Response From Father Wild: Including a Doctored Document

March 28, 2007

Dear Lydia,

Thank you for your letter regarding your experience at Marquette. After receiving your letter and a letter from your father, I discussed your case with a number of colleagues. First, let me say that I do appreciate your situation. I certainly understand that your life plans changed and that you moved from Wisconsin to the Gulf Coast region as a result of your marriage and your husband's work as an Episcopal priest. I'm sure that you are making a positive difference in the lives of your parishioners and in your community. So I do appreciate your current circumstances.

Those things said, Marquette has a specific requirements outlined in the Graduate Bulletin that we must adhere to in terms of granting degrees. You yourself agreed to the terms outlined by the College of Nursing and in the Graduate Bulletin when you were a student. Specifically, you signed a Memorandum of Understanding dated April 1, 2004 (copy enclosed) where you acknowledged and agreed to the following:

"Please understand that the purpose of this program is to prepare you with a Master of Science degree in Nursing. You will not receive another bachelor's degree. At the completion of the pre-MSN phase, you will be eligible to take the professional licensing exam for nursing in the State of Wisconsin."

You agreed to these terms. If they were not acceptable to you, then you should not have signed the Memorandum of Understanding. Specifically, you agreed that you would not earn a bachelor's degree and that after the pre-MSN phase, you would be eligible to take the licensing exam in the State of Wisconsin, but not in any other state. Now you are asking Marquette to award you a bachelor's degree, and that is something that we did not promise and cannot do because you did not earn such a degree here at Marquette. In order to earn a bachelor's degree, Marquette requires completion of 53 credits of university core courses in addition to the nursing courses, plus a student must earn a total of 128 credits in order to receive a bachelor's degree. Since you did not meet these requirements, you cannot receive a BSN degree. Rather, you were required to take 50 credits of undergraduate nursing courses to be eligible to take the NCLEX examination in Wisconsin. The State of Wisconsin has interpreted its licensing requirements to allow students who have completed the pre-MSN phase of Marquette's Direct Entry Program to sit for the licensing exam. We do not control how other states interpret their own licensing requirements.

Professional licensing remains the jurisdiction of each individual state. Indeed, your letter states that you took the NCLEX examination at the conclusion of the pre-MSN phase of the program, as outlined in the materials you received from us, and you passed that exam which allowed you to be licensed in Wisconsin.

While I appreciate that you and your husband left Wisconsin, I must point out that in doing so, you were informed on multiple occasions what this would mean for your future career in nursing, namely that it would likely be necessary for you to take addition courses at another institution in order to become licensed outside of Wisconsin.

We have no direct influence over any state authorities. That said, I know that Dr. Judith Fitzgerald Miller, Associate Dean of the College of Nursing has been working with you with respect to the Mississippi licensing requirements (see enclosed letter from Dr. Miller to you dated February 26, 2007). My assessment of this is that Dr. Miller is going above and beyond in order to help you, which is what I would expect of faculty members at Marquette. While Dr. Miller is doing all that she can to help you, it is important to remember that what we can do with respect to Mississippi is limited.

The best advice that I can give is for you to continue working directly with Dr. Miller on possible solutions to this issue. I recognize that you and your family are not pleased with the current status, but the issue is beyond Marquette's control for the reasons explained above. You chose to move out of Wisconsin and unfortunately that decision complicated your nursing situation a great deal.

For the rest, please be assured of my prayers for you and your husband that our good and gracious God will bless your continued work in Mississippi.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Wild, S.J.
___________________________________________________
This letter included a copy of the "Memorandum of Understanding" in which someone had hand-written in the word "only" in this passage:

At the completion of the pre-MSN phase, you will be eligible to take the professional licensing exam for nursing in the state of Wisconsin only.

The word "only" was not on the original document at the time that I signed it. The insertion of the word "only" completely changes the meaning of the sentence. The document that I signed stated that I could become licensed in Wisconsin, but said nothing about licensure in other states.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Direct Entry Nursing program?

A: It is an accelerated three-year program for individuals who have a bachelor's degree in a field unrelated to nursing to get an RN and a master's degree in a nursing specialty (for example to become a nurse-midwife, pediatric nurse practitioner, etc.) At the end of the first 15 months students become registered nurses, then spend the next two years working on their MSN (Master's of Science in Nursing). Students must be able to become licensed as registered nurses before beginning the master's degree part of the program so that they can participate in the clinical courses that are required. The intent of the program is for people to stay through the completion of the master's degree.

