Help Needed From Distance Learners Everywhere!!

[gcalvin]

I attended the Excelsior Alumni meeting on July 12, the Saturday morning after the commencement ceremony. President Ebersole was there, and he answered a question dealing with this issue. There is a similar thing going on in California, which he hopes will be resolved favorably this year. He didn't specifically mention Virginia, but the faculty and staff are well aware that this sort of thing is cropping up around the country, and that their past approach to resolving it has been ineffective. He mentioned that Kaiser Permanente seem to be a major instigator of this, and that they hope to engage them directly this year and try to resolve the matter. Sorry if this is vague, but since I'm not a nursing student, I didn't pay strict attention to the details.

-Gary-

[serenity67]

I attended the Excelsior Alumni meeting on July 12, the Saturday morning after the commencement ceremony. President Ebersole was there, and he answered a question dealing with this issue. There is a similar thing going on in California, which he hopes will be resolved favorably this year. He didn't specifically mention Virginia, but the faculty and staff are well aware that this sort of thing is cropping up around the country, and that their past approach to resolving it has been ineffective. He mentioned that Kaiser Permanente seem to be a major instigator of this, and that they hope to engage them directly this year and try to resolve the matter. Sorry if this is vague, but since I'm not a nursing student, I didn't pay strict attention to the details.

-Gary-

Thanks for the info Gary. I am actually in communication with Excelsior regarding this issue. I am in direct contact with the nursing dept. and am sharing any info I get with them. I am planning on attending the next scheduled VA Board of Nursing meeting in Sept. and will meet up there with the RN who represents Excelsior for all the state boards around the country. There just has to be some way to fight this.

[barcotta]

I signed and wrote a little something in support of your position. This is going to be an uphill battle because, in principle, most people (particularly uninformed people like me) would agree that an RN candidate should have 500 hours under their belt. Anything that sounds like a compromise or shortcut can easily be dismissed by the "no shortcuts" crowd with any number of cliches. Getting past that argument to make people understand enough to change their position--particularly now that it's a done deal in three states--will be tough. I applaud and support your effort. Good luck.

[serenity67]

I signed and wrote a little something in support of your position. This is going to be an uphill battle because, in principle, most people (particularly uninformed people like me) would agree that an RN candidate should have 500 hours under their belt. Anything that sounds like a compromise or shortcut can easily be dismissed by the "no shortcuts" crowd with any number of cliches. Getting past that argument to make people understand enough to change their position--particularly now that it's a done deal in three states--will be tough. I applaud and support your effort. Good luck.

Thanks for signing. I realize I'm in for the fight of my life... a fight I very well may lose, but I at least have to try. I think there should at least be some sort of middle ground in the legislation, but to just completely discredit the entire program seems a bit to general. Thanks again for signing.

[serenity67]

When I first posted this message here yesterday I thought it was a good idea, seeing that all of us on this site know just how serious our distance learning studies are to bettering our future. As it turns out, not only was it a "good" idea... it was a GREAT idea! The petition is growing by leaps and bounds! Keep it up guys! Pass it around... let's make some noise and get the attention this issue deserves! Thanks again for your support!

[alleycat]

I just signed the petition also. I think this is terrible what kind of laws and roles are allowed to steep into our states! Why are they not going after the real problem like the imported nursing degrees that don't have the regulations or the hours to make them worth very much? Good luck in your endevour and you just might be suprised at the end result!

[serenity67]

I just signed the petition also. I think this is terrible what kind of laws and roles are allowed to steep into our states! Why are they not going after the real problem like the imported nursing degrees that don't have the regulations or the hours to make them worth very much? Good luck in your endevour and you just might be suprised at the end result!

Thanks Allison!! I need all the help I can get! I am really hoping I can get a lot of folks on here to sign my petition, seeing as we ALL are distance learners and can ALL appreciate how important preserving this educational avenue is! I just don't want to stand by and do nothing while one by one states take this educational option away.

Nikki

[Blitzstudie]

I am local to you and I know what a shortage there is of nurses AND how backed up and limited the "traditional" options are...At the NOVA medical campus there is like a year wait to get into a program. Its not that it is a bad thing to want people well trained but at the least they need to setup a program so that people can fulfill that say with a provisonal RN like they do with teachers or psychologists to get their license.

I have some good thoughts, if you want to PM me. A basic outline of your plan might save me from rehashing stuff you are doing.