function, so it can be dealt with by the mod team.
Thanks, and good luck to all our colleagues in GA. You guys have made some headway here- keep up the good work! Let's keep fighting for our RT-RNs.
Ok, not sure if this thread went silent because of the controversial posts or if nobody really has anything to say right now. I must say I am currently consumed with indecision. I am happy that we were able to pull some sort of a victory out of this whole thing. At least we will have a path with HB 475, a bit of a meandering one, but a path none the less. However, I am now wrestling with the decision to continue with Excelsior or quite my job and try to find some night shift work so that I can cover going to "traditional" school, family, and still pull a paycheck. My concern is that once I get through Excelsior more and more states may exclude Excelsior grads and that I would not be able to get into a graduate program. I am a paramedic now and one of the big reasons I want to move into nursing is the advanced practice opportunities the profession offers. As a paramedic I have nowhere to go. We do have a pretty amazing scope of practice but I would love to go further. It concerns me that grad schools may start to discriminate against the degree. Additionally, I am subject to my wife's career as she is definitely the bread winner. I am worried that if I have to pick up and move I will run into ever more closing "board of nursing" doors.
Oh well, just some thoughts I am kicking around. I wanted to revive the thread as this has been by best source of info I have had through this whole event. Good luck to all!
I would let the wife be the bread winner and go back to traditional school. I am an Excelsior graduate, and I wish I went the traditional way, but I am already finished now. I am an RN in Florida, but I don't like the way this degree limits you from state to state. I never no if I will have to leave this state and go work in another state. I guess the only thing good about it is that I am getting experience as an RN.
Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.
Oh well, just some thoughts I am kicking around. I wanted to revive the thread as this has been by best source of info I have had through this whole event. Good luck to all!
You are right, this has been a great thread. Lots of good info here, and I think overall very constructive. In regards to your question, you might consider starting a new thread, but I will throw my .02 in real quick. I am EC grad. No complaints. But if your goal is to get a point of advanced practice, then I would consider that perhaps you are taking the hard road. I would suggest that you consider PA school. Go back and finish a degree that covers the prereqs. Many PA schools require hands on time which your paramedic history should cover. Take out the loans. I have known several medics and EMTs who gone on to be great PAs.
I'm continuing with EC as I am kind of the sole bread winner in my family and I currently make more than my husband due to the job market in my town (I live in what seems to be evolving into a retirement community--the most "secure" jobs are in law enforcement and medical). Since I am somewhat "the sole bread winner" for my family I have to keep my full time employment while I'm in school, which is where EC comes in. I can't say that I could even consider going the traditional route and this is all because of "small town politics". In other words sometimes school enrollment or job acquisition depends on "who you know". But that's all I will say on that matter.
I know that every one's situation is different and while I understand your predicament and that of others; speaking for myself this is the best route for me. I really don't worry about what other states can/cannot or will/will not do or allow in the future because I'm very close to my family and more than likely will not leave the state of GA.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
I would let the wife be the bread winner and go back to traditional school. I am an Excelsior graduate, and I wish I went the traditional way, but I am already finished now. I am an RN in Florida, but I don't like the way this degree limits you from state to state. I never no if I will have to leave this state and go work in another state. I guess the only thing good about it is that I am getting experience as an RN.
Have you considered just getting your BSN in a local traditional RN-BSN program? Most RN-BSN programs have schedules that complement working full time.
Thanks for the responses. Sorry if this thread is getting too specific, I didn't mean to hijack it. Anyways, I have considered the PA route but I am actually more interested in the anesthesia side of things. After getting to work with the CRNA's during my OR rotations and during our intubation clinicals I found the position to be facinating. Getting to flex the differential diagnosis side of the brain makes NP attractive but I really enjoy the OR, pharmacology, and pathophysiology on the CRNA side.
The problem with the traditional school right now is that although my wife is the breadwinner my salary is still a substantial portion of the household income. Any position that I would take to give me a flexible schedule for school would pay significantly less (if I could find one at all in this market) . I already have a bachleors so I have looked at the second degree BSN. However, around here there is quite the waiting list plus I have about 2 semesters worth of prereq's to finish before I would qualify.
Excelsior was just such a perfect option when I started. It allowed me to still be a good husband and father, as well as paying my share of the bills. It was a program that gave me credit for all of the time and effort I have already put in instead of making me start over with "this is how you use a BP cuff".
I don't know that I am looking for anything from these posts. I guess it just helps to get out of my own head for a minute, especially with people in similar circumstances.
