After spending 3 years in fiinishing, I have a diploma from Excelsiors.
I applied to the Maryland BON for licensure for examination ... afterwards I was offered a job in West Virginia but figured for time's sake I'd complete the process and transfer. Waiting to take the NCLEX.
After 2 additional weeks waiting I fiinally get a letter from Maryland BON.
"The educational requirements for Maryland nursing licensure include correlated clinical and theoretical learning experiences (COMAR 10.27.01.04)," yada yada.
Now while I didn't check with the BON specifically when I started, I knew others who had finished/just etc. and never heard of anyone in my area having a problem getting a license. So this has to be new. Until just now, there was even a "warning" about study guide agencies trying to pass themselves off as Excelsior right on the front page of the MDBON website.
It's a form letter so others must be getting it.
Damn. I guess I just try with WV now and hope my job is still there when the paperwork goes through. Of course I'll call WV in the morning.
a shining example of the buffoonery that occurs without a national license. we need one license that allows medical professionals to work in all states.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
National licensure may be a reality some day. It appears to be getting closer with more states becoming part of "Nursing Compact".
It is STATE law, not federal law that has the right to confer licensure, so it's not wasy to convince state legislators that national license is a good thing.
Think of drivers license--why not have a national license? Remember my grandfather talking that different standards existed until 1950's when interstate toll roads developed. Then everyone started "cooperating" together. Seen much more co-operation over the last 20 years between boards of nursing that anytime previously.
we're all using the same licensing exam. is there a state that doesn't use nclex? in the interest of public health, a national license for nurses should be a reality. is there a reason it's a bad idea, from a public standpoint?
it seems to me it would free state bon's to pursue other issues. it would cut mountains of red tape. i can't think of a single reason that national licensure wouldn't be a positive thing.
and as it relates to everyone's favorite distance learning or whipping post program, depending on your point of view, a national license would settle the issue, period.
on a national stage, no one could pull what the california board of nursing has done. the issue could be addressed using evidence, presented in the light of day. if excelsior is graduating unsafe nurses, there should be mountains of evidence to prove it.
call me a skeptic, but i'd love to see this secret evidence myself.
Anyone graduate from EC and ACTUALLY get to become an RN in the state of WA.
I'm currently an EC student waiting for the CPNE (for which I was unanware I could be on a cancellation list, and now plan to do). The SBON has such a load of red tape and crap I simply can't believe it! Prior to being eligble to sit for the NCLEX (yes, I thought it was a NATIONAL board) I have to log 200 hours which is 5 weeks of preceptorship. That's fine, that's understandable, but there's a big fat catch-22.
Tricky thing is, I would basically have to work for free because nobody will pay me to be an RN when I'm not yet (and have to get my own malpractice insurance to do so!) The SBON says practicing as an LPN doing RN duties won't cut it (of course, as LPNs this is what most of us are already doing for LESS PAY).
Barring other options which are running out I am now thinking of sitting for the NCLEX in another state. However, WA will not endorse another state RN license without at least 200 hours of documented work as an RN in that state first. So, my tentative solution is to sit for NCLEX in another state and then work for a travel nurse agency for a 13 week stent before I can come home. I am fortunate this is a possibility!
I can't believe they expect me to work for free. IN LPN school I had 800 clinical hours following around RNs in my local hospital (that doesn't even hire LPNs), doing RN functions and all that. The only thing an LPN cannot do just out of school is start an IV, and I got certified separately for that. SO, what the heck is an LPN anyway? A coworker of mine says "Lowest Paid Nurse". I digress.
I am running out of ideas and kinda want to get this over with. Any thoughts?...
NCLEX is a national exam, but is only part of the licensing process. You still need to meet the requirements of the particular state. The exma is the last step in the process, not the only one.
Each state can still set their own educational requirements, and they do.
Anyone graduate from EC and ACTUALLY get to become an RN in the state of WA.
When I was researhcing Excelsior (in 2004) I was told that Washington required an extra clinical of 2 weeks, and the representative from Excelsior said WA had always been very good about working with them.
Thanks. When I was in LPN school in 2004 and had graduated and started looking into Excelsior that was the scoop back then too (2 weeks clinical). So, I had made my EC plans based on old info which somewhere in the last 2 years turned into a mountain of red tape. I know it will work out. I'm just thinking that if I am going to have to work for free (200 preceptorship hours) I may as well get licensed in some other state that does not require that and get paid really well for a short time and then come home.
