Nightingale College

10/01/2026

The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) recently sent letters to some graduates saying they must complete additional coursework before they can be licensed.

Our top priority is providing a path to help California graduates get licensed. Our lawsuit disputes how the BRN is applying in-state program approval rules to out-of-state licensure candidates. We've developed additional courses so graduates don't have to wait for the legal process to conclude.

The courses: • BSN 491: Maternal-Newborn Nursing • BSN 492: Pediatric Nursing • BSN 493: Supervised Integrative Practicum

How to enroll: The interest form is open from Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 a.m. MT to Friday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. MT. There is no cost to reserve a spot or enroll. The courses are for graduates seeking California licensure.

The BRN makes final licensure decisions, so Nightingale can't guarantee the outcome of any individual application. We continue to dispute the BRN's application of these requirements while we pursue our legal challenge.

For details, FAQs and the submission form visit: https://nightingale.edu/landing/california-grads.html

09/29/2026

Homework mode: activated.
Study partner: unpaid, judgmental, and very invested.
Drop a 🐾 if you’ve got a pet that “helps” with homework too.

📸 credit: on TikTok

09/26/2026

Our Summer 2026 virtual commencement is live now! Help us congratulate these incredible graduates!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/24/2026

A nursing student can understand English and still struggle to give an SBAR report, interpret a complicated NCLEX question or confidently explain a patient’s condition to a provider.

Jimmy “Dr. J” Amaro, DNP, MSN-CNS, RN, a Puerto Rican nurse educator and nursing faculty member in Nightingale College’s undergraduate programs, says he has seen that distinction among Hispanic and Latino nursing students and believes nursing schools should do more to address it.

“There are many Hispanic and Latino students who understand English but are afraid to speak it, especially in academic or clinical environments,” Amaro told Nurse Approved. “There is a tremendous difference between conversational English and the English required to interpret a complex NCLEX question, provide an SBAR report, document an assessment, explain informed consent, communicate with a provider, or educate a patient.”

These aren’t simply classroom language skills. They are tied to the communication, clinical judgment and patient education nurses use in practice.

As Nurse Approved recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, Amaro’s experience also points to a larger issue facing the profession: Hispanic nurses remain underrepresented in the U.S. nursing workforce. In 2024, 7.2% of registered nurses reported their ethnicity as Hispanic, according to data from the National Nursing Workforce Survey cited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

For Amaro, increasing the number of Hispanic and Latino students entering nursing matters, but recruitment and representation are only part of the equation.

“Sometimes the student already has tremendous potential,” he said. “What they are missing is confidence and structured preparation.”

Continue reading here: https://iamnurseapproved.com/bilingual-nursing-students-clinical-english/

09/17/2026

Important Update: California Licensure Applications

Dear California Learners and Graduates,

The BRN recently notified some California ATT applicants that it requires additional coursework before it will allow Nightingale graduates to test for licensure. Although we disagree with the BRN’s interpretation and maintain that our current curriculum follows published regulations, the BRN has identified the following as additional requirements for these applicants:

Up to 140 additional direct patient care hours, including:

30 concurrent direct care and theoretical hours in obstetrics
30 concurrent direct care and theoretical hours in pediatrics
We know this news is significant, and our priority is to help you move toward California licensure.

What we’re doing

We’ve been developing additional courses, and we plan to send course syllabi and enrollment details next week. Although we disagree with the BRN’s application of these requirements, we are providing a path for graduates to address the requirements currently being applied by the BRN rather than requiring them to wait for the legal process. Graduates who plan to seek California licensure by endorsement from another state may also be subject to these requirements.

Because the BRN makes final licensure determinations for individual applicants, Nightingale cannot guarantee the outcome of any individual application. Graduates with questions about their eligibility for licensure with this additional coursework may contact the BRN.

Cost

The additional coursework will be free for Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 graduates. For later cohorts, Nightingale is incorporating the additional education into the program to address the BRN’s current licensure position. Although the College maintains its position that its existing curriculum is sufficient and will continue its legal actions, Nightingale will provide these courses free of charge.

Our position

The College maintains its position that:

the BRN lacks legal authority to apply the 500-hour direct patient care requirement for California-approved programs to out-of-state licensure applicants, and
the BRN’s interpretation and application of the concurrency requirement to Nightingale graduates is disputed.
We will keep pursuing legal action and advocating for our graduates to obtain California licensure.

In the meantime

We’re committed to seeing our graduates through the licensure process. Our team will continue working on your behalf, and we’ll keep you informed as we make progress. Thank you for your patience and continued commitment to your nursing education and career.

Additional resources:

Updates: California Graduate Information Center
Questions: [email protected]
Mental health support for learners, graduates, and family members: HigherEdEap


Sincerely,

Nightingale College

Follow future developments and up to date information at the California Graduate Information here: https://nightingale.edu/landing/california-grads.html

09/16/2026

"I am so proud of how far I’ve come and incredibly grateful for my husband, who supported me every step of the way with his endless love, patience, and encouragement.
I couldn’t have reached this milestone without him, this accomplishment belongs to both of us. 💕🎓🩺
I am proud of the woman and nurse I have become, and I’m excited for the next chapter of my nursing journey. ⚕️"

📸 Erika BSN,RN / instagram

09/15/2026

Don’t start with how. Start with why.

What do you actually want this career to feel like?

Nightingale alum Laura Richitelli, RN, says the biggest trap in nursing is jumping straight to a plan.

We’re fixers. We’re critical thinkers. We want the road map first.

Her advice: push the “how” aside for a minute. Get in touch with the "why."

What do you want to feel?
What do you want to see?
Dream big. Write the list.

Then look at your strengths and the gaps: certifications, a master’s degree, a doctorate, or a coaching program. Nursing has room for all of it.

The path comes after the purpose. Hear more from Laura on the Alumni Relations Podcast - https://youtu.be/GkmYeBUFe0s

Ready to change lives, starting with your own? Visit nightingale.edu to start your journey.

09/14/2026

🎓🎉 Our virtual graduation is just around the corner! Do you have your ready? Tag us or send us your photos. We would love to share them!

09/10/2026

🎉 THANK YOU to everyone who joined our New Learner Welcome Forum virtually! A special shoutout to those who made it in person in Salt Lake City, Utah! ❤️ The NLWF is all about equipping you with key information on your learning journey and sharing our College’s mission, vision, and values.

Missed it or want to rewatch? Catch the recording here:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.