Ok, I will stop my own personal pity party. Sorry to get personal on an informational thread.
thanks for the responses. sorry if this thread is getting too specific, i didn't mean to hijack it. anyways, i have considered the pa route but i am actually more interested in the anesthesia side of things. after getting to work with the crna's during my or rotations and during our intubation clinicals i found the position to be facinating. getting to flex the differential diagnosis side of the brain makes np attractive but i really enjoy the or, pharmacology, and pathophysiology on the crna side.
the problem with the traditional school right now is that although my wife is the breadwinner my salary is still a substantial portion of the household income. any position that i would take to give me a flexible schedule for school would pay significantly less (if i could find one at all in this market) . i already have a bachleors so i have looked at the second degree bsn. however, around here there is quite the waiting list plus i have about 2 semesters worth of prereq's to finish before i would qualify.
excelsior was just such a perfect option when i started. it allowed me to still be a good husband and father, as well as paying my share of the bills. it was a program that gave me credit for all of the time and effort i have already put in instead of making me start over with "this is how you use a bp cuff".
i don't know that i am looking for anything from these posts. i guess it just helps to get out of my own head for a minute, especially with people in similar circumstances.
ok, i will stop my own personal pity party. sorry to get personal on an informational thread.
there is no need to apologize.
i understand exactly where you are coming from with the salary, waiting list, etc. sometimes it seems as if we're taking a step forward only to take two steps back--which is exactly how i felt when hb 1041 reared its ugly head. i pray that everything falls in line for you educationally and that you obtain the career that you desire.
hi jjcnbg i am a long time paramedic, and although i live on the opposite coast calif. i to struggled with the decision between a traditional school and excelsior college. i to love the expanded scope of practice that being a paramedic brought and wanted to pursue an advanced practice path. my husband and i did a cost analysis(he is really type a lol) and excelsior was cheaper in the long run because i would either of had to go part time or quit the job entirely to attend a traditional program. my problem is i loved being a paramedic and did not want to quit ems to be an rn i wanted my experience to complement my experience as a paramedic. excelsior was able to work around the crazy ems career. i became a flight paramedic 3 years ago and loved it. i couldn't believe that i got paid to fly in a helicopter lol. that experience was so tremendous for so many reasons but it really showed me what opportunities being a nurse could be. i am now an rn and work in an nicu and am maintaining my emt-p license. since i started in the nicu i am amazed at the autonomy, scope of practice and opportunity this job presents me. i to was worried about the possibilities that attending exclesior college would limit me, in getting a job, getting a job in a place i would want to work, advancing my self passed an adn rn. and the only thing i have found is that i am only limited by the things i let limit me. ucla will accept my degree for np, with lots more experience i can be a flight nurse, and i have played with the idea of being a crna. i think that you will be suprised how many contacts you have as a paramedic and that will definitely help you in getting a job after you are done with rn school. i wish you luck in any avenue you choose. i am so jealous that you get to ride around in an ambulance i miss going code 3 a lot. good luck.
I see on your profile it shows you being a paramedic for 10 years and a RN for 2 months. How are you able to practice in CA? Did you do all the schooling before they changed the rules or did you find a backdoor into that state? That NICU job sounds great. Short of "advanced practice" careers I really want to be an ICU nurse. That was my favorite floor during clinical rotations. People tend to think Paramedic=ER but I found the ICU to be a better fit. You get the chance to take 1 or 2 patients and really dig deep into their care and the nature of their illness. In addition, as a nurse you actually get to participate in the patients long term care instead of just stabilizing them, dropping them off, and forever wondering what their outcome was.
On a different note I noticed that HB 475 was transported to the Governor's office on April 14. I don't know how long it takes him to sign things but I would imagine we will be seeing this as law very soon. Then it will be interesting to see what "interpretations" the board makes. I am still curious if the preceptorship will be facilitated or hang out there as another barrier with no way of completing it.
My concern is that once I get through Excelsior more and more states may exclude Excelsior grads and that I would not be able to get into a graduate program.
The issue here is with that state boards of nursing, not individual colleges/universities. They are two different entities.
If you have the degree they want and an RN license in at least one state, there should be no issue.
After my ADN with Excelsior, I got my BSN from the University of Texas and believe it or not, the independent study format of Excelsior makes you look like a really good candidate for BSN or grad school. This is because RN to BSN and grad school programs are a lot more independent and they want to make sure that you do not need to be spoon fed.
I could now get into any NP or other MSN program in Texas with no questions asked. Yes CRNA school is a lot more competitive and a different animal so I can't speak to that except:
Last year I went to the critical care conference in Chicago (NTI) and spoke with representatives of a big CRNA school in Florida that has multiple campuses throughout the state. They more than welcomed EC grads as long as they had the critical care experience to back it up, which is the same standard for CRNA school no matter where you got your RN.
the independent study format of Excelsior makes you look like a really good candidate for BSN or grad school. This is because RN to BSN and grad school programs are a lot more independent and they want to make sure that you do not need to be spoon fed.
It was exactly for this reason that I was accepted for the MSN-DrNP program at both Duke and Johns Hopkins. It was the one thing that set me aside from the other 4.00's who applied--the fact that I'm a Regents College (Excelsior) graduate.
. 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.
BBFRN, BSN, PhD
3,779 Posts
Just a reminder to let's please stay on topic here: the topic being discussion of current legislation in GA re: EC, and support of the students affected by this.
Please report any further attempts at derailing the thread by using the report function, so it can be dealt with by the mod team.
Thanks, and good luck to all our colleagues in GA. You guys have made some headway here- keep up the good work! Let's keep fighting for our RT-RNs.