630"Please join forces with RN graduates of Excelsior College (formerly known as Regents College) in our fight to be permitted to sit for the state licensure exam (NCLEX-RN) in order to obtain our RN license and to be permitted to work under the professional title of RN, which we have rightly earned."
I am a practicing LPN (licensed practical nurse) and have been working in the nursing profession for 19 years. I recently enrolled in Excelsior College. Excelsior College is a nationally accredited college located in Albany, NY, and their nursing program is accredited by the NLN (National League of Nursing). Excelsior College has a nursing program specifically designed in a distance learning format for LPN's to work towards an RN degree. For thousands upon thousands of adult learners who must maintain fulltime employment in order to survive, this program has been the only achievable option available for furthering their education. It has recently come to my attention that the Virginia Board of nursing has decided to no longer allow these nursing graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and will refuse granting an RN license to any nurse that graduates from Excelsior College effective in 2009. With a little digging I found out that there are several other states whose Boards of Nursing are moving (or have already moved) in this same legislative direction. Presently, as our nation teeters on the edge of a recession that will further hinder the shrinking middle-class from ever being able to afford higher education, our healthcare industry continues to experience a critical nursing shortage, and in adopting this legislation the state boards of nursing are now officially contributing to an increased nursing shortage. I am circulating this petition in hopes to bring this tragic revelation to the national forefront, in the hopes that national attention can assist in amending this legislation. This simply MUST be amended.
If you are unfamiliar with the Excelsior College nursing program please google it and read up on it, as this petition site does not allow links to be included. Once you are aware of the program I implore you to sign this petition. If you'd like more information or would like to join me in making this a national movement, please contact me. I have included the ability to receive e-mail messages from anyone who signs this petition. I hope that you will stand with me and the thousands upon thousands of Excelsior nursing grads around the country.
Sincere Thanks,
Nikki Hudnall
Alexandria, VA
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