I am a recent graduate of Excelsior College's AD Nursing Program(April 2010) and have been personally affected by the Virginia Board of Nursing's new regulations. At the time the board passed this regulation, I was living in Pennsylvania an working as an LPN in a hospital there. If I would have stayed there, I would have been hired as an RN when I finished the Excelsior program. Unfortunately, my Husband took a job in Northern Virginia and my plans were altered.  I missed the Virginia Board of Nursing's cut off date by four months and was told that there were no exceptions to the new regulations.

I have been a practicing LPN for the last 14 years, with my  last 10 years in hospital settings(Medical, Telemetry, Orthopedics, and step down units).  I am scheduled to take my NCLEX RN at the end of July for licensing in the District of Columbia, because I cannot be licensed in the State of Virgina as an RN.  At this point,  I am very discouraged because I would like to work as an RN at one of the near by hospitals in Northern Virginia, but I can't.  I was even willing to continue to work as an LPN in a hospital here, but I cannot find a job.  I am currently working in LTC and considering a new career because I cannot find a job in a hospital, and that is what I love to do.  I have come to the conclusion that If 14 years of hands on clinical nursing experience is not enough to go on to the next level, then I need to be doing something else. It is really a sad thought because I really love being a nurse, and I can't imagine doing anything else.

I chose Excelsior's program because it was the right option for me. It allowed me to continue to work as a LPN in a hospital setting and move on to the next level of nursing. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done and I am very proud of myself. I really wish the State of Virginia's Board of Nursing would reconsider their position on this matter. I know in my heart that I am a good nurse and would be good RN for their state.