5 weeks full time work=no pay in Washington, or
13 weeks full time work = half my present annual salary in another state. hmmmmm.
I have basically been told by state board person more than once that I'll figure it out, it'll work out in the end, it'll be okay. All of which I know, but is not helpful for solutions... Excelsior is helpful but only to a limited degree since it is not their requirement and not their problem. I get the feeling once I graduate, I'm on my own to see that I can get licensed. We'll see. Hawaii is looking pretty good. :)
Anyone graduate from EC and ACTUALLY get to become an RN in the state of WA.
I'm currently an EC student waiting for the CPNE (for which I was unanware I could be on a cancellation list, and now plan to do). The SBON has such a load of red tape and crap I simply can't believe it! Prior to being eligble to sit for the NCLEX (yes, I thought it was a NATIONAL board) I have to log 200 hours which is 5 weeks of preceptorship. That's fine, that's understandable, but there's a big fat catch-22.
Tricky thing is, I would basically have to work for free because nobody will pay me to be an RN when I'm not yet (and have to get my own malpractice insurance to do so!) The SBON says practicing as an LPN doing RN duties won't cut it (of course, as LPNs this is what most of us are already doing for LESS PAY).
Barring other options which are running out I am now thinking of sitting for the NCLEX in another state. However, WA will not endorse another state RN license without at least 200 hours of documented work as an RN in that state first. So, my tentative solution is to sit for NCLEX in another state and then work for a travel nurse agency for a 13 week stent before I can come home. I am fortunate this is a possibility!
I can't believe they expect me to work for free. IN LPN school I had 800 clinical hours following around RNs in my local hospital (that doesn't even hire LPNs), doing RN functions and all that. The only thing an LPN cannot do just out of school is start an IV, and I got certified separately for that. SO, what the heck is an LPN anyway? A coworker of mine says "Lowest Paid Nurse". I digress.
I am running out of ideas and kinda want to get this over with. Any thoughts?...
I'm hoping to make you feel better............many states require nurses that have not been employed for a certain number of hours in a licensing period to attend a refresher course that is basically working for free. Don't feel singled out! Good luck!
Yes, it does. BUT the point is the current laws ALSO would cover Excelsior. One of the laws states that it will put on its accepted list of schools ANY school accredited by ANY BOARD RECOGNIZED ACCREDITATION AGENCY.
That's the current law, so I'm fighting it -- but since I was offered a job in WV (after passing the Boards) I'm applying to WV.
1000 hours is 6 months, so I'll hang in at my current job 1 day a pay period (fortunately I LOVE my job!) to maintain tenure etc. while waiting for my time to be up -- hopefully between all the letters to legistators and the BON and possibly even hiring a lawyer (because their decision is in contradiction to the current law and the affected law does not have a pending change listed either) I'll be granted licensure before having to wait 6 months.
Yea, I could apply in CA because I was enrolled 5 months before the cut-off date.
Sure it specifically mentions EC.
Graduates of schools outside the United States or graduates of non- NLN or CCNE accredited programs may be asked to provide additional information following review of their application.
See? It specifically mentions NLN accredited programs. There ya go.
Now, had it said "graduates of non-NLN or CCNE accredited programs, excepting of course certain NLN-accredited programs that certain people don't like," then we'd be in trouble.
I'm hoping to make you feel better............many states require nurses that have not been employed for a certain number of hours in a licensing period to attend a refresher course that is basically working for free. Don't feel singled out! Good luck!
That does help me to not feel singled out. Thanks.
Hawaii is looking mighty nice right now. After all this uncertainty and ambiguity, in all I am still thankful I could study on my own and work full time all along through the ADN program at Excelsior. I dread the thought of ever sitting in a classroom for 7.5 hours daily like LPN school. Excelsior is good stuff. And, just like my previous experiences in college and LPN, I have gotten out just what I have put into it. There's no riding along with Excelsior.
Overwhelming as it is right now, I know eventually I will be a licensed RN in WA so at least it's not like I got ripped off. Right now I feel like it though.
pedinurse05
301 Posts