Georgia code 43-26-7 (article 1) re Excelsior education

TLSpaz, ASN, RN · Aug 18, 2011

Do you have CURRENT (within the past two years) acute care experience as an LPN? LTAC counts if it falls within certain parameters. Did your LPN training include supervised clinical experience in Med-Surg, Peds, OB, and Mental Health? If yes, then you SHOULD be fine. See the link below:

http://sos.georgia.gov/acrobat/PLB/38%20Instructions%20for%20Nontraditional%20Nursing%20Education%20Program%20Applicants.pdf

Scroll down in the document at this link to page 9 to see the latest requirements for licensure by endorsement. I have heard that the GBON is SLOW in processing these applications for non-traditional students, but then I also just heard yesterday from a co-worker who is trying to license by endorsement from Georgia into Florida that they have been slow in her case too. She applied over 3 months ago to Florida and the only hold-up is waiting for documentation to arrive FROM GBON.

Best wishes!

4pancakes · Aug 18, 2011

TerraRN,

Thank you so much for the updated information. It has really helped me! I do have current experience as an LPN in all those areas they mentioned. My LPN program did include all of the requirements they have listed. Moreover, it is was a State of Ga. College! Go figure! And the second lady I spoke to at the board acts like it doesn't even make a difference. The first lady I spoke to at the BON stated that since I was a recent grad that they didn't expect me to have the RN experience. But, the second lady insist that I must have the LPN experience documented. Although I do have that experience, it has been really hard documenting it. I worked for Staffing agencies for five years until they went out of business. I also worked at the jail as well as a hospital care center in my home town to name a few. I noticed that on your link it refers back to this code I mentioned above. I pulled this document from the Ga. Assembly website, and it stated clearly that a person should be a recent RN graduate from a nursing education program within the four years immediately preceding the date of the application which I am. I just feel I am getting the run around! They are messing with my lively hood!..They had my application since early July, and there delayed response is keeping me from getting a job in my home town..These are the kind of events that make me want to run for GA board offices position!! What are they really doing in that office anyway?? Who is monitoring them? I know the Sec. of State is their boss. But, I wonder if he ever just pops in on them? Where are the check and balances? Too many complaints of the same nature implies it is the truth being ignored!! Georgia needs to get with the program already. If I passed a national exam (nclex) give me my license already! What is wrong with them?

TLSpaz, ASN, RN · Aug 18, 2011

I feel your pain. I won't go into all the gory details but I have a SC license and happen to live in Georgia because my husband is stationed here with the Army. I have PLENTY of prior nursing and military medic experience but alas....none of it is current. I haven't worked in acute care since 2003. I am able to work here on post for the Army with my SC license, so that is what I am doing. My husband will be out of the Army in less than two years and we are headed back to SC, so you know what I have decided? This Carolina Girl is too good for Georgia! (Humble, huh? :lol2: )

FYI...you can apply to any federal government nursing job with any state license. If you wanted to try for a VA job or a job on a military installation, you can work with your FL license. The only caveat to that is it usually takes quite a bit of time to get hired and in-processed.

I can also tell you that a bill have been introduced in the legislature to enter Georgia into the Nursing Licensure Compact, but it is in the very early stages of committee. The original drafters of the bill have seemingly included language in there to eliminate this ridiculous preceptorship stuff for Excelsior graduates. I have no problem with a state's right to enact legislation and be self-governing, but in Georgia's case with this clinical hour requirement, they are being arbitrary and inconsistant. In any case, though, the bill isn't up for enactment in it's current form until 2013 or 2014 (can't remember exactly).

4pancakes · Aug 18, 2011

My husband is retired Navy Vet, and I have also tried getting a job thru VA without success so far..I am hopeful to find something somewhere if GBON would only issue my endorsement. I am so glad to know that some one picked up the ball , and is trying to get Georgia included as a compact state!! All is not lost!!..LOL

Here's the thing I don't get. The state tells an institution of higher learning what is required for their Nontraditional nursing programs, and in those Bi-laws it states that the school must have a 2 1/2 day clinical rotation where the student is tested on clinical skills with a RN preceptor watching. The student is then issued a grade of pass or fail by the school. I passed my clinicals at Southern Regional Hospital in Morrow, GA. (Yes, another GA. institution) Performing my clinicals there was very challenging, but fair ,and definitely more than adequate! So, one would think that the Georgia board would respect their own License Hospital Facilities, and License Master prepared Instructors..Go figure!

I'm a Carolina girl also, there is no place quit like home. But, when I want to go to the beach I just cross the bridge to FL..Best wishes on your journey. God Bless!!! And, thanks for your responses.

DogWmn · Aug 18, 2011

OP I feel your pain. The GA BON is notoriously non-customer service. They answer to no one, the Governor appoints to the board and the Sect'y of State administers the paper work but the actual BON has NO oversight what so ever. I've been licensed in 4 states and the GA BON is by far the worst, they really don't care and get away with welll you wouldn't believe all the stories I've heard.

