Senate Bill 205 Excelsior Graduates Might Be Able To Practice In MD

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STATE OF MARYLAND

March 30, 2009

Dear Maryland Nurse,

The Maryland Board of Nursing asks for your support of Senate Bill 205, as amended, State Board of Nursing - Licensure by Endorsement - Temporary Limited Licenses.

The purpose of the bill is to address the nursing shortage by providing alternate ways for individuals to meet Maryland's high standards for licensure without compromising those standards. It is a 3-part bill that attempts to eliminate some barriers to licensure in Maryland.

First, the bill will allow those individuals who want to take the national Licensure Exam (NCLEX) in Maryland and have graduated from a nationally accredited program, but do not have the clinical experience required by Maryland, to acquire that experience through an approved nursing program prior to taking the exam. Currently these nurse graduates cannot take the NCLEX in Maryland.

The second part of the bill will permit nurses who have graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program; passed the NCLEX; and are licensed in another state or country, but did not have hands on clinical experience as part of their original nursing program, to obtain a license by endorsement in Maryland if they have practiced for an acceptable number of hours in another state; have an unencumbered license; and otherwise meet the requirements for licensure in Maryland. These nurses cannot currently be licensed in Maryland.

The third part of the bill will authorize the Board to give a Temporary Limited License to nurses already licensed in another state who have passed the NCLEX exam but are missing one didactic component required by Maryland. They still must meet all of the other requirements for a license by endorsement in Maryland. The Temporary Limited License will restrict the practice areas for these nurses to only those areas where they are qualified by education and experience and will be limited to twelve months, during which they are expected to obtain the missing didactic component of their education by enrollment in an approved nursing course. Currently these nurses cannot be licensed in Maryland.

SB 205, as amended, will allow nurses who do not meet our requirements to "bridge the gap" while maintaining our current high standards.

Thank you,

Patricia A. Noble, RN, MSN

Executive Director

TDD FOR

MARYLAND BOARD OF NURSING

4140 PATTERSON AVENUE

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21215-2254

(410) 585-1900 (410) 358-3530 FAX

(410) 585-1978 AUTOMATED VERIFICATION

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LOL wow, I've never seen such good news wrapped in such slimy packaging.

They're saying that Excelsior doesn't meet their high standards, but for now, since there is such a shortage, they'll try and overlook that.

But, it's a starting point.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

LOL!! I agree, such reluctance! Heh. But it IS good news. I knew EC had been working on something like this, so I'm glad to see it might come to fruition! Although with my pretty "multi-state privilege" license from Virginia, I believe I could drive up the road and work in Maryland if I wanted to, as long as I maintained my residence in Virginia.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Found it online ... looks like they're going to require 350 hours of practice during the last 12 months, or 1,000 hours of practice in the last 5 years to qualify for endorsement. It's on the 5th page:

http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/sb/sb0205f.pdf

It's also on the MD BON's home page: http://www.mbon.org/main.php?v=norm&p=0&c=news/sb205.html

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What does MD bon mean when they say " obtain the missing didactic component of their education by enrollment in an approved nursing course. " Unless the board is going to set up some kind of classes that just have a clinical component to it, or maybe there are some kind of refresher course. I don't know many Nursing programs that are going to, let you enroll, just for clinical's. But I dont live there so I'm just asking.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I don't know ... there was a lot of lingo in that bill! We'll have to see how it shakes out, I guess. But they specify clinical vs. didactic, so I don't think the didactic stuff applies to EC. However, I could be wrong -- that does happen from time to time. ;)

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No offense but Maryland does not have enough of a nursing shortage to pass this type of bill. With the economic crisis there are many hospitals on hiring freezes so I'm not sure where they are getting "nursing shortage" from.

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No offense taken.

However, hiring freezes and nursing shortages are not the same thing.

You can bet that the first positions that get filled following the unfreeze will be many of the nursing positions, if there are enough qualified applicants.

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And the tide turns. I see more of this coming from other states. Even Cali will consider EC grads after "03 on a case by case basis, with extensive working hours.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
And the tide turns. I see more of this coming from other states. Even Cali will consider EC grads after "03 on a case by case basis, with extensive working hours.

Given what's going on in Georgia; I believe you are correct.

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