California LVN to BSN Students Hung Out to Dry by Sonoma State, Indiana State?

October 15th, 2012. By AbiK

Just got an interesting email. A reader shared the predicament that 141 LVN to BSN students have found themselves in: they’ve matriculated in an online nursing program that’s a partnership between CSU’s Sonoma State University (SSU) and Indiana State University (ISU)—a program that had been approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses—but now there’s a catch. Seems the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two schools has been severed. (Note: go to minute 2:36:00 of above video).

Here’s what the reader had to share:

“The abrupt, unexpected severance of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Indiana State University (ISU) and Sonoma State University (SSU) threatens to leave ISU’s 141 California nursing students admitted into the dual enrollment LVN to BSN Online partnership approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) without a teach-out plan, no viable opportunities to complete our educational goals, and significant financial, professional, and emotional hardships. We are LVNs seeking to complete our BSNs and advanced training to contribute to the professionalism of nursing; many of us are almost done with the program. We have lodged our complaints with both universities, the California State University Board of Trustees, and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. However, we are finding few advocates in our corner and are at a loss for what actions to take at this point.”

Translation? Those 141 LVN to BSN students are left hanging for now. They’ve matriculated into a program they thought would allow them to get their BSN degree and now that their ability to do so is at risk, some are crying breach of contract.

For those who don’t have a clue about nursing acronyms, LVN is a Licensed Vocational Nurse—sometimes also called an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). LVN/LPN nurses are not RN’s (Registered Nurses)—and LVN is typically a one-year program whereas an RN  receives additional training. The American Nurses Association has more explanation on the various nursing degrees and licensing requirements.

Now, you might say, “What’s the big deal? Just transfer.” But apparently, it’s not that simple.

First off, the courses (and credits) specified as a part of this LVN to BSN program are, according to the 141 students left in the lurch, not transferable.

Second, California community college nursing programs have notoriously high wait lists for new students. NPR ran a story on the situation back in 2010—but if you listen to the challenges (the word “challenges” being an understatement) faced by some current LVN to BSN students who spoke at a Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Registered Nursing Webcast Board Meeting (September 27, 2012—see video above—fast-forward to minute 3:10:00 to hear student comments), the problem is far from resolved.

So what happened? Why are 141 nursing students at risk of being left without a nursing program they’d already been accepted to? If you watch the meeting minutes on the SSU and ISU nursing program partnership—which start at minute 2:36:00—it sounds like there’s been a bit of a snowball effect that began with a complaint by an ISU nursing student alleging fraudulent clinical hour documentation which then led to a halt on new students being admitted into the program pending an investigation. Comments like “we didn’t have a board then” and that the 3-month (May-July 2012) investigation “identified six areas of non-compliance” don’t spark confidence in how things were being run either.

But that’s not the fault of those 141 students who’d been matriculated and who now may find themselves collateral damage of the fraud allegations and non-compliance issues.

And you have to love the smug comments from the board—like those clarifying that, rather than supporting the nurses, they “support the public”. Talk about CYA. The only board member who’s willing to point at the “elephant in the room” is the woman on the far right. Aside from her, it’s painful to listen to all the bureaucratic b.s. and babbling. Granted, the Board doesn’t have the jurisdiction to change the situation—but the 141 nursing students aren’t asking for that; they’re asking the Board to have their backs—to support them in their quest to have the LVN to BSN program remain intact so they can complete their degree.

We’ll have to see how this plays out and what happens to those 141 nursing students. From the sound of it, there may well be a bit of legal wrangling to come in order to resolve things (note the comment from one affected student’s husband: “I would warn you that the lawsuits are going to begin. This is outrageous”). But it’s clear something ain’t right. And there’s now a petition over at Change.org with 493 supporters to date—you can check it out here.

Tags: BSN, California Board of Registered Nurses, Indiana State University, LVN, Nursing School, Sonoma State University

This was posted on Monday, October 15th, 2012 at 10:34 am and is filed under Complaints/Comments, lawsuits . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.