Letter from EC about the Virginia BON's recent decision ...

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I received a letter yesterday from EC about the Virginia BON's decision to stop recognizing EC grads who haven't completed EC's degree program as of December 31, 2009. The letter said that they have contacted the BON, stating that the 12/31/09 deadline was not realistic for many of the enrolled students, and that they'd like to have board allow students who enrolled with EC up to and including June 9, 2008, the ability for direct licensure, no matter the actual graduation date. (This is similar to what California ended up doing -- students who maintained continuous enrollment prior to a date in December 2003 are still able/eligible to sit for boards in California.)

In any case, the letter said they'd keep students updated on the situation, and what the Virginia BON's response is.

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These states are really ******* me off. I can wait until I graduate. This is really making me want to go on a crusade looking for nursing schools, that don't provide adequate clinical training ( not hours, but training in one way or another)., and that don't provide a real life clinical exam, that is comprehensive of basic skills, not just skills that get checked off at one time, and not again.:flamesonb

(No offense to traditional students, as I'm sure many are great nurses no matter what school they went to.)

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.
:( It seems like more and more states are no longer accepting EC grads. :banghead: There are those of us who could not become nurses any other way. As is my case. I was dropped from traditional school in my last semester before graduation, not because of bad grades, but simply because I missed too many ( 3 ) clinicals. ( I have a special needs child ) There was zero compassion when I explained my situation!!!!:devil: So, I worked at a test site, and jumped into the EC thing.:up: Which ended up being perfect for me. It really saddens me to hear this latest news. Some people who could not do it any other way will not be able to realize their dreams. :no: Some may still yet become RNs, but may have to wait for prolonged periods. :sniff: In either case, it seems like distance learners have somehow gotten a bad reputation that has prompted these states and BONs to take some kind of action. I hope someone realizes that there are equally and very capable nurses who come from distance learning programs too.:heartbeat There are 2 EC grads at the hospital where I work who are very very good nurses.
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What really, churns my butter, is that all f these states have probably had EC grads working in their states since the 70's. Ans not one (to my knowledge) has produced any evidence, that EC graduate have a higher rate of mistakes of any type ,over traditional students. And in my mind that would be the ONLY acceptable reasons for all of these restrictions to be put on EC grads. The state mandated clinical hours are bunk, because more traditional nursing students, and RNs that went to a traditional school, have told me more times than I can count, that either their clinicals were like wathing videos, and not getting any hands on, or getting hands on that nonly equates to the work of a CNA.

If you ask me, if a student had 5000 hours, just doing those things, it wouldn't make them better than an EC grad. Not that their not or wouldn't be capable nurses, but they would become great nurses as all great nurses get there, and that is on the floor experience AFTER they have RN behind their name, period.

The CA BON, can deem a CNA (with the only requirements, being working in acute care for 5 years, and a pharmacology course) compentent enough to take the NClex PN, and if they pass , license them as an LVN. I mean COME ON!

So that means, that if I spent 5 years as a Cali CNA, working in an acute care setting, JUST providing basic care (toileting, bathing, and feeding), and I took a pharm class, in that I would have reached the competency of an LVN. Really?

But, EC grads, with a previous direct care licence, that does actually require clinical skills, (and not just basic care that anyone can be taught to do correctly within a week), after studying for, taking and passing compenteny exams that many former student have taken and repeadilty failed just to go on to a traditional program, and become an RN, are not qualified, to be a RN in this state. Can someone say ludicous?

(No offence to CNA, after all I was one, and I know it is not easy, but that still doesn't make CNAs qualified to be LVNs.)

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Specializes in ER.

You know in my LVN program I completed more clinical hours in 12 months than the RN program of the same school completes in 2 years. Then to go to EC and complete the CPNE. I do not see what the States that are requiring this extra clincal stuff for EC grads are thinking. I hear in Calif. it was about state schools losing tuition money to EC and other out of state programs.

TraciGN

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I grew up in MD and lived right by VA.. Thank goodness I have no intention on ever moving back:D Like others have said, this is the only way for me to get my RN degree. I have a family, can't afford the daycare, full time job and many bills. Plus, I have all the pre-reqs done that some cc's won't accept because I took them 3-5 years ago (and I'm NOT repeating stuff I did and passed!). It makes me sad because it is all about the experience IMO. I ran across a nurse who was about to give me a tb test in my deltoid (before I stopped her) and she is not an EC grad...