There is no direct number to the GA BON, it only takes you to a non-nursing person in the Sect'y of State's office and who know's who you will talk to. When and if you can actually talk to someone who actually works at the BON you will get different answers for how ever many people you talk to. It's one of the worst run BON's in the USA from what I've heard from a GA nursing advocate, apparently there are 100's of GA LPN's who've gone the Excelsior route and passed the NCLEX and are still waiting for their RN license years later.

I will tell you that many nurses have given up and left the state because of so many problems with the GA BON. I wish you luck.

I will say that Oregon was and is wonderful, I recently had to call them about info on my original licensure and they called me back within 24 hours and appologized because of the delay:eek:. They had to go down into the basement and rummage through the old dusty musty "paper" documents to find my info...I graduated when dinos walked the earth:D. Ohio was also wonderful, I must have called them a 100 times and they were patient and talked me through all the steps of re-activating my license and the CE's I need to take to make sure I wasn't wasting time or money.

The BON's across the country are really hit or miss. I will continue to advocate for a national licsensure organization like the Medical Technologists have - the ASCP - one stop shopping and no more dealing with state BON's with their own political agenda and fiefdoms. It would be so much easier for us to move across the country lower costs, no redundancies and a biggie - track the stinkers nationwide.

bsnanat2 · Aug 18, 2011

OP, you are facing three issues with the Georgia BON.

1.) You sent in your app during their busiest time of year. All of the nursing schools in the state are graduating new nurses and they have drastically improved the flow of this. Most people from my school received their Authorization To Test (ATT) within two weeks of graduation and I got my RN number off the BON site roughly 24hrs after passing NCLEX. It actually showed up before Pearson Vue would give me a pass/fail. This being the case, staff will give new, instate graduates processing priority, especially since they have a pipeline process in place.

2.) You got your RN license through a process, that even if in-state, is convoluted. Since you are out-of-state, and the process is non-traditional, likely your application will require "hands-on" review by the actual members of the BON, not staff. The BON meets once a month and have many set items already on their agenda. Your app. simply has to "get in line." Not a fair thing, but probably the truth.

3.) You graduated from Excelsior. This alone will cause more scrutiny as some state won't even accept Excelsior.

Have you ever thought about making a trip to Macon and attending the public portion of the BON meeting? Perhaps you could catch one of them before the meeting or raise the issue (politely) during the meeting?

Bottom line is, you have to be patient and not "fight the power" or offend them. A previous poster said the Georgia BON has no real power and nothing is further from the truth. Push them the wrong way and you'll find out just how much they have.

Maybe speaking with your local state representative can help. I wish you well.

Marshall1 · Aug 18, 2011

If you have the means to go in person to the GBON you may have success faster - in some cases they have issued license in one day this way to some people I have worked with - however, they did not graduate from the school you did so I don't know..maybe that is part of the hang up..

4pancakes · Aug 18, 2011

Yes, I have thought about going to Macon to the board meeting ,and depending on the outcome of my endorsement that will be the deciding factor! Hopefully, this won't have to get ugly! All I want is my license! If they have issued licenses to other nurses from ECE and FL then I should be no EXCEPTION!! The one with the power is the giver of it!! (God)!!!!! I fear him not man... That being said I am not trying to provoke anger just a spark to get the board moving a little quicker seeing that I have been waiting over a month now! There web site says 25 days or less..I am sure if you were in my shoe you would be a little more understanding..At the moment there seem to be more jobs in Georgia then there is in FL, or at least in my neck of the woods...As far as my ap I sent it Express mail over a month ago, so I know when they got it even if they don't! Moreover, they had two board meetings since my ap has arrived..So, like I said, someone is dragging their feet!! I read some of their old board min. and couldn't help notice that most of the ap were charged fees for unlicensed practice. Perhaps, they take so long approving a person ap because they are hoping that you would get so frustrated and practice without a license in their state..Hmmmmmmm...I'm just saying ; It ain't right!!!!!! Nevertheless, I will continue to wait patiently until my change come!!!!! Thank each of you for your post.

4pancakes · Aug 18, 2011

Oh, and I forgot to mentioned this board has approved me for my LPN License fourteen years ago, and recently renewed it..Go figure! They have all the info they need to make an informed decision!..

jennlpn1975 · Aug 18, 2011

I found this online while researching the program. I live in MD and will not be able to get my RN license if I get my education from this school.

"Georgia is an unusual case. Though Excelsior grads, on paper, satisfy state regulations, the state denies licensing to Excelsior grads. As of 2011, Excelsior's president is working with Georgia's Governor and Board of Nurses to amend the policies.

Read more: States That Exclude the Excelsior Nursing School Degree | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_7885336_states-excelsior-nursing-school-degree.html#ixzz1VQZaLI4s

4pancakes · Aug 19, 2011

jennlpn1975,

Thank you for the Reference. However, Georgia Board of Nursing has accepted Excelsior Grads in the past, and so why shouldn't they now? Their policies have been amended, and still need to be amended. IMO! Moreover, I am one of the students that should have been grandfather in as we were not made aware of any issues with licensing in Georgia until near graduation..How in the world is that right? While we advocate for others so often, and love doing it. Who is advocating for us?