This is what happens when politics wins over nurses

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 17, 2009

I would be outraged, also! You would not have the option for reciprocacy, maybe not even transfer credits to another program for advancement and it shows that just about anyone can follow the tasks and steps to be a nurse.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jun 17, 2009

Well, they have done it again! The politicians have stepped in and mucked it all UP!
In Florida HB 1209 goes into affect. This bill NOW takes all but two things regarding nursing programs away from the state board of nursing and places it in the hands of the department of health. Why does this matter you say...WELL they require LESS hours, LESS clinicals, LESS hands on experience, LESS LESS LESS.
What that could mean for Florida graduates, who graduate after July 1, 2009 when it goes into effect, is that due to these LOWERED standards, when and if we try to apply for licensure in another state, it may very well be declined! So all this money, all this time, and there is a large posibility that we cannot move from Florida if we want to practice nursing.
Nurses are in an uproar, we as students, already have an overwhelming feeling of "not knowing anything" when we graduate, but to DUMB IT DOWN is an INSULT!
I am one of those who will graduate after July 1, actually July 21 go figure, and this is horribly disturbing. Why can our voices not be heard? There are millions of nurses yet these yahoos in the political arena make decisions like this that affect so MANY!
I am outraged..... I am insulted.... I am worried about the future nurses

thus assuring a supply of nurses for THIER constituents.....this will work until student bite the bullet and go out of state.

GilaRRT · Jun 17, 2009

Well, they have done it again! The politicians have stepped in and mucked it all UP!
In Florida HB 1209 goes into affect. This bill NOW takes all but two things regarding nursing programs away from the state board of nursing and places it in the hands of the department of health. Why does this matter you say...WELL they require LESS hours, LESS clinicals, LESS hands on experience, LESS LESS LESS.
What that could mean for Florida graduates, who graduate after July 1, 2009 when it goes into effect, is that due to these LOWERED standards, when and if we try to apply for licensure in another state, it may very well be declined! So all this money, all this time, and there is a large posibility that we cannot move from Florida if we want to practice nursing.
Nurses are in an uproar, we as students, already have an overwhelming feeling of "not knowing anything" when we graduate, but to DUMB IT DOWN is an INSULT!
I am one of those who will graduate after July 1, actually July 21 go figure, and this is horribly disturbing. Why can our voices not be heard? There are millions of nurses yet these yahoos in the political arena make decisions like this that affect so MANY!
I am outraged..... I am insulted.... I am worried about the future nurses

Do you have sources? I would like to see exactly what will change.

nurz2be · Jun 17, 2009

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=41499&SessionId=61

That is the bill that passed

I spoke with the Dean of Nursing at our school today...sad conversation. She said the Chancellor of our schools had a long talk with the nursing faculty yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, everyone is really upset. The Dean stated that the State board is now ONLY responsible for New program applicants initial processing and keeping watch over the NCLEX pass rates for schools. The DOH is now in charge of programs, regulations, and they have already sent word to the schools that their requirements are MUCH lower than what the SBON had in place. I cannot tell you the anguish we are going through now. There are only two possible saving graces for my class....1 is that we graduate 20 days after this goes into law and 2 is that our school is NLN accredited so that might pull some weight with other states, we just don't know yet and there is no way to know until we graduate and some of us try to get jobs outside Florida.

This is SO DISTURBING!

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 17, 2009

If that's true ... and I have no reason to doubt your post ... then that truly is terrible!

It's sounds like the kind of thing that happens because there were some powerful people behind the scenes who want to make a profit on offering low quality nursing education. Programs are being "dummied down" all over the country and some State Boards are trying to fight that trend and maintain high standards. It seems to me that they stepped on somebody's toes (or pocketbook, more likely) in Florida -- and that somebody manged to get something through the legislature.

I hope the nursing profession can band together and fight this in some way. We need high educational standards to maintain the public's trust and to maintain a strong nursing profession.

Can anybody fill us in on what happened to cause this retaliation against the board? ... And who retaliated?

nurz2be · Jun 17, 2009

Ugh....I am so angry. I am contacting fellow students in my school, this is some mess.