Q: You knew when you began the program that it did not offer a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN), so why are you upset about this now?

A: I agreed to attend the Direct Entry program even though I knew that I would not get a BSN because I was not aware that Wisconsin State Law requires graduation from a school of nursing in order to become an RN. We were told that Marquette had a "special agreement" with Wisconsin in order to allow us to become RNs without BSNs. Marquette is a reputable institution, and they had already been running the Direct Entry program for several years, so I assumed that this "special agreement" must be legitimate.

After I moved to Mississippi and I was unable to obtain a license here I began to research the nursing laws and licensure procedures in Wisconsin and Mississippi to find out how it happened that I was able to get licensed there, but not here. This research revealed that the "special agreement" between Marquette and the State directly conflicts with the Nurse Practice Act (441.04) in Wisconsin, which clearly requires graduation in order to become licensed as an RN.

The bottom line: it does not matter what I agreed to when I began the Direct Entry program at Marquette if what they are doing is not legal. Marquette can't force its students to sign a form allowing them to break the law. I have not been able to find any official evidence that the "special agreement" that Marquette has with Wisconsin is legal.

Step #3: Letter to Each Member of Marquette's Board of Trustees

I have not gotten a response from Father Wild or from the second letter I sent to Judith Miller that requested a copy of the 'special agreement.' It has been over two weeks, so I'm moving on to the next step. These letters should arrive at Marquette around next Wednesday - since there are 35 letters I can't afford to send them priority. It's hard to say when the individual board members will actually get their letters - it looks like many of them don't live in Milwaukee. Over three weeks ago I requested a copy of the "Statement of Graduation" that is part of my file at the Department of Regulation & Licensing because I had wanted to include a copy of it with this letter, but I have not received it yet.
___________________________________________________
Friday, March 23, 2007

[NAME]
Member, Marquette University Board of Trustees
Marquette University
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201

Dear [NAME]:

I would like to bring to your attention some irregularities relating to Marquette University’s Direct Entry nursing program. I will give an overview of the problem here, but additional details and documents can be found on my website: lydiaslicense.blogspot.com.

Let me begin by briefly telling you my story. I graduated from Chatham College in 1999 with a B.A. in Mathematics and English Literature, Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa. I was a member of the 6th cohort of the Direct Entry nursing program at Marquette University (2004-2005). When I began the program I fully intended to complete the full three years. About half way through the first 15 months, the RN portion of the program, I became engaged. At that time my fiancé was in his last year at an Episcopal seminary, and he was obligated to return to serve in his home state of Louisiana in June of 2005. He was assigned to a large parish in New Orleans and I stayed in Milwaukee until August to complete my RN, with plans to move to New Orleans with him directly after our wedding. On August 13, 2005 I completed the RN portion of the Direct Entry program at Marquette, on August 20th I got married, and on August 29th my husband and I lost nearly everything in Hurricane Katrina - including my husband’s parish. In November I took state boards and received my nursing license in Wisconsin. My husband took the first job he was offered, which did not happen until March of 2006. This job happened to be in Mississippi.

When I applied for a nursing license in Mississippi my application was denied for one reason: because my Marquette transcript does not contain a graduation date. I am now in repayment of over $35,000 in student loans that I took out in order to attend Marquette although I am now unable to work as a nurse. My husband is an Episcopal priest in rural Mississippi and is currently supporting our family of three on only a few thousand dollars a year more than the amount of my outstanding student loans. The area we live in is also experiencing a severe nursing shortage crisis.

Mississippi state law regulating nurses states that one must graduate from an accredited nursing program in order to hold a license. The same is true in Wisconsin (Nurse Practice Act: 441.04). How can the Direct Entry program qualify its students to become registered nurses, yet not award us degrees? When I applied to take the state board examination (NCLEX-RN) I filled out a "Statement of Graduation" form for the Wisconsin State Board of Regulation & Licensing. On this form my classmates and I were instructed by Marquette staff members to check the box for "BSN" and to list August 13, 2005 as a graduation date - yet there is no graduation date listed on my official Marquette transcript.

