Excelsior students may not get licensed

[cougarnurse]

Discuss this story: Excelsior students facing licensing woes

I know Illinois will accept the schooling if one works in another state for at least 2 years.

[hppygr8ful]

I know 3 excelsior grads at my facility in California - One is a highly motivated though inexperienced nurse with good knowledge base. The two others couldn't find their butts in the dark with both hands and a flashlight. I am sure that Excelsior has graduated some fine nurses but the fact is that the California State board stopped accepting Excelsior grads due to the overwhelming number that were simply not prepared to be safe effective nurses. The main problem is the lack of clinical hours. One of the nurses I know actually sent a patient from our psych facility to the ER for a BP of 140/90? Another called 911 for a sleeping patient that she had not even walked down the hall to assess.

Again I am sure that there are good nurses coming out of Excelsior - I've met one - but I believe that the state boards have a realistic concerns with regard to graduates of this program.

hppy

[cougarnurse]

The lack of concurrent Clinicals with Theory is what is stopping Excelsior in Illinois.

There was a video about the whole thing somewhere....wasn't sure how long the link would be valid, though.

[Robert F]

Why not seek licensure in another state, such as Tennessee, who offers a multi-state license, then apply for reciprocity in Georgia?

[cougarnurse]

I had asked someone at Illinois' BON about that......they want at least 2 years worked in another state before considering the licensure.

Unsure how the Georgia bit will turn out. If/when I see anything, will post it.

The video refered to the lack of concurrent clinicals, of that I am sure.

[Robert F]

I will check with the TN Board of Nursing about the requirements; because Chattanooga, TN is right on the georgia line, and as a Flight Nurse, when I was with a Chattanooga based chopper (Cannot mention name due to legal reasons and non-disclosure), we had to get reciprocity for our Paramedic licenses with georgia, as our RN was multi-state and worked just fine.

I will put in a call to the state and see what I come up with.

I have left a message with the state director, and will post the info as soon as I hear something. As far as I know, TN simply requires that an individual completes a nursing program(and yes, TN accepts Exlcelsior). Once you are a TN RN, you have a license to practice in multiple states, which means nothing for Georgia, a non-compact licensure state. However, what this does mean is that you can apply for reciprocity with the Georgia Board of Nursing, based on the fact that you have passed the NCLEX-RN and have proven competency with the state of TN, by receipt of a license.

So far the way I am reading it, is that the school must be approved by the Georgia board of nursing.

I am on Georgia's Dept of Nursing website, and will be getting complete details and posting my findings.

While I am doing this, I ask that you all sign a petition found here: Fight for the Rights of Excelsior Nursing Grads

which is to be presented to the Georgia Board of Nursig upon the completion of a set number of signatures.

[cougarnurse]

Sounds good.

As far as I know, CA and IL are the only two states with legislation over this. Georgia, not sure yet. 3 states out of 50?

[cougarnurse]

Taken from the Excelsior site Excelsior College Nursing Requirements - iStudySmart :

Canada
Canada Nurses: Only LPN's qualify for the Excelsior College program if they reside in Canada.

Alabama
Alabama State Board evaluates Excelsior graduates on a case by case basis. Since 2000, any graduates with significant hours of RN experience may apply for endorsement and possibly be accepted for endorsement by the Alabama State Board. Contact the state board for details.

Arizona
Excelsior students will have to complete 120 hour precepted experience set up by Excelsior College, after finishing the associate nursing degree requirements. Then they may apply for the NCLEX-RN. Students may endorse into the state with 960 RN hours. (9/2006)

California
All Excelsior ADN graduates who enrolled on or after December 6, 2003, may apply for endorsement with an unencumbered RN license and will be considered by the California Board of Nursing on a case by case basis. Contact the state board for details.

