Talked with California BON; something *can* be done

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I have been bothered by the ban on Excelsior College graduates in California and was afraid there was no other option than to go through another ADN program. I made a call to the California BON and found they do have mercy for recent EC grads after all. They require 360 additional clinical hours that can be completed in several ways. Thank goodness for that.

I talked with the local community college (Motlow State in Tullahoma, TN) and *if* I am a registered nurse in this state I would be allowed to go to their clinicals with them. I don't know how many hours they do at the comm college, I would think more than 360. And at that...does it just have to be any clinicals or do they want OB and OR and all that?

I guess I shouldn't put the cart before the horse, I haven't taken my clinicals yet. But I feel the noose tightening...I take them this coming weekend (Sept. 23-25) I'm starting to get a little scared. I've still got three sets of critical elements to memorize.

Good Luck at the clinical. Where are you taking yours?

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Good Luck at the clinical. Where are you taking yours?

Amarillo.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Peds, LDRP.

LPN-RN,

Congrats and good luck! let us know how the CPNE goes!

you just gave me an idea! Im a new grad LPN and want to go to Excelsior, and Im not concerned about my state accepting it, but more so the clinical experience. I only have 8 tests Id need to take for EC to get my RN so Im gonna go for it. I could probably knock them out in 6-8 months or sooner depending on time and money. Then Ill just be waiting for the CPNE. At the same time Im going to gain as much clinical knowledge and experience as I can thru working and possibly shadowing and/or volunteering. Im also going to take a CPNE review class when that time comes. Once i get my license, if I still feel that I lack confidence and skills then I may ask to go to clinicals with the local community college. Im going to check with them to see if they allow that. good idea.

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The CA BON got back with me today. They say they take each applicant into consideration but these criterion MUST be met for them to do so: the applicant with EC must have enrolled in the school as an LVN and have completed 360 clinical hours at the registered nurse level. They suggested contacting a community college to take just the clinical.

At least it is a start.

I talked with the local community college (Motlow State in Tullahoma, TN) and *if* I am a registered nurse in this state I would be allowed to go to their clinicals with them. I don't know how many hours they do at the comm college, I would think more than 360.

I'm wondering who you spoke with at the board. I would be really careful before making any plans along these lines.

Here's what the board says about the EC requirements:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/new/news.htm#excelsior

"Excelsior College graduates, like other out-of-state graduates, must meet the requirements set forth in California Business and Professions Code Section 2736, including supervised clinical practice concurrent with theory, in order to be eligible for examination and licensure as a California registered nurse. This eligibility requirement applies to students who enrolled at Excelsior on or after December 6, 2003."

The key phrase there is "concurrent with theory" ....this was a big issue during the EC debate (among other things.)

I know my CC is constantly having to make adjustments in our schedule to meet this particular BORN requirement. We can only do clinicals and, also, care plans on patients whose illnesses were covered in lecture that week.

So ... if anyone does convince a college to take them just for clinicals, I don't see how that meets the board's requirements. I'd hate to see somebody go through 360 hours of clinical just to be turned down for a license anyway.

This person at the board may be misinformed.

:coollook:

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I'm wondering who you spoke with at the board. I would be really careful before making any plans along these lines.

Here's what the board says about the EC requirements:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/new/news.htm#excelsior

"Excelsior College graduates, like other out-of-state graduates, must meet the requirements set forth in California Business and Professions Code Section 2736, including supervised clinical practice concurrent with theory, in order to be eligible for examination and licensure as a California registered nurse. This eligibility requirement applies to students who enrolled at Excelsior on or after December 6, 2003."

The key phrase there is "concurrent with theory" ....this was a big issue during the EC debate (among other things.)

I know my CC is constantly having to make adjustments in our schedule to meet this particular BORN requirement. We can only do clinicals and, also, care plans on patients whose illnesses were covered in lecture that week.

So ... if anyone does convince a college to take them just for clinicals, I don't see how that meets the board's requirements. I'd hate to see somebody go through 360 hours of clinical just to be turned down for a license anyway.

This person at the board may be misinformed.

:coollook:

Well, it was the licensing analyst. Who should I have talked to, George Bush?

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Well, it was the licensing analyst. Who should I have talked to, George Bush?

Uh ... no. I wasn't suggesting that. :chuckle

I just thought you'd like to know what the board's published policy was before you went through alot of clinicals that still might not get you licensed in California.

:coollook:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Peds, LDRP.
Uh ... no. I wasn't suggesting that. :chuckle

I just thought you'd like to know what the board's published policy was before you went through alot of clinicals that still might not get you licensed in California.

:coollook:

Lizz,

good thing u have a sense of humor....I know u were ony trying to help. Id sure appreciate the info if it was going to save me some wasted effort. I dont live in Cali but a friend of mine who will also be going to EC soon is from there so she is following this closely (she could wanna move back someday). I think they should have a straight forward answer about it bc it doesnt sound like they promise to grant licensure, it only sounds like they will consider it at that point.

On other thing I was wondering about Cali, is can an EC graduate practice in Cali as a traveling nurse as long as they are licensed in their home state?

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Well, it was the licensing analyst. Who should I have talked to, George Bush?

Hi, just to be safe I would get it in writing. I mentioned earlier that I talked to the CA BON also and they said the clinical had to be done concurrently with the theory classes

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Hi, just to be safe I would get it in writing.

I thought about that too but, I'm not sure anything in writing that directly contradicts the board's published policy on their website would be "safe." That policy, BTW, was also discussed at length in the board minutes when they made their decision but, those particular minutes aren't available online anymore.

It's unfortunate that some bureaucrat is spreading misinformation but, IMHO, it's always safer to go with the board's official published accounts, rather than a one misinformed staffer.

As far as travel nursing, my understanding is that you have to be licensed directly by any state you travel to so, from what I understand, the same thing applies to California. EC did try to convince the board to allow EC grads who were licensed in other states to endorse in ... but the board rejected that proposal.

:coollook:

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