Dr. Judith Miller, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs & Research, College of Nursing, has informed me that Marquette University negotiated with the State of Wisconsin to allow Direct Entry students to sit for the state board exam without holding a degree. I fail to see how an agreement of this kind can possibly be valid. The Nurse Practice Act clearly states that in order to sit for the licensure exam individuals must hold "a diploma of graduation."

I requested a copy of the formal written agreement between the State of Wisconsin and Marquette University relating to the licensure of Direct Entry students from Dr. Judith Miller on May 5, 2007, but I did not receive a response. When I requested the same information from the Department of Regulation & Licensing under the Wisconsin Public Records Law I was provided with two letters. (A pdf file containing these documents is available on my web site for your convenience.) The first letter is from Madeline Wake, then Dean of the College of Nursing, to Wayne Austin, then Legal Counsel for the Board of Nursing, and is dated December 15, 1998. The second letter is from Mr. Austin to Dr. Wake and is dated February 1, 1999. In this exchange of letters Mr. Austin and Dr. Wake agree to interpret the intent of the Wisconsin Administrative Code N 2.03 to include progression from the pre-MSN phase of the Direct Entry program into the MSN phase to qualify as "graduation": yet Marquette does not actually graduate these students. This interpretation is absurd. The Wisconsin Administrative Code (N 2.03) and Wisconsin State Law (Nurse Practice Act 441.04) are both quite clear that graduation from an approved school of nursing is required for RN licensure in Wisconsin. It is obvious to any person who does not have an ulterior motive that the only appropriate interpretation of the word "graduation" in this context is "graduation." If Marquette University wishes to run a Direct Entry nursing program, then it is obligated to provide degrees and graduation dates for the students who complete the first 15 months of the program.

As a member of the Marquette University Board of Trustees I am requesting your assistance in procuring BSN degrees and graduation dates for Direct Entry nursing students who successfully complete, or have completed, the first 15 months of the program. Direct Entry students complete all of the nursing theory and practical courses required of Marquette’s regular BSN students. I contacted Dr. Judith Miller regarding this discrepancy on February 22, 2007, but she did not resolve the problem satisfactorily. Father Wild has not yet responded to the letter I sent to him on March 5, 2007. As you know, Marquette University is a highly regarded institution in the community. Intentionally engineering a questionable loophole in order to obtain RN licensure for its Direct Entry students without providing a degree or a graduation date for them is not in line with the Catholic values of the University.

Sincerely,

Lydia Bertrand

Documents Provided by the DRL

Link to the letters referenced by Colleen Baird in the previous post.

Response From DRL (Email)

Date: Friday, March 9
To: Lydia Bertrand
From: Colleen Baird

Dear Ms. Bertrand: This is a follow-up to my email response on March 5,2007, regarding the Graduate Nursing Direct-Entry Program and your letter to Secretary Celia Jackson, dated March 6, 2007. You sent the following question:

I am looking for some information about Marquette's Direct Entry Nursing program. I have been told that Marquette has a special agreement with the state of Wisconsin allowing their Direct Entry students to become RN's without obtaining a BSN degree. I would like a copy of this formal agreement. Thank you.
Lydia Bertrand

I stated that I did not believe that we had a copy of a formal agreement and recommended that you contact the school for a copy. I apologize, but unfortunately, I was not familiar with the history or documentation for this program. The individual who handled such matters had just retired. However,with the assistance of staff, two documents were located which should satisfy your request. These documents are attached for your convenience. I will also send a hard copy by U.S. Mail. The first document is a letter dated February 1, 1999, from Wayne Austin, former legal counsel for the Board of Nursing. The second document is a letter dated December 15, 1998, from Madeline Wake, Dean of Marquette University. These letters constitute the "agreement" between the Department, the Board of Nursing and Marquette University for the direct-entry advance three year advance nursing program.

The letter from Dean Wake inquires whether students who have completed the basic nursing education and progress to the MSN phase of the program would meet the intent of Chapter N.03 "has graduated from a board-approved school of professional nursing. " The letter from Attorney Wayne Austin confirms this interpretation; that participants in the direct-entry for graduate nursing program who complete the basic nursing education phase of the program would qualify both to sit for the NCLEX and for licensure to practice professional nursing. Mr. Austin states that the Board's approval was made pursuant to its authority to establish minimum standards for schools of professional nurses and approve new nursing programs under sec. N1.06, Wis. Admin. Code. It further confirms that Marquette University had an existing approved nursing program.

