Help!! A student's worse nightmare

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Hello everyone!! I trust all is well. 3 years ago I "graduated" from a accelerated (lpn) nursing program based in the Bronx but with affiliation with a prestigious school/hospital in Ghana west Africa. The program lasted about 13 months and we did everything a normal school would do from exams to going to nursing homes for clinicals. One of the requirements was for us to travel to Ghana to finish up our clinal rotations and have our graduation there. Fast forward back to America. We were pressed to send our application to CGFNS to verify our schooling (that in itself took forever) so we would be able to sit for the NCLEX exam. Months went by and the school in Ghana responded to CGFNS but I guess without the proper documents. So it had to be resent..(this is when I started to get worried) with the second try they just stopped all communications with CGFNS and there went my hard earned money.

Fast fast forward NYS deny my application to sit for the boards because they said the school in Ghana failed to verify me actually attending the school, the school program isn't for 12 months but for 3 years and that the midwife counsel didn't sign off on anything. With diploma and transcript at hand I'm confused and frustrated.

The "director of nursing" (using that title VERY loosely) claimed she didn't know this would happen and wasn't willing to work with us to find a solution.

What are my options? I'm a single mom currently in school right now working odd jobs to make ends meet. Having my license would've helped me TREMENDOUSLY as far as having time to study instead of going to school and soon after rush to work to do a double and let's not forget time for my son. I've been constantly praying to God for a solution but I've lost hope in ever sitting for the exam.

Does anyone know of any schools that will accept my transcript and take any necessary classes to graduate/sit for the exam?

Sorry for the lengthy post. 😔😔

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

It sounds like you attended an unaccredited overseas school that does not meet any U.S. standards. To make the scenario worse all you have is a student transcript and a diploma and the school administration has stopped responding to queries to verify your educational credentials.

Too late now, but it's always recommended to attend nursing school in the country where you wish to live & practice as a nurse. Lower costs for an overseas program may seem tempting but the costs add up in the end and you risk that your credentials may not be recognized by a U.S. BoN as you have.

That said, nursing coursework is rarely transferrable between US programs and I've never heard of overseas program coursework being given credit in a U.S. school of nursing. The fact that your school administration refuses to correspond with credentialing verification services such as CGFNS brings your chances of getting credit for overseas coursework to close to zero.

The fact that the practical nursing program was 3 years should have been a red flag. Neither US nor Canadian practical nursing programs extend that long. In three years you could have completed a U.S. diploma or associates program.

You are apparently not eligible for licensing as an LPN by examination in the U.S. Does Ghana even recognize the LPN credential? Many students traveled to the Philippines to schools like Kennedy Global only to find out they are now ineligible for licensing in most if not all US states since the program is not accredited in the US or the Philippines to educate practical nurses. Combined with the fact that the Philippines does not recognize the LPN as a valid nursing credential graduates were left with an education not recognized in the country they wished to live and practice.

Most PN programs are 10-12 months in length full time. There are MANY public schools that offer PN programs in the NY metro area. If you wish to work as an LPN in NY or other state you're going to have to return to a credentialed school that is approved by a state board of nursing.

I believe the school you attended was never approved by NY BoN and has now been shut down and the owners/administrator criminally charged.

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Specializes in Hospice.

In my experience, when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

In this case, it doesn't even sound that good.

Ghana?? Seriously? Having clinicals outside the U.S. should have been enough to send you running fast and far.

It's a shame that you wasted that time and lost your tuition. Please don't keep repeating the same mistakes.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to Nurse Registration

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The school in Ghana is well know and affiliated to other U.S schools which made me to believe the one who wasn't doing their part was probably the director of the nursing school I attended.

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Most of our coursework (done in the states) and clinical was done right here in NY. Plus one week of clinical work in Ghana wasn't a bad idea to me at the time. I'm currently in school now with hopes in getting into the PA program so God is good.

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@Jensmom7

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Do you have a bachelors degree? Most PA programs in the NY metro area are masters level so a bachelors is usually a minimum requirement plus healthcare experience (even EMT & CNA count). If so your employment opportunities and earning potential will greatly exceed that of an overseas trained LPN.

Good luck as you move forward

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There is a woman that attends the community college that I do who was a full fledged nurse in Nigeria before she moved to the U.S. and she has to start from scratch.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Wow, what a complex situation for OP. It's a shame to put forth all that effort only to end up with so much disappointment.

I always advise potential students to make sure that their RN programs are accredited & approved by the state... LPN/LVN programs only have to be approved by the state. Nursing education is such a very popular "product" these days because there are so many people trying to enter nursing. This environment can easily give rise to unscrupulous practices - taking advantage of students that are desperately trying to become nurses. I know that my state has acted quickly to close several unauthorized/unapproved programs in recent years. In some instances, the owners have also been prosecuted.

My heart goes out to the OP. Potential nursing students must do their homework and thoroughly investigate before enrolling in a program. Dishonesty is not an easy thing to determine - the most successful thieves are the ones that have the most "honest" appearance.

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