Problems with CA Board of Nursing wait times in endorsement applications

U.S.A. California

Published

I applied for my CA license by endorsement from FL in January. I got my RN as expected ~3mo later without incident. The NP license was a nightmare with them allegedly losing the check, then saying they disposed of all documents because it had been >6mo (it was 5mo when we got to this point because after remailing the check there's a 3wk waiting period for them even to cash it) and after resending everything I didn't get it till June... Now I've gotten a job in California and am trying to get my DEA which for those who don't know you have to apply for a furnishing license in CA before you get the DEA. I spoke with the DEA it's best to get the furnishing license first because the DEA is pretty speedy (only a week or two often).

Here's the problem, so 6mo+ out I've sent everything in but CA BON tells me that there's a 2-3wk wait for the mail to get processed, 2-3wk wait for the check to be cashed, and another 4-6wk wait for processing. After getting the NP it could be another 2-3 months just for the furnishing license. I'm moving cross-country, running rapidly out of money, and my work wants me to start in a month or so. They may be fine with the wait, but for me it's really serious financially and I doubt I can find something on such short notice to sustain in between this and moving.

Does anyone have experience with board bureaucracy and getting them to work with you? My sister is a lawyer and told me that some of the things they did were illegal by California state law during my NP app and I tried pressing call center staff who didn't respond. I'm waiting to hear back from a supervisor who is on vacation. Anything I can do?

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Hi phosphorus,

I can only comment on one thing regarding this because all of the wait time issues with the BRN are true. Many nurses are experiencing it. I lost a job because they can no longer wait for my NP license. I understand that they really were desperate to have another NP on-board.

You could file a complaint against the BRN with consumer affairs. I have seen a lot of posts regarding nurses that did so. However, it did not really expedite the process. The "golden rule" is to wait 8 weeks from the time they cashed your check. Otherwise, they don't care regardless of your financial status.

I'm sorry but I feel the pain! I'm still looking for a job since I lost the last one :(

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This is a tragedy for us - licensed nurses of all levels, for the employers and the patients. Why is this not being fixed? Do they care more about illegal aliens than hard working- tax paying nurses? I am about to lose my dream NP job in Maine because of this incredible wait time in the age of instant credit reports and millions of people out of work- why can't California hire enough data entry people to do such a critical job as licensing nurses to work - a very difficult job for every nurse I ever met- I became a RN in 1981 in California and without my 1 page verification of my "original licensing state" I can not get my NP license in Maine. Then the other issue is WHY on God's green earth do they need to verify my RN license when OBVIOUSLY I could not have gotten my MSN unless I had my BSN and RN. Really? Why is the nursing profession so disorganized with a million different standards in all 50 states???? Let's get this fixed too. In Ohio where I moved and received my RN license by endorsement from California in 2005 the Board of Nursing will openly state that they are there to serve the public's interest not the nursing profession - ok - so why then in California they are not protecting the public interest by solving this 12-16 week wait issue for licensing nurses to protect the public? I don't get it. Anyone has any legal or other updates on this issue? I just mailed my request to verify my license in CA and if I don't get it in 8 weeks I will lose the job....

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Specializes in ICU.

If you've already moved, you can get in touch with your local CA politicians and explain your situation since it's a problem with a state agency. After going to my state assemblymember and state senator, I got my CA RN endorsement pushed through within a week. Took about 11 weeks total when BRN was estimating 16-18 weeks.

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Thank you, that is a great idea! I will do that! Very encouraging!:)

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