Good afternoon,

     I have been an LPN for 24 years and due to the demand of family and the need for an income, I have been unable to get into an RN program . It takes time to go to class, time I was working to support my family. I attempted to take some of the test for Excellsior college as time and money allowed.

     I moved to Virginia 4 years ago from Indiana and tried to get into a nursing program here however my name waqs on the bottom of the list. They take new grads first, then students who have lived here for ever, then people who graduated in the past 5 years, then me. So I was put on a 5 year waiting list.

     When you have to work full time to have benefits, pay bills and live, it is dificult to be in class 4 to 5 hours night, Other professions allow people to take online classes. Other professions give credit for work related experience. I have done more than most RN,s have in my years of nursing, yet I get no credit for this. Being able to take the Excellisor program , would at least allow me to study in my own time, test out , and complete the clinical portion in my time thus, allowing me to continue to work.

     Please help me to get paid for the work I do. As an LPN , you do the work but do not get the pay. I beleive this to be a greivce error. LPN;s make better RN's because of o n the job training. You can do anything as long as someone has trained you and checked you off, but you do not get the recognition or pay because your initals are not RN.

      So I would pleed for you to reconsider letting Ecellsior programs continue in Virginia. Thank you for your time.