I have been an RN in the Commonwealth of VA for 34yrs and there is no greater teacher than direct care experience. The Department of Health Professions would be remiss in its duty to the citizens of this state to allow nurses without adequate clinical experience to practice. The liability for these nurses as well as their employers will be immense. Patient safety is the ultimate goal of nursing care and a professional standard. Granting this petition would be a degradation of the hard work of all nursing students who have fulfilled their required clinical hours in order to graduate and sit for licensure. Compromise of professional standards is not negotiable!