This issue needs to be resolved. Percentages show there are plenty of qualified nurses coming from the excelsior program. All this does is benefits other states as graduates go and apply their skills elsewhere.
Please reconsider this decision. I am a practicing LPN in northwest KS and this is a vital factor on rather I become a practicing RN in northwest KS or not.
I don't see any reason why someone who is already an LPN going on to get the RN through distance learning shouldn't be allowed to go through Excelsior's program. Everyone always comments on the clinical portion. As a working LPN I'm doing my clinical's while working. I look ahead to see what is required of an RN and when I have questions on the floor I ask the RN's I work with. Excelsior's program is a hard one. And I think anyone who can get through it deserves a chance at working as an RN as anyone who goes through a conventional college. Just because someone goes through a conventional program doesn't mean they will have a good clinical experience. I for one had a horrible clinical instructor. She never sought out any type of treatment or procedure for our group. It was after getting my license that I learned many important things that could have been taught while in school. I hope you let Excelsior students get the RN licensure in your state.
I am working towards my RN degree. I have an Associates Degree from local College. I hold the Excelsior College degree in high standing. This is a fine institution. It is challenging and difficult. I would welcome any Excelsior Grad to care for myself or my family. Please reconsider the KS denial of EC grads. The Graduate Nurses ARE worthy and able to give excellant nursing care. Debra Lowry LPN
Excelsior is an excellent way for those of us who would not be able to achieve our RN status otherwise. It is in NO WAY an easy program, and I feel that it shows a lot of discipline on our part to be able to study on our own and pass the required tests to graduate. Please reconsider this petition as we as Excelsior students are obviously VERY motivated and will end up being excellent RN's. Thank you!
This is an outrage, a wrong that must be righted. Excelsior is the ONLY associate degree nursing program, not only on-line but where a student MUST prove him/herself through every step. There is no getting away with almost knowing the material, or the 'cute' factor so well known in the school system. Furthermore, No other Associate degree program that I know of (and I was a traditional college R.N. student once) Makes you pass a clinical examination. Most nursing schools depend on clinical for exposure, not as a test of skill level. If this is taken away, where will a majority of working mothers, fathers or full time employees be able to attain an associates degree in nursing? The final straw is that Excelsior is the ONLY school that I know of that is accredited by the NLN to allow a student (on-line or other) to attain not only an associates degree but a Masters as well.
this is a user friendly program and tests the students vigorously to ensure that we're prepared to be tested and "called" RN.
thank you for reconsidering
Excelsior education program is outstanding. This decision not to allow excelsior grads to sit for the board is ridiculous. I bet we have learned more and are more competent than most RN's from other programs in that we had to be self motivated and deligent to learn all these things on our own without the support of a classroom. All new grads must do an orientation where ever they work, so within that if people are not qualified to do the nursing task, they will not continue to be in a new grad program. Let the employers decide to hire us. I'm sure they will find us a breath of fresh air, we actually KNOW our stuff. Please rethink this decision.
Sincerely,
Wynee Brouelette
As another health care professional, Excelsior was a logical option. I am looking to move to the US after graduation, but Kansas is off the list, now. Your loss.
I have just started this program in November with RUE/Excelsior. I was so excited. My dreams have been crushed over night. Kansas will be loosing an RN and LPN when I am finished. I will take my tax dollars and nursing tallents to another state if this problem is not cleared up by the time I am finished.
This decision by the Kansas State Board of Nursing only hurts Kansas in the long run. By disenfranchising a whole group of non-traditional students.
I'd like to bring attention to the learning process of this program from my own experience. I have learned and retained much more of my nursing edu. by taking the time I needed individually to learn the material as this program provided. The clinical performance part of ths program demands a total mastering of every area along with theory in order to pass. This is performed under intense stress, teaching you to manage your stress level, no traditional setting could do this. My nursing edu. from Excelsior is invaluable to me compared to the large classroom settings I have attended. This program should receive the credit due it.
Every nurse will tell you what you put into nursing school and your experience after you graduate are more important than where you went to school. Please investigate more closely as to what the real difference in an Excelsior graduate, ASN grad, and BSN grad really know in the realm of clinical experience. You will actually find that the higher the degree, the less clinical time spent in school (mostly). Please investigate this decision before you do harm to all of these students in your state.
I am an LPN in Massachusetts with a BS in Biology Pre-Med. I have over 20 years of Nursing experience. I am now enrolled in Excelsior College for my ASN. This program has rigorous academic standards and should be given the credit it is due. In light of the nursing shortage, the Kansas Board or Nursing needs to be facilitating nurses into the field and not deterring them. This non-traditional program's testing (both theory and practice) as well as the NCLEX do a very good job of culling those who would be suited for other professions. I request that you reconsider your opposition to licensure for those completing this program and passing their state boards. Thank you.
