Need Advice! CA BRN Will Not Accept My WGU Advanced Pharm Classes!

[RNADN]

I am a new graduate FNP in California with 6 years of RN critical care experience. I earned my BSN and MSN-ED from Western Governors, and then went on to complete a Post-Master's FNP program at The University of South Alabama, which accepted my 3p with no issues.

Western Governors told me specifically that these classes met the requirements for an NP Program advanced pharmacology class when I enrolled. I was very specific with the enrollment counselor about my intention to continue on and enroll in an NP Program immediately after and they assured me these classes were acceptable. I wouldn't have enrolled otherwise.

I applied for my initial licensure and received my NP license with no issues. When I applied for my furnishing license, Western Governors declined to sign the form, stating that my pharmacology classes, 3 unit C155 Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice and 2 unit C352 Contemporary Pharmacotherapeutics do not meet the requirements because there wasn't a doctorate-level faculty member involved in the course. 

I am freaking out right now. I have been contacting both the CA BRN and Western Governors for four months and no one has given me a straight answer until they told me this last night. I am at a complete loss as to what to do, since I have already accepted two separate jobs, one of which I am supposed to start immediately.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do? I feel like Western Governors intentionally misled me, and the CA BRN is impossible to get help from. I've even written the governor for help. 

I need my furnishing license to work. This is a nightmare! ?

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

Not exactly a ringing exoneration. This is not yet a done deal, because like so many other bad actors who got a pass from a corrupt DOE, they will now be under closer scrutiny and have to change their sketchy scam, um, erm, business model. 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

You do understand that “nonprofit” is a term of artifice for tax purposes, and does NOT mean they don’t take in far more money than they spend. They make a LOT of money, trust me. 

[MentalKlarity, BSN, NP]

On 8/9/2021 at 2:42 PM, Hannahbanana said:

You do understand that “nonprofit” is a term of artifice for tax purposes, and does NOT mean they don’t take in far more money than they spend. They make a LOT of money, trust me. 

Nonprofit means that money goes into research and development and education. That's why you hear of great medical breakthroughs and new technologies from the nonprofit schools, such as Harvard, Stanford, UNC, UC Berkeley, etc. They make a lot but spend billions giving back to society. 

 

The for profits contribute nothing. I've never heard of a University of Phoenix or Walden breakthrough, if they even have labs. The vast majority of their money goes into investor pockets. They are a business.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

On 8/9/2021 at 8:42 PM, Hannahbanana said:

You do understand that “nonprofit” is a term of artifice for tax purposes, and does NOT mean they don’t take in far more money than they spend. They make a LOT of money, trust me. 

No, but I'll trust a non-profit before the profiteers. I'll agree though, that this student, and any others that consider the NP Program through ANY online do a thorough investigation in relation to their state. I used WGU Indiana for my MSN leadership/management degree, and I'm satisfied with my education. But I'm not going to be responsible for prescribing meds, etc. Years ago, I had started an NP Program (2006) and did just that and ended up at at one of the universities in my state that had hybrid online/in person, and still do (outside of the covid situation). I started at my state BON. I realize, though, after reading on here and other places, that CA BON is not generally helpful with any part of the licensure process for their nurses at any level

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

But … they’re all “profiteers,” entities that make a profit. The biggest academic med centers and universities in the US are all “nonprofits” for IRS purposes, but you better believe they’re making big money. They’re not spending it all on research, development, or education. Take a look at the salaries their C-levels are raking in. 
I agree the Waldens of this world don’t add much to knowledge, LOL. 

[MentalKlarity, BSN, NP]

5 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:

But … they’re all “profiteers,” entities that make a profit. The biggest academic med centers and universities in the US are all “nonprofits” for IRS purposes, but you better believe they’re making big money. They’re not spending it all on research, development, or education. Take a look at the salaries their C-levels are raking in. 
I agree the Waldens of this world don’t add much to knowledge, LOL. 

The president of Harvard, one of the top schools in the world that has contributed countless breakthroughs to society is approximately $900,000.