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Ok I know this is not supposed to be funny however, I can't help myself inlight of this conversation.:fnypst: So, I just started as a GN and there are 3 others who are also just starting with me. One of them asked me to go into a ladies room to help her give an enema because she had never given one, but was " checked off on it " at a " traditional " school. So I turn the client ( a lady ) over and I'm talking to the lady " not watching " and next thing I know the lady says " I thought I was supposed to get an enema?":eek: Boy was that GN's face red. :hehe::hehe: Of course, the only reason I bring this up, is to make the point that anyone can make a mistake regardless of what type of school you went to. We are all human. But, why should EC and other distance learning be discriminated against? So what if we don't have X amount of clinical hours! We are still competent, we had to pass the CPNE and OMG that was stressful! But, that should prove we are ok as well as EC's policy on prior experiences before even letting us into the program. Sorry about the long rant. Just passionate about proving EC grads are just as good as " traditional " grads.:heartbeat

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Ok I know this is not supposed to be funny however, I can't help myself inlight of this conversation.:fnypst: So, I just started as a GN and there are 3 others who are also just starting with me. One of them asked me to go into a ladies room to help her give an enema because she had never given one, but was " checked off on it " at a " traditional " school. So I turn the client ( a lady ) over and I'm talking to the lady " not watching " and next thing I know the lady says " I thought I was supposed to get an enema?":eek: Boy was that GN's face red. :hehe::hehe: Of course, the only reason I bring this up, is to make the point that anyone can make a mistake regardless of what type of school you went to. We are all human. But, why should EC and other distance learning be discriminated against? So what if we don't have X amount of clinical hours! We are still competent, we had to pass the CPNE and OMG that was stressful! But, that should prove we are ok as well as EC's policy on prior experiences before even letting us into the program. Sorry about the long rant. Just passionate about proving EC grads are just as good as " traditional " grads.:heartbeat

LOL. OMG, hilarious. This is my point exactly. A CNA should know how to properly give an enema, and they aren't even "checked off" on them. Like I said most traditional nursing clinical hours are bunk. Again, LOL

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

When I realized what had happened, OMG do you realize how hard it was to maintain professional composure?!!!!:chuckle Like you said, I knew I was going to have to remind her how to give an enema, however, I did not think I'd have to give an anatomy lesson too. We all make mistakes, but I think states seem to be picking on distance learners because they don't understand what we go through. They may also just be wanting the $$$$$$. Who really knows for sure. Has anyone seen any literature regarding exactly the reason(s) sited for these states decisions?:confused:

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Coming from a state (GA) that doesn't recognize EC, I absolutely feel that it is pure political "back scratching" between the STATE BON and the STATE university system. I don't think it has anything to do with competency or performance of graduates. I've had more than one RN who went through traditional RN school only tell me (as an LPN) that they knew when they started working that even a brand new LPN was better prepared clinically than they were. Several of them have also told me that they "learned how to be a nurse" from an experienced LPN on their first job. The "no clinical experience" argument is garbage even if you only consider LPN school clinicals. Add on the work experience that most of us have and I'll take an EC grad over a new traditional grad to be my nurse ANY DAY!!!!

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This is what scares me........ I have to start from scratch with prereqs and all........ i dont want to get through all my prereqs, waiting to enroll, and have the OBN say they wont except EC. I know they do right now, but I read somewhere on here that someone called the OBN and they said they were discussing issues with EC. I just better get moving then!

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:( It seems like more and more states are no longer accepting EC grads. :banghead: There are those of us who could not become nurses any other way. As is my case. I was dropped from traditional school in my last semester before graduation, not because of bad grades, but simply because I missed too many ( 3 ) clinicals. ( I have a special needs child ) There was zero compassion when I explained my situation!!!!:devil: So, I worked at a test site, and jumped into the EC thing.:up: Which ended up being perfect for me. It really saddens me to hear this latest news. Some people who could not do it any other way will not be able to realize their dreams. :no: Some may still yet become RNs, but may have to wait for prolonged periods. :sniff: In either case, it seems like distance learners have somehow gotten a bad reputation that has prompted these states and BONs to take some kind of action. I hope someone realizes that there are equally and very capable nurses who come from distance learning programs too.:heartbeat There are 2 EC grads at the hospital where I work who are very very good nurses.

I too went to a traditional RN program and had to leave in my last semester, b/c of an illness. With the events of everyday life and Hurricane Katrina I did not get to go back. If it was not for EC and distant learning programs I would have to give up on nursing!:bluecry1: When I have told people that I attend EC, they are impressed!:up:My brother-in-law is a "computer guy", grads form EC, in his field, are concidered Top Notch, #1, the pick of the litter so to say.....what is so different for us? I attend Charity Nursing School in LA, it was a difficult program and highly regarded one also, but I find EC to be 100 times more difficult, you have to have a passion for this field to make it through. Any BON that rejects EC grads is only hurting the people of their state, I truly believe that EC nurses are some of the best around! Just my:twocents:!

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