The statutory authority for licensure and approval of schools of professional nursing is found in secs. 441. 04 and 441.01(3), Wis. Stats. (Nurse Practice Act). The administrative rules in Chapter N 1, Wis. Admin Code, codify the process for approval of schools of nursing and nursing programs. I am not aware of any other statutes which are pertinent to RN licensure of individuals who do not hold a "diploma of graduation." The basis upon which Wisconsin determined that you were eligible to sit for the NCLEX, and to obtain a professional nursing license, was the receipt of a statement from Marquette University verifying that you had completed the basic nursing education phase of the three year graduate (master's level) nursing program.

I trust that this is the information you were seeking and it is helpful in your efforts to obtain licensure in Mississippi. If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Colleen M. Baird
Legal Counsel
Wisconsin Board of Nursing
___________________________________________________
I will post the letters that were attached to this e-mail as soon as I figure out how to put up pdf files.

Freedom of Information

I know I just said I wouldn't be posting for a few days, but the baby is sleeping a little longer than usual and I couldn't help myself . . .

Of course I have heard of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) before, but I didn't know much about exactly what it meant or how it works. It only took about 5 minutes of research on the Internet to find out that the FOIA only applies to federal agencies. The State of Wisconsin, however, has a similar law, the Wisconsin Public Records Law (WPRL) that requires disclosure of information from State agencies unless the information falls into certain specific exemptions. Requests for information from The Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing would be covered by the WPRL. The Department of Justice recommends that requests for information should be filled within 10 business days if possible. This page has some good general information on the WPRL that I found interesting.

Out of town for a few days

I won't be posting for a few days because I'll be out of town. There is not much to post now anyway since all I'm doing is waiting to get responses from Judith Miller, Father Wild, and Celia Jackson from the DRL. See you in a few days!

Letter to Celia M. Jackson, Secretary of the DRL

March 6, 2007

Celia M. Jackson
Secretary
Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing
PO Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935

Secretary Jackson:

I was a student in Marquette University’s Direct-Entry Nursing program. I have been told that there is some kind of ‘special agreement’ between Marquette and the State of Wisconsin that allows their Direct-Entry students to become Registered Nurses without having degree or graduating from their program. This appears to be in conflict with the Nurse Practice Act (441.04), which requires "a diploma of graduation" before one can sit for NCLEX-RN.

On Tuesday, February 27th I e-mailed the Department of Regulation & Licensing at web@drl.state.wi.us to ask for a copy of this formal agreement. On March 5th I got a response from Colleen Baird, who identified herself as Legal Counsel for the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Her e-mail stated:

This is in response to your question about the Marquette Nursing Program. I do not believe that we have a copy of this formal agreement. You should contact the school directly.

A complete transcript of the e-mail exchange is available on my web site: http://lydiaslicense.blogspot.com/2007/03/email-exchange-with-wi-department-of.html

Frankly, I find it hard to believe that if an agreement exists between Marquette University and the Department of Regulation & Licensing allowing Direct-Entry students to sit for NCLEX and become RNs without holding a degree (as I have been repeatedly assured is the case), that the DRL literally does not have an actual copy of this formal agreement present somewhere in their files.

1. Does the Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing in fact have an agreement with Marquette University which allows Direct-Entry students to become RNs without graduating or holding a degree?

2. If an agreement does exist, then I demand a copy of the written formal agreement, and any other documents pertinent to the licensure of Direct-Entry students who do not hold a "diploma of graduation."

3. I would like references to any state statues pertinent to the RN licensure of individuals who do not hold a "diploma of graduation" in addition to the one I referenced above (the Nurse Practice Act 441.04)

Thank you,

Lydia Bertrand

cc: Barbara Wyatt Sibley, Deputy Secretary
Larry Martin, Executive Assistant

An Email Exchange With The WI Department of Regulation & Licensing

Date: Tuesday, February 27
To: web@drl.state.wi.us [the generic DRL email address]
From: Lydia Bertrand

I am looking for some information about Marquette's Direct Entry Nursing program. I have been told that Marquette has a special agreement with the state of Wisconsin allowing their Direct Entry students to become RN's without obtaining a BSN degree. I would like a copy of this formal agreement.

