To whom it may concern:

My name is Danielle Kaplan, and I am a nursing student from Stanbridge University in Irvine, California. As a nation, we are currently in uncharted waters with waves of uncertainty that lingers over us all. With all schools moving to online studies and the NCLEX testing centers slowly re-opening to allow for testing, there are large numbers of nursing students and graduates who are left in limbo.

I am currently finished with all of my nursing school classes, however, my school will not permit me to take their exit exam due to the current safety risks. This is the only factor that stands in the way of me graduating nursing school, taking the board exam, and getting out in the field to help on the front lines. I am the only student in my cohort who hasn't met "graduation" requirements because I was sick on the day of our scheduled exam and stayed home to keep my classmates safe. All I want to do is be out there in the field helping my fellow Americans! There are so many others like me who face a similar dilemma or are limited by extenuating circumstances. 

Situation: There is an estimated amount of at least 14,000 nursing school graduates in CA alone that are in limbo during this uncertain time of the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, there are thousands of nursing students who have their clinicals on hold due to the current circumstances and are unable to meet BRN requirements at this time. The California Nursing Practice Act (16 CCR Section 1429) and the BRN currently require 75 percent of our clinical education to take place during rotations at hospitals, with simulation training limited to 25 percent. We are asking this cap removed for a limited time to address this growing crisis and threat to students’ continued nursing education. It is imperative that the BRN temporarily allow clinical and simulation to be 50/50 in efforts to keep current nursing students on track to graduate.

The testing centers where nursing school graduates would normally take their NCLEX board exam are slowly re-opening testing centers as of March 25, but only near major metropolitan areas. We have the skills and drive to be out in the field alongside the other valiant nurses, physicians, and hospital staff to help our fellow Americans during this time where our country is in a state of emergency but cannot due to these various limitations.

Ultimately, we need to grant temporary licensure to new grad nurses to be proactive during the pandemic; the human resources need to increase to prepare for the projected influx of patients, and this is an appropriate way to go about it.  

The purpose of conveying these pressing issues to you is to advocate for all the nursing students and graduates who are in a position to provide assistance to their fellow Americans but are limited by extenuating circumstances related to the COVID-19 crisis. Please sign and share this with as many people as you can, and Governor Gavin Newsom, we need you to allow us to help us help others! We respectfully ask for your consideration of these suggestions and to make an executive decision.

Respectfully, 

Danielle Kaplan: dmk225@nau.edu

Raegan Garcia: raeganhgarcia@gmail.com

Robert Murray: robman3001@gmail.com

Gabrielle Berman: Gabrielle.e.berman@gmail.com

We never know what the future holds, but I do know that we have significant amounts of able bodies who are aching to get out in the field and help. In order to do that, we need your help and your voices! Please sign this petition and share it with everyone you can. Thank you!