To Whom It May Concern:

This is to notify your office that CGFNS should be removed as a qualification to take the Virginia Board of Nurse Examination. It only delays the candidate in taking the Nursing Board and adds more financial burden to the candidate.

Tess Ernest RN BSN MBA- HCM

The removal of CGFNS qualifying exam in Virginia will  increase number of potential test taker of NCLEX instead of taking it from other state that does not require this. This means that there will be more Registered Nurses that more likely to practice their profession  here in VA  because one is more incline to practice where they took and passed the exam.We have a large diverse  community of foriegn graduate nurses.  I learned that by 2015, there will be more RN retiring than Graduating nurses and by 2020, 0ne (1 ) out of 3 Virginia patients will not be cared for because of the global shortage of nurses. I love Virginia, this is where I will retire and I would love to know that there will be  efficient and professional nurses that will take care of me whe I will get sick.

Financially and taking 2 exams is tough. Concentrating and focusing for the NCLEX  alone means  increase percent of passing the test.

Foriegn graduate nurses will appreciate above petition. I want them to take their NCLEX here in VA so we will have more nurse s to take care of us  .

It delays taking the NCLEX and financial burden on the individual. over this text and enter your comments here. You are limited to approximately 3000 words.

I'm in favor.

Iam in Favor. 

I respectfully and strongly support this proposal.  I took the CGFNS before I came to the US several years ago, then I took the NCLEX  before I can practice here, personally, I did not see the difference except for the additional financial burden on the applicants.  Several States have eliminated CGFNS as a requirement before taking the NCLEX, it's about time, our State do the same.  Thank You!

other nurses to come here and work as this will mean less hurdle for them to go through, allowing them to just take the NCLEX sooner, as long as the other requirements are already fulfilled.

By not requiring CGFNS before taking NCLEX in State of Va, it will increase the number of foreign nurses to become licensed in the state of Va,which will help prevent a nursing shortage.

NCLEX is almost the same as CGFNS  coz i had taken one before back in 1996. i dont understand why foreign nurses  have  to take both exams and the format is almost  the same.

I totally support that  foreign graduate nurses  will be given  the opportunity to  take NCLEX exam  here in Virginia.This will boost our  foreign graduate nurses' morale, to fulfill their aspirations and goals as nurses , to be able to support their families and  primarily to serve  the community.

Finally we are getting to the end of it. Can't wait for this mater to be materialized it will be a great relief for the future foreign nurses spending time and money to prepare for this exam. Thank you PNA.

In the state of Virginia we are in dire need of nurses. The CGFNS only futher prolongs, or drives competent nurses to other states. Without CGFNS more nurses are likely to take NCLEX and practice in the state of VA. Thank you for your attention in this matter.

I am in favor of the elimination of the CGFNS examination as requirement for taking NCLEX for foreign professional registered nurses.

i agree

agreed

This will facilitate registration in the US because instead of two examinations, foreign nurses will take only the NCLEX.   This will eliminate another burden of costs, anxieties and the problem of asnwering two examinations.

Congratulations my dear colleagues for such a noble cause you are fighting for!

More power to the committee, members and the PNAA Va.

I vote for the petition to eliminate CGFNS.

More money, more time, more step in the application process. I recommend to take the NCLEX straight .

Removing the CGFNS here in Virginia will be beneficial for the state because it will offer an opportunity for foreign nurses to take the NCLEX only and possibly increase the number of highly qualified nurses here.  The CGFNS is just another stressor.... talk about test anxiety and financially.  Therefore, I agree NCLEX ONLY!!! Get rid of the CGFNS!

Taking CGFNS will only slow the process of taking the NCLEX.   Potential foreign graduate test takers that lives in Virginia will likely to take NCLEX here,  less expense also.   Favors very much to eliminate CGFNS.

 I strongly support and advocate the removal of CGFNS in the State of Virginia. This will expedite the process of taking the NCLEX. CGFNS is just an additional stressor and burden especially financially for the foreign graduate nurses. Other States that have eliminated the CGFNS have been very successful with the nurses who only took the NCLEX- am sure the State of Virginia will do fine and be as successful as well.

I give my 100% support to remove the CGFNS qualifying exam in VA.