Thank you

Lydia Bertrand
___________________________________________________
Date: Saturday, March 3
To: Lydia Bertrand
From: [name]

Lydia

Marquette's direct entry masters program is recognized by the board of nursing. The portion of the program that prepares for the license has been approved by the board. When students complete that portion, the school verifies it to the board, and the student can take the exam and get the license.

You are right that the student does not get a degree at that point. The student would need to complete the masters to get a degree. Students with non-nursing bachelors degrees may prefer that, if they go back to school, they get a masters, rather than another bachelors degree. That need is what the program addresses.

[name]
___________________________________________________
Date: Saturday, March 3
To: [name]
From: Lydia Bertrand

[name]

Thank you for returning my email.

This agreement appears to be in conflict with the Nurse Practice Act (441.04) which requires individuals to obtain a "degree of graduation" before they may sit for NCLEX. Was there an amendment, or another part of the law that I am missing that makes an exception for Marquette's Direct Entry program?

There must be a written formal agreement between the State and Marquette. How may I obtain a copy of this agreement?

Thank you,

Lydia Bertrand
___________________________________________________
Date: Monday, March 5
To: Lydia Bertrand
From: Colleen Baird

This is in response to your question about the Marquette Nursing Program. I do not believe that we have a copy of this formal agreement. You should contact the school directly.

Colleen M. Baird
Legal Counsel
Wisconsin Board of Nursing
___________________________________________________

Does anyone else think this is a tad strange? It is hard to tell if this is suspicious or just ordinary incompetence.

I didn't think that I was going to get a response to my first email, so last week I also mailed a paper letter to the "Credentialing Administrator" at the DRL asking for a copy of the formal written agreement, but they won't get the letter for several more days.

Step #2: Letter to President of Marquette University, Father Wild

March 5, 2007

Robert A. Wild, S.J.
Office of the President
Marquette University
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201

Dear Father Wild:

I would like to bring to your attention some irregularities relating to Marquette University’s Direct-Entry nursing program.

Let me begin by briefly telling you my story. I graduated from Chatham College in 1999 with a B.A. in Mathematics and English Literature, Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa. I was a member of the 6th cohort of the Direct-Entry nursing program at Marquette University (2004-2005). When I began the program I fully intended to complete the full three years. About half way through the first 15 months, the RN portion of the program, I became engaged. At that time my fiancé was in his last year at an Episcopal seminary, and he was obligated to return to serve in his home state of Louisiana in June of 2005. He was assigned to a large parish in New Orleans and I stayed in Milwaukee until August to complete my RN, with plans to move to New Orleans with him directly after our wedding. On August 13, 2005 I completed the RN portion of the Direct-Entry program at Marquette, on August 20th I got married, and on August 29th my husband and I lost nearly everything in Hurricane Katrina - including my husband’s parish. In November I took state boards and received my nursing license in Wisconsin. My husband took the first job he was offered, which did not happen until March of 2006. This job happened to be in Mississippi.

When I applied for a nursing license in Mississippi my application was denied for one reason: because my Marquette transcript does not contain a graduation date. I am now in repayment of over $35,000 in student loans that I took out in order to attend Marquette although I am now unable to work as a nurse. My husband is an Episcopal priest in rural Mississippi and is currently supporting our family of three on only a few thousand dollars a year more than the amount of my outstanding student loans. The area we live in is also experiencing a severe nursing shortage crisis.

Mississippi state law regulating nurses states that one must graduate from an accredited nursing program in order to hold a license. The same is true in Wisconsin (Nurse Practice Act: 441.04). How can the Direct-Entry program qualify its students to become registered nurses, yet not award them degrees? When I applied to take the state board examination (NCLEX-RN) I filled out a "Statement of Graduation" form for the Wisconsin State Board of Regulation & Licensing. On this form my classmates and I were instructed by Marquette staff members to check the box for "BSN" and to list August 13, 2005 as a graduation date - yet there is no graduation date listed on my official Marquette transcript.