I believe by making this decision you are creating a tremendous injustice towards your own nurses as well as those working so hard to attend school in a non traditional setting. It not only hurts these people, but people doing online programs in general. You are saying they are not good enough.
Please change your decision to allow Excelsior students to become licensed in Kansas. They have worked tremendously hard and studied diligently to attain a nursing license.
This program requires the same text books and reading as the traditional school I attempted for LPN to RN. The students must have significant clinical backgrounds and must pass a ridiculously stressful clinical exam to graduate. Excelsior students must be self-diciplined and self-motivated to complete the program, more so than students of traditional programs. For many this is the only option to reach a life long goal.
I moved from California where there is huge nursing shortage. They went to the Philippines for nurses...their english if poor and because of the outsourcing people from american families have been losing jobs. Is that the position Kansas is taking?
My Wife just finished this program overseas in Japan were I work for the military and planned on moving back to kansas were we are from in May and now she can't have the career that she has worked so hard for. It's not fair! You can't play with peoples lives like this!
I am an L.P.N. in Ks and I am employeed by the State. I am almost through this program waiting for my CPNE date. I called the State Board of nursing before beginning this program and was told it was accepted. I think it foolish to throw away a good program for working nurses tofurther thier education. Especilly in light of the Nursing shortage. Until you have proof that this program is not successful how can you condem it. Shari Saxton LPN.
I attended an 7th-Day Adventist College (Oakwood College) in Huntsville Alabama and Miami Dade Community College and they both accepted Excelsor credits and vice versa.
I'm an Excelsior graduate of 2003. I went straight to Intensive Care (ICU) upon graduation and have had nothing but excellent performance appraisals from my supervisors and manager. My "traditional" schooled 3 ADN and 2 BSN co-workers who became RN's and hired at the same time as me cannot say the same. ALL of them required either longer extended orientation before working on their own or needed remedial coursework in addition to more orientation.
So much for the clinical component of traditional schools preparing competent graduates.
This program is accredited and is by far more difficult than any "traditional" program. I don't live in Kansas (and, of course, now would not consider it), but I find it amazing that you would not want to encourage your LPNs to further their education in whatever way they can. Not all of us can quit our jobs to go to school full-time. Not all of us want to spend years going to school part- time. Excelsior offers a mode for us to achieve our personal goals without ignoring other responsibilities and commitments. This should be commended, not punished. I hope that you will reconsider this unfair and foolish decision.
WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE BIG NURSING SHORTAGE, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE ARE DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THE SITUATION.I THINK THAT THE KANSAS STATE BOARD OF NURSING SHOULD ACCEPT THE EXCELSIOR PROGRAM. THESE NURSES ARE DEDICATED AND HAS WHAT IT TAKES, IF NOT MORE. IF YOU CAN PASS THE NCLEX YOU HAVE PROVEN YOURSELF COMPETENT.
and then there were none....What if...'all the nurses left the state becasue they could get better pay...Who would be there to tend your sick and hurt people? What if..you turn away your future help for your citizens, because of a change of mind in thinking and stop peoples talents and skills which could make a difference in your own welfare...People have worked hard in order to bring YOU the benefits from it,and now you want to stike them down in the middle of their comittment?! Is this how your entire state is run?..a wishy washy attitude of 'maybe..maybe not...yes...or,..no ..okay..forget it..Seems you need to get on track and think of the positive outcome of staying true to your word
Once again another instance where nurses eat their own. We need to be a profession of nurses that ENCOURAGE not discourage. Obviously these nurses LPN'S going on for their RN have a desire to stay in the field, it is unfair to tell someone at the end of their dream and LONG hard dedication that you will not honor what was to have been automatically offered at the start of their nursing career. Why not make Kansas a role model where LPN's want to finish and go on and not make a bad name for yourself.
Please accept these students. During this shortage of nurses it is imperative that they be accepted before they change their careers to other fields. As a nurse, I know how bad the nursing shortage is! Please change your decision!
Most of the students with Excelsior are LPN's. Like in most states LPN's can and do just about the same procedures with few exceptions. If an LPN takes the time/money and commitment to return to school to further their career and the hospitals benefit, what's the problem? With the shortage today, why are you exempting thousands of potential RN's from working in your state? Aren't they already qualified and working there as in your state?????
I find it hard to believe that you would change your policy after telling these students Excelsior College was accepted by the KSBN.This is very unfair and you should rethink you decision and make the appropriate changes.
If a student wants to live/stay/move to Kansas, isn't it in the state's best interest to keep qualified healthcare officials in the state? It's beneficial for the state's overall health and economics -- afterall, these professional will be paying state taxes, too. How interesting that a state that is only growing at 8% is willing to send away the people who WANT to stay.
The simple and fair solution is to Grandfather those students that have started the program. It's unthinkable that you changed policies after they spent time, money and future plans to stay in Kansas.
