SBSUN Excelsior Article

Sheri257 · Jan 14, 2004

Interesting article.

As far as Kaiser, the board minutes do show they testified in support of the board decision and they don't fund Excelsior students through their scholarship program.

On the hiring issue, my understanding is that they don't hire new Excelsior grads, but it could be different for Excelsior grads who are already working, experienced RNs. Of course, I could be wrong.

Interesting story about the MA at the end of the article. My understanding is that MA's with little clinical experience were some of the biggest problem cases and that's at least part of what got the board's attention in the first place.

I don't think they'll win the lawsuit. The board minutes show so many violations of state regulations I don't see how any court will go for it. But I could be wrong on that as well.

tlynsmith · Jan 14, 2004

This was a very interesting and contradictory story but entertaining. I live in Los Angeles I have friends that work at Kaiser and Cedars that went through the EC Program.These hospitals hired them without missing a beat. My friends have written a letter to the BON informing them who they are employed by . When my friends were hired it was not asked what school did you graduate from. Alot of my friends our lead nurses. EC has a higher pass rate! Wow now thats interesting also but the board can only give an example of an incident but have stressed its decision had nothing to do with the safety of the program. I wonder what decision will they make when the news won't stop reporting layoffs, hospitals continue to close down and the 2-3 year waiting list to get in these wonderful traditional schools continue to get longer. I will continue to take my chances.

Teresa

Sheri257 · Jan 14, 2004

Kaiser is a big organization. Maybe one division does one thing, and another does the opposite.

Here are the board minutes which show Kaiser's support of revoking Excelsior's accreditation back in February of last year:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdf/brdmins%20feb%206-7,2003.pdf

The patient safety quote came from Excelsior, not the board. And the one incident cited was a quote from the CNA, again, not the board. There's probably a lot more than that. But, if you think about it, nobody's going to put that information in the newspaper because of the potential liability issues involved.

kimlpn · Jan 14, 2004

Interesting LIZZ but what I am a little baffled by is why would Charles Frye not be in support of EC...he writes study systems called Professional Development Systems (at least I think so). Maybe you have heard why. Just a little curious. Thanks for the link!

Kim

Sheri257 · Jan 15, 2004

Originally posted by kimlpn
Interesting LIZZ but what I am a little baffled by is why would Charles Frye not be in support of EC...he writes study systems called Professional Development Systems (at least I think so). Maybe you have heard why. Just a little curious. Thanks for the link!
Kim

Actually I don't know. I can only assume that Kaiser wouldn't get involved in a controversy like this unless it was important to the organization. But I don't know much about the details.

tlynsmith · Jan 15, 2004

Well like I said I live in Los Angeles. I have attended Dr. Fryes class in the past. It was always issues because EC did not appreciate him supplying EC students with material to assist them in their studies. Yes, I know Kaiser is a big cooperation I use to work for them for 3years doing home health for their wound care patients and the flu clinic. So I know alot of nurses there and managers. Its funny how people are quick to believe the hype. I will again point out it will come back to bite them sooner or later. It does not matter what school you go to you'll still get the incident reports, patient deaths, nurses getting their licenses revoked, narcotic drawers coming up short, nurses not using universal precaution blah blah blah so does this mean that the school they went to contribute to this behavior. What it boils down to is that the local community colleges and UC schools are in trouble. People are not applying anymore for nursing so this will be a way to attract more people to go back to the schools to obtain their degrees.Which will increase the schools money and keep their accrediation. How can you expect a nurse to wait on a list for 3 years when its told to you 300-400 applicants apply, its only room for 40 students. In Los Angeles County the colleges do not give love to LVNS to bridge over. So then you wait for the lottery, you take the pharmocology test, then you wait. Now they are taking the students with the highest grades in their science classes then you wait. It now gets crazy, they are now asking for your grades from your vocational nursing program then you wait.... drum roll your not selected that is BS!

tlynsmith · Jan 15, 2004

http://becomeanrn.com

funny how they have Dr. Frye's name listed as being opposed to EC involvement with future RN graduates, he still promotes his courses. He was the one assisting the EMT and paramedics obtain their licenses. I know this for a fact not rumored because I use to be a student. I think this must be a misprint or a different Dr. Frye LOL. I received pamphlets from him a least once a week up until Dec. 03. Basically how I read this is, the board was okay for 20 years then the hospitals complained .....oops ... oh shit we have not looked into this program for 15 years LOL. Wow .....

kimlpn · Jan 15, 2004

Mztrixi,

That is the point I was making--why would Dr. Frye appose it, if he is making money from it? I tend to think it is him because that is his first name as well...but who knows. LOL it is funny how the board said they haven't reviewed it in 20 years.

Kim

Sheri257 · Jan 15, 2004

Originally posted by mztrixi
What it boils down to is that the local community colleges and UC schools are in trouble. People are not applying anymore for nursing so this will be a way to attract more people to go back to the schools to obtain their degrees.Which will increase the schools money and keep their accrediation.

I'm sorry Teresa. I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but this is completely wrong. The schools aren't in "trouble" the way you described.

As you (and the article) mentioned, there are waiting lists. And the reason there are waiting lists is because the schools are jammed with TONS of students trying to get into nursing schools. The schools aren't hurting for students. The schools are overwhelmed with students, and can't take any more even if they wanted to.

And one of the major reasons isn't tuition or even state budget dollars (where most of the money comes from, not tuition) although I'm sure the schools could always use more money.

But the real problem is that the hospitals will only take so many students for clinicals at a time (or so I've been told.)

So it really makes no difference to the schools if EC is around or not, because they've got more students than they can handle anyway.

yaddadoit · Jan 15, 2004

I'm currently enrolled in Excelsior. Went to the education dept of my former employer and was told by the person heading that particular office that she didn't support Regents in anyway and that I should consider taking courses through the local college system. She then recommended a couple of local schools. Interestingly enough, she lectures at both of the schools. Is that a conflict or what. Oh, and by the way, she is a member of our state board of nursing. :

Sheri257 · Jan 15, 2004

Originally posted by yaddadoit
I'm currently enrolled in Excelsior. Went to the education dept of my former employer and was told by the person heading that particular office that she didn't support Regents in anyway and that I should consider taking courses through the local college system. She then recommended a couple of local schools. Interestingly enough, she lectures at both of the schools. Is that a conflict or what. Oh, and by the way, she is a member of our state board of nursing. :

Was this in California or somewhere else?

(I didn't see a location in your profile.)