Either my Direct-Entry classmates and I hold BSNs with Marquette University, or we do not. It is unethical for Marquette to provide evidence of graduation only to those parties for whom it is to Marquette’s advantage. If my fellow Direct-Entry students and I have earned BSNs with Marquette University then our transcripts should list graduation dates. If we have not obtained BSNs from Marquette University then it appears as though the University is intentionally forging falsified "Statement of Graduation" forms for the Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing every year for each Direct-Entry student.

Dr. Judith Miller, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs & Research, College of Nursing, has informed me that Marquette University has negotiated with the State of Wisconsin to allow Direct-Entry students to sit for the state board exam without holding a degree. I fail to see how an agreement of this kind can possibly be valid. The Nurse Practice Act clearly states that in order to sit for the licensure exam individuals must hold "a diploma of graduation" (441.04). Even the State itself is not authorized to make exceptions to this law without actually changing the law.

Marquette University should be ashamed for engineering this loophole to obtain RNs for its Direct-Entry students without providing a graduation date on their transcripts. I would have expected a Catholic University to behave with integrity. I contacted Dr. Judith Miller regarding this discrepancy, but she was unable to resolve the problem satisfactorily. If Direct-Entry students who successfully complete, or have completed, the first 15 months of the program are not granted BSNs with graduation dates placed on their official Marquette transcripts, I will take further action.

Sincerely,

Lydia Bertrand

Second Letter To Judith Miller

March 5, 2007

Dr. Judith Miller
Associate Dean for Graduate Programs & Research
Marquette University College of Nursing
P. O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201

Dear Dr. Miller:

Thank you for your prompt and thorough response to my previous letter. I still do not understand how an agreement between Marquette and Wisconsin can be valid since it appears to be in direct conflict with the Nurse Practice Act (441.04) which lists requirements before sitting for NCLEX:

Any person who has graduated from a high school or its equivalent as determined by the board, does not have an arrest or conviction record . . . holds a diploma of graduation from an accredited school of nursing, and if the school is located outside this state, submits evidence of general and professional educational qualifications comparable to those required in this state at the time of graduation may apply to the department for licensure by the board as a registered nurse, and upon payment of the fee . . . shall be entitled to examination.

I would like to request a copy of the formal written agreement between Marquette University and the State of Wisconsin regarding the licensure of Direct-Entry students. I would also like references to any state statutes that are applicable to this agreement other than the one I have quoted above.

Sincerely,

Lydia Bertrand

Email Exchange With MU Nursing Secretary

To: Secretary A
From: Lydia Bertrand
Date: Friday, February 23

Secretary A,

I’m wondering if you can help explain something to me about the DE program. I remember people talking about some kind of "special agreement" that Marquette made with the state in order for us to get RNs without us having a degree. Do you know anything more about this agreement and how it works?

Mississippi has denied my application for a license because my MU transcript does not contain a graduation date. When I started researching it, I found that the WI Nurse Practice Act requires evidence of graduation just like the MS law. I am very confused.

Lydia Bertrand
_________________________________________________
Secretary A was not really the best person to answer my question, so she forwarded my email to Secretary B, who promptly responded.
_________________________________________________
To: Lydia Bertrand
From: Secretary B
Date: Friday, February 23

Hi Lydia,

The special agreement is that you can work as an RN at the BSN level as long as you continue to complete the MSN program.

Some states choose to honor the fact that you have completed a BSN "equivalent" while others will not.

We can write a letter stating that you have completed an equivalent if they will accept it. The fact that you received RN licensure here could help.

Otherwise, all you can do is go to a university, have them evaluate your transcripts and do what they require for you to receive a BSN with them.

Let me know if you need anything or have other questions.

Secretary B
_________________________________________________
To: Secretary B
From: Lydia Bertrand
Date: Friday, February 23

Secretary B,

Thanks for getting back to me. I have some more questions about your response.

1. You said that people could work as an RN as long as they continue to complete the MSN program - but I know of individuals from my cohort that left the program, but became RN’s in WI and are still working there as nurses.

2. The WI nurse practice act states that you have to show proof of graduation in order to become an RN. Was there some kind of amendment, or another law that makes an exception for Marquette’s DE program? I don’t understand how some ‘special agreement’ is sufficient to override a state law.

Thanks for your help.