Colorado
Colorado ASN Graduates sitting for boards: Anyone registered before January 1, 2006 will be grandfathered in with no changes to them as long as they keep their registration with Excelsior active by paying the applicable maintenance fee each year. Those who complete an Associate Degree and are not LPNs will need 750 additional clinical hours. Those who complete an Associate Degree and are LPNs will need 350 additional clinical hours. The state of CO is currently working on a plan to make those additional clinical hours available. (9/2005)

Florida
Florida State Board accepts all LPNs. Non-LPNs doing the RN program through Excelsior College can still endorse into Florida, however the State Board will now require 2 years of RN experience outside the state of Florida.

Georgia
Georgia State Board only accept Excelsior College graduates through reciprocity.

Illinois
All graduates must endorse in with 2 years of RN experience.

Kansas
Kansas Residents: Check with the Kansas State Board of Nursing about additional clinical hours needed.

Kentucky
This board is requiring that all graduates of all nursing schools do a 120 hour preceptorship upon completion of the nursing program.

Louisiana
LPNs or graduates with 50% traditional nursing school clinical hours who complete the Excelsior College nursing program may apply for the RN examination. All non-LPN graduates must endorse in with 6 months RN experience.

Maryland
All graduates enrolled on or before July 24, 2006 and graduate before December 31, 2007 will be eligible to apply for the RN examination or endorsement. Contact the state board for details.

North Dakota
All graduates may endorse in with 400 hours of RN experience

Oklahoma
For initial licensure, students are required to pass two 30-hour precepted experiences in Psych and OB administered by Excelsior College before graduation.

Vermont
Vermont Residents and Excelsior College: You will need to take your state boards outside the state of Vermont and work 480 clinical hours (roughly 12 weeks) before you can transfer your RN licensure into the state of Vermont. (11/2006)

Virginia
Effective May, 2008: Virginia Board of Nursing has passed a new regulation that says anyone not enrolled with Excelsior College by April 2 of 2008 will not be allowed to sit for state boards. Those who were enrolled as of April 2, 2008, will have to complete their degree by December 31, 2009.

Washington
Only LPNs with 200 hour precepted experience set up through a Washington Nursing Commission approved facility may apply for examination. Graduates who were originally LPNs may endorse in with minimum 200 hours RN experience. All non-LPN graduates with RN experience may be denied endorsement and will have to appeal any denial.

[Robert F]

Yes, it would appear that the solution is to take your NCLEX in Tennessee. There is a Pearson Vue in Chattanooga, right on the Catoosa County line.

TN County Map:
http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/alternate/FIG7.GIF

Hamilton county is Chattanooga.

Apply for your Tennessee licensure, then transfer it over to Georgia for reciprocity.

The distance between Chattanooga and Atlanta approximates: 119 mi – about 1 hour 57 mins at 70 mph (Interstate Speeds).

The common cost of the TN NCLEX Approximates:

$300 for the NCLEX Exam
$65 for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Background Check.

Remember, you can take your licensure exam at ANY Pearson Vue that offers NCLEX-RN.

An added benefit is that a TN RN License is Multi-State, and while it will not be compact in Georgia(meaning you will have to apply for GA Reciprocity rather than practicing with your TN LIcense), you can practice in all other compact license states without the need of applying for reciprocity.

Therefore, by taking your NCLEX and having a TN RN License, you meet the requirements for reciprocity in Georgia, based on having successfully passed the NCLEX.

[cougarnurse]

Yet.....the GaBON states on the web page that the new law states "During the 2008 session of the Georgia legislature, a bill was passed that requires all applicants
for licensure by endorsement to have graduated from a nursing education program approved by
the Georgia Board of Nursing or which meets criteria similar to, and not less stringent, than
those established by the Board. This bill went into effect on July 1, 2008 and is codified in
O.C.G.A. §43-26-7(c). " http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2...ext/hb1041.htm

Whatever that means. The way things sound down there, they (GaBON) will pitch a fit.

Guess we'll have to wait and see. I hope someone in this situation would drop by and let us know what's going on.