I strongly support the petition of the PNAVA to remove CGFNS requirement of foreign nurses who wish to employ  in the State of Virginia.

I strongly support the removal of the CGFNS Exam requirement for RN licensure in the state of Virginia. With NCLEX RN Exams available outside the United States, foreign educated nurses are now able to take and pass this RN licensing exam as well as pass a thorough credentials review before coming to the US. This makes the CGFNS exam a duplicative exam and therefore no longer necessary.

My niece was one of the first takers of NCLEX in the Philippines and passed it . She's being sponsored by one of the hospitals in New York and patiently waiting for US visa. I don't really see a need for the CGFNS exam.

I am in favor of removing CGFNS as a requirement for obtaining an RN license. I believe that imposing this is very racist and disallows other groups of nurses from various nationalities or countries who are qualified and experienced in coming in this country and take care of our sick ones. If there is a shortage of nurses in this country, then we should allow them to come and work here with us. Thank you.

Removing CGFNS as a requirement for nurses to practice in VA will attract more nurses to come to our state, thus alleviating the shortage of RNs. Virginia will then join 28 other progressive states who have removed this barrier for nurses to practice in their states.

In favor of removing CGFNS

I write in support of the proposal that the Board of Nursing of Virginia should abolish the requirement that foreign-educated nurses pass the CGFNS examination before receiving a license to practice nursing in Virginia.

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) is an independent, non-government organization that issues certifications that verify an individual’s qualification to practice nursing. To receive a CGFNS certification, a nurse’s education, registration and license must be verified; the nurse must pass an examination; and must show proof of English language proficiency.

The CGFNS examination requirement is an unnecessary, time-consuming and costly burden on foreign-educated nurses wanting to work in Virginia. This requirement is simply bad for Virginia. Let me explain – 

In favor of removing CGFNS

Our nursing education in the Philippines conforms with the standards of the United States

nursing education program.  Any graduate from the Philippine nursing schools are all qualified to take the NCLEX test bypassing the CGFNS test required by US in vaious states.

I totally support the removal of the CGFNS requirement. I personally see this requirement as a barrier for  nursing professionals outside of the US. I just don't see the purpose of this examination that NCLEX is not already providing.

Type over this I am in favor of remaol of CGFNS in VA. Thank you.

I am in favor for the removal of CGFNS from the State of Virginia.

I support removal of CGFNS in Virginia. It works perfectly well in New Jersey. The test is redundant and is not necessary prior to NCLEX testing by nursing candidates.

Madelyn D. Yu

President, PNA New Jersey

I am in favor for the removal of the CGFNS examination for all Foreign Trained RN's. I feel that the English Exam, Nclex Exam and having their educational credentials evaluated by an approved educational credentialing services meeting the nursing program  standards of the NLN should  be enough to obtain licensure in the state of Virginia. Thank you. 

Dear Sir,

The Philippine Nurses Association of Illinois, supports the proposal of the Philippine Nurses Association of Virginia (PNAVA) to remove the CGFNS Qualifing Examination of Nursing Knowledge for those applicants eligible to take the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensing Exam-Registered Nurse).

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

        Remedios dela Cruz, President PNA Illinois

The Philippine nurses Association of Illinois is in favor of the proposal of PNAVA to remove the CGFNS Qualifying Examination of Nursing knowledge for those applicants eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.

Thank you.

       Remedios dela cruz, President PNAIllinois

?I support the removal of CGFNS as a requirement for licensure  in VA.

The process of taking the exam is redundant and does not give the foreign nurse the license to practice. On the other hand, the fee to take the exam is exorbitant. Taking the CGFNS exam  cannot be used as a tool in determining whether the foreign nurse will pass the NCLEX or not. I firmly believe that CGFNS requirement must be removed.

Removal of the CGFNS will help alleviate the nursing shortage in Virginia.

I support the removal of CGFNS examination as a requirement for foreign-educated nurses to obtain licensure in Virginia; the NCLEX-RN examination establishes the nurse' s knowledge and skills to safely practice the profession. 

The CGFNS requirement has become a deterrent for equally competent nurses to come to Virginia. The time is now, abolish the CGFNS exam.

This is an added expense to foreign graduate nurses to take the NCLEX in Virginia.