The other thing that makes it very curious....I like llg thinks someone got to someone to make all this happen in less than 4 months when it was first proposed, is the fact that when you look at the votes from the house and senate....ALL said YES.....not ONE said NO!!!!!!

How many nurses are there in Florida and not ONE Senator...listened to them.....

This makes every fiber in my body upset

Cherybaby · Jun 17, 2009

In all honesty, I don't know about nurses being in an uproar. Most that I have spoken to about this really don't seem to care much. However, talk to nursing STUDENTS and boy oh boy, does that ever produce a different reaction.

Actually, if you go into the regional area for Florida on allnurses.com, you barely find any conversation about it at all.

Didn't see anything about it in the student area either. *shrugs*

I don't think enough people were informed, but now that you are...

Make yourself proactive and DO something about it! Start writing your State Senator, your Congressman and your Governor. Get your fellow nursing students to start doing the same. The time to have made noise was when this bill was introduced...but it is never too late to have a voice in what is going on around you. Call your State Board of Nursing and find out if they have an organized group you can join. Stage a protest up in Tallahassee!

They kept this bill under the radar and many students didn't know about it. Sadly enough, those who are already nurses didnt get involved in lobbying. Many feel it won't impact them...but in the long run, it will.

Frankly, I thought the NCLEX in Florida was a damn breeze. I got all worried for nothing. I don't think it's hard enough! Now any joe schmoe is going to be able to become a nurse.

And the downward spiral shall begin...:icon_roll

Make those calls, write those letters and get involved. Do it for your future! :nurse:

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=41499&SessionId=61
That is the bill that passed
I spoke with the Dean of Nursing at our school today...sad conversation. She said the Chancellor of our schools had a long talk with the nursing faculty yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, everyone is really upset. The Dean stated that the State board is now ONLY responsible for New program applicants initial processing and keeping watch over the NCLEX pass rates for schools. The DOH is now in charge of programs, regulations, and they have already sent word to the schools that their requirements are MUCH lower than what the SBON had in place. I cannot tell you the anguish we are going through now. There are only two possible saving graces for my class....1 is that we graduate 20 days after this goes into law and 2 is that our school is NLN accredited so that might pull some weight with other states, we just don't know yet and there is no way to know until we graduate and some of us try to get jobs outside Florida.
This is SO DISTURBING!

When you apply to grad school or another state your transcript will reflect the clinical hours you had, nothing will take that away. Congrats on your impending graduation.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

ooh yes i heard about this.. i have a cousin in florida who luckily is a RN allready. yes they are now taking nursing schools away from the BON and placing them in the hands of he dept of health ( goverment run nursing programs ). my cousin thought it has something to do with the new goverment health care program. my cousin told me she thinks this is the begining of making nurses goverment employee .. for wage control... scary eh? this is just the begining... wonder what nurses make in russia? gulp.... please someone disagree with me !!

nurz2be · Jun 17, 2009

The fact that established nurses, I know, are upset. They are upset because THEY are the ones who will have to "work with" an already troubled group of people, new graduate nurses. Yes, we know things, but there are WAY more things we don't than do.

Our patients are in the near future going to be exposed to new graduates who know even less than those of us who have graduated or will graduate soon.

I don't see who is winning in this WHOLE situation, but it isn't ANYONE it is actively affecting.

We, the students at my school, had NO IDEA about this. I posted this topic in the Florida section, but like someone said, had we known sooner we could have done something.

It is INFURIATING to me that just like that, something so significant as this, is just brushed under the rug, so to speak.

I assure you, the quickest I can get OUT of Florida, I will. I don't want ANY part of a state who shows blatant disregard for such an important profession. I think they might be surprised when nursing students declines, nursing shortage increases, and they have NOTHING to offer to draw in nurses.

I feel SORRY for the people who need health care here in Florida.....

What a mess

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

my cousin thought it has something to do with the new goverment health care program. my cousin told me she thinks this is the begining of making nurses goverment employee .. for wage control... scary eh? this is just the begining... wonder what nurses make in russia? gulp.... please someone disagree with me !!

This tidbit from your cousin sounds like misinformation wrapped in urban legend with a dollop of hysteria.