Lydia Bertrand
_________________________________________________
To: Lydia Bertrand
From: Secretary B
Date: Friday, February 23

It would be better to speak with Dr. Miller about this. You can call me or (414) xxx-xxxx and [Secretary C] or I will transfer you.

I guess I would say there has been a loophole on this one. WI has chosen to honor the equivalency.

But the fact that other states do not honor this is one reason why we need students to complete the program.

We can state what you’ve completed, but you have not received a degree since you did not finish the program. It is up to other states whether they will recognize your accomplishments or not. _________________________________________________

Let me recap some issues that were brought up in this email exchange:

1. The secretary lied to me about the content of this "special agreement." There are no restrictions on the WI nursing licenses of Direct-Entry students - even if they do not continue on to the MSN portion of the program. However, it is in Marquette’s best interests for Direct-Entry students to think that there is a restriction like this.




2. She admits that the Direct-Entry program is operating under a loophole.




3. The Nurse Practice Act says nothing about accepting a "BSN equivalent." The law clearly states that one must actually graduate. Period.




4. She implies that the reason Marquette is using this loophole in the Direct-Entry program is in order to attempt to keep students at Marquette for the MSN part of the program. They could award Direct-Entry students BSNs if they wanted to (we do all the work that regular BSN students do, and pay even more per credit than they do) but they choose not to.

Response From Dr. Miller

February 26, 2007

Dear Ms. Bertrand:

I received your letter today dated February 22, 2007 in which you express dismay abut not being able to become licensed as a professional nurse in Mississippi when in fact your previous classmates are able to be licensed in Wisconsin after completing the pre-MSN phase of the Direct Entry MSN program. Please recall that we negotiated with the State of Wisconsin to allow students in the Direct Entry program to take the NCLEX exam in Wisconsin after completing the pre-MSN portion of this program. We justify this in terms of meeting the nursing portion of the program objectives expected for the BSN here at Marquette. States have their own separate jurisdiction over professional nurse licensure. If students leave the program prior to completing the MSN phase, there is not guarantee that they will be licensed in any other state since no nursing degree has been conferred. You did not receive a BSN from Marquette. This was made clear to you and all students upon accepting admission and you signed the memorandum of understanding indicating so (see enclosed).

Regarding your comments about the State Board application, this application document does not have a space for Direct Entry applicants. Our accompanying documentation to the state of Wisconsin indicates the exact student status, having completed the pre-MSN portion of the MSN program. The State of Wisconsin is totally aware of this and the status of each NCLEX applicant. We do not want our professional nurses to check LPN, or ADN on the application form.

In trying to help you over the past months, I have written the State of Mississippi and have enclosed a copy of the Certificate of completion of the pre-MSN program, dated May 23, 2006 (enclosed). I have written Pearl River Community College as you requested January 16, 2007 (enclosed) with your e-mail response "This should be just fine!" Apparently there are no other Direct Entry MSN programs in the state of Mississippi. I called the Mississippi state board on your behalf today and talked to a Ms Carolyn Owens who was emphatic about Mississippi laws indicating a degree in nursing is required to sit for licensure. She indicated that the Mississippi Institute for Higher Learning approves all programs (degrees) for NCLEX applicants in Mississippi. When I explored with Ms. Owens the plan of your completing the NCLEX exam to be licensed in the state of Wisconsin and then transferring your license to Mississippi, she indicated a degree in nursing would still be required. I have a call in to Dr. Mary Ware (601-xxx-xxxx) who is the Chief of the Institute. I will continue to advocate for you. When you decided to leave the program in 2005, prior to completing the MSN, potential consequences were reviewed.

Any time a student decides to leave this Direct Entry MSN program, I am clear that being able to obtain a license in any other state until the MSN is completed is not a given. I recall this one-on-one session with you as well when you expressed your plans to marry and move to the South and not complete the program. Our commitment to our students is that students will be able to be licensed in the State of Wisconsin after the pre-MSN phase. The intent is to complete the degree of MSN. This negotiation was carefully completed 10 years ago with the State of Wisconsin prior to admitting our first students.

What happened to your plan to complete the ADN in Mississippi? I will inform you of any progress with the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning.

Sincerely,

Judith Fitzgerald Miller, PhD, RN, FAAN
Associate Dean of Graduate Programs & Research,
Professor
Marquette University College of Nursing