surgtech33606

Hi all...Just got back from my meeting with Dr Coble, the previous director of FL BON. He was a very nice man, and is going to be attending the next board meeting in Jacksonville. He did verify that he endorsed "thousands" of EC grads while he was the director (4 years). He said that he and the other board members at that time felt that EC was a good program and they had no problems with endorsing licenses from other states (in other words, if it was good enough for one state, it was good enough for them). He, by the way, is an EC (Regents) graduate himself. He did, however, say that because it is a board they have the right to interpret the laws how they see fit and if Rick Garcia and the board are now not wanting to endorse, then they are well within their rights to do so. That being said, EC seems to have kinda dropped the ball somewhat in working with the board to provide them with what they wanted to show that they have a good program. Dr. Coble feels that EC needs to work closer with the board and that they (EC) have in the past failed to follow through on some paperwork, etc. In my opinion, here are some suggestions of actions we as students need to take: 1. Call EC and make them aware that the burden of proof to the board falls on them, and they need to follow through with whatever the board requires of them. Period. They need to be held accountable to be sure that our licenses can be endorsed in Florida. 2. We also need to be sure that EC has made the request to be put on the agenda for the board meeting in October. Per Rick Garcia on 8/13/07, the school had not requested this. They have until 8/28 to get this request in. ONE WEEK!!! 3. If you have had a negative experience with Rick Garcia, his immediate supervisor is Lucy Gee at the Dept. of Health. I am trying to get a phone numer and email address for her. As of now I have a mailing address and would encourage everyone to write to her and let her know your experience in dealing with Mr. Garcia. Mailing address is:4052 Bald Cypress Way Tallahassee, FL 32399. The main number is 850-245-4125 (8am-5pm M-F). 4. When we know for sure that EC is on the agenda, I encourage as many of you as possible to attend this board meeting. It is open to the public, and I think it would be in all of our interest to have a presence there to see first hand how EC presents itself to the board. I feel that we have a great ally in Dr. Coble, and considering that he has a working relationship with Rick Garcia, think this board meeting could result in a favorable outcome for us. Feel free to PM me here if you have any more questions that I may be able to answer for you.

I did make contact with the ex-director of BON and will be meeting with him in Tampa next week. If anyone else is interested in coming along for the meeting, he is more than willing to talk and share what he knows and help in any way he can. A Rick Garcia he is not =) Send me a PM if you want more information on this meeting. Thanks.

Are you saying this was on the BON website back in 2002? The website was recently updated and I wondered if it was added. If thats what was on the website, why were they giving different information on the phone? Anyways, thanks for the good wishes!

Here's another communication from Garcia...If I have knowledge of anyone receiving endorsement in Florida that was a nonLPN graduate of Excelsior, it is my duty to report this person for investigation as per Florida state statutes 464.018 (1a) and 456.072 (h). You can view these statutes at www.flsenate.gov/statutes I replied that under no circumstances would I put anyones license in question/jeopardy because of what the prior director did.

I have found the ex-director of BON Dr.Coble. He is working in Tampa at a University and I would like to call him and request to meet with him. Anyone interested in coming with me when this happens? I havent called yet, will wait for any replies and then see when would work best for everyone. Rick Garcia is back in his office, rude as ever. Says Excelsior has not requested to be put on the agenda for October yet, they have until the 28th.

California wont definetly. Those of us in Florida are going through alot of crap with the BON here, if you arent an LPN to RN student. You should contact the BON of whatever state you want to work in and see. Arizona has a few stipulations I believe. Alot of states make you take Boards in one state, and then another state will endorse that license for you to work there. Hope this helps. quote=LoveNursing0810;2349741]Hey! Does anyone know which states do not do not allow you to practice if you received your RN through through Excelsior College? I've heard California.

According to an email from Rick Garcia today that I received, Excelsior has not made a request to be put on the agenda for Octobers meeting. They have until the 28th of this month to request it. I will be faxing all my correspondence to Dean Nettleton tomorrow as requested by them. Her fax # 518-464-8777. Also, I have found the ex-executive director of BON, Dr Coble. He is the president of South University in Tampa. I would like to call him and request an appointment to speak with him about what is going on. Is there anyone in the area that would be interested in meeting with him with me? Let me know so we can figure out a good time to request an audience with him. Thanks.

I am confused as well to that "he acted on his own without the BON", how can the director of a board act on his own for years without being put in check by other members? And now what makes Rick Garcia the end all, say all on the matter. Does the director of the board have that autonomy to act without support or make decisions by themselves? That seems to go against the whole premise of why a Board is set up with numerous members, does it not?

I have written to all my reps in my districts, and only got one response from Mr Justice, which was more like a form letter. I replied again and haveent heard another word from him. None of the others have responded at all. I am so beyond frustrated with this!! I took NC2 this Saturday and passed with a B, but it was kind of a bittersweet feeling.

You know the first time I spoke with Mr Garcia, he said that the ex-director and staff misinterpreted the "laws" and that what they did by endorsing was not consistent with the Boards policy. Now the Board is backtracking and saying no non-LPN has been endorsed ever?? Which is it?? :angryfire

Hmmm..Interesting point as well...I wonder if we can find out who the past director of the BON was and contact him/her to see what they remember being the practice and whether they would suppport us on this?

I agree with mondragon that since we were given that information, that is what should govern our endorsement. I wonder if we can get a nonLPN graduate who was endorsed in FLorida to step up and support us on this. If we can find one person that was endorsed without the 2 years experience or working at a federal facility, then our case would be stronger.

If you've been following this thread and want an update, please see the thread in this catagory started by mondragon. Thanks...:angryfire

Well all, not so good news via Mr Justice in my opinion. He simply quoted the letter from the Asst Attn General Ms Gustafson, basically reiterating what the Board says has been their practice since 1996. He said he will communicate with Mr Garcia, but doesnt sound like much hope in that respect...wish I had a better outlook for us at this point.:angryfire

I will. Senator Justice is one of the Senators from my district that I wrote to today.