 

The CEO of Apollo Group, the investment group that owns U Phoenix, made $95 million dollars in 2021.

 

Try to conflate the two all you want, but non profits do not profit the way profits do. They make money but it goes I to massive scholarships and financial aid - the ivy league schools, for example, guarantee free education with no loans to anyone from a family making under $125,000. This all comes from their income and endowment. Meanwhile the for profits of the world simply prey on the people who can't get in anywhere else to line the pockets of their CEOs and executives. They don't give out massive financial aid packets because their goal is not education, it's profit.

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

To the best of my knowledge Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, UPenn, Stanford, Texas A&M, and MIT offer free undergrad tuition grants like that, with limits (studentloanhero.com) on family income from ~$55,000 - $150,000 and requirements for work-study and other contributions from the student and family for many. 

However, Harvard’s return on investments alone last year wasn’t too shabby, as their overall endowment fund is now worth about $5.5 billion dollars after a “poor” year of only about a 6% return. Not counting donations, grants, and other fundraising. Pitiful, huh? 

Weep not for the “nonprofits.”

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

12 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:

Weep not for the “nonprofits.”

No one disagrees with you in the least, but the motivation and use for the profits of each type of school is vastly different. I think we can all agree on that.

I do want to add that I'm disappointed to hear the WGU is having issues with its NP Program. As a graduate of another MSN with them, I was very satisfied with my ROI. I do know 2 graduates of their direct entry BSN who are excellent nurses and are happy with their education as well. With most programs, if you put the effort in, you can have good results

[Sweetbeth]

On 4/30/2021 at 10:28 PM, MentalKlarity said:

This is one of the reasons some diploma mills are finally getting investigated. They intentionally mislead students!

Western Governors University (WGU) is not a diploma mill, it is a reputable brick and mortal school and has been around for decades. I don't have any degree from there but it was one of those schools I researched while I was looking for schools. California BRN is very anal and most of the people in their office don't know jack about nursing education. She should file complaint with department of education

 

[RNADN, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

Hi Everyone. Sorry about the late response and thank you for all the advice!

So, here is what ended up happening. When I finished my degree at WGU, my pharmacology classes were acceptable for my program at The University of South Alabama. I took two classes at WGU, one was a 3 credit patho and advanced pharm class and the other was a 2 credit advanced pharm class, leaving me with the required 3 credits of advanced pharmacology required to enter an FNP program.

After I was already in my FNP program, the California BRN changed their requirements, and now required that the 3 credits must be taken in one class. Therefore, even though I graduated with honors and passed my boards, I was ineligible to receive my furnishing license.

WGU was not helpful in figuring this out, and they really let me down. I had to figure this out through my own research, and from help here (THANK YOU!). In addition, it was impossible to get anyone on the phone at the CA BRN. I had to file several complaints before anyone even contacted me. In addition, there was nothing on their website announcing this change.

USA addressed this immediately. They were unaware of the changes the CA BRN made while I was in school. The CA BRN is an absolute mess, and I know I'm not the only person who has had a very hard time dealing with them. I'm actually rather shocked that an organization that oversees such a large nursing population is so completely inept. 

Long story short, I had to take advanced pharmacology over at USA. They were extremely helpful and covered the cost of the class as well. I feel like they went above and beyond to ethically do the right thing for me as a student, and I believe credit is deserved for how well they both advocated for me and helped me resolve this issue. It made me very glad that I chose this school for my FNP and I will probably return there for my DNP.

I received my furnishing license immediately after submitting the course and began working in Family Medicine, which I enjoy very much.

Ironically, after I was able to get this whole mess straightened out after 7 months of daily pursuit, my mother became ill and I had to move to New York immediately. I accepted a position in an Urgent Care in New York and now I'm not even using my California license. 

All that stress and insanity for nothing! I truly hate the CA BRN. They need to completely reform that agency. They hold an immense amount of power over us, and they need to be held accountable for their incompetence.

Love you guys and hope you are all staying safe out there. Whatever they are paying us, it should be doubled for the work we do and the amount of difficulty it takes to become a nurse or an advanced practitioner.