How useful are RN refresher courses?

Nurses New Nurse

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I haven't practiced at all since finishing school in 2005. Got my RN license in summer 2007. Now finally thinking about getting a nursing job. Local university offers a refresher program... I really forgot almost everything... right now I'm reviewing theory (Saunder NCLEX book), but as for clinical skills... I don't think I have any left. So I wonder how useful are these programs for refreshing your nursing skills? Are they really useful, or are they mostly a waste of time? The local course is rather expensive ($1200), so I wonder if I should enroll or find another way to refresh my skills (maybe volunteering at the hospital?)

Well, the theory portion of my course is done at home. It's just too much reading... And the test keeps asking these petty questions like "what to do to make the patient with a zit on his shoulder more comfortable - put a pillow under his arm, put his arm on the pillow, put the pillow at 75 degree to his arm, or put a pillow at 37 degree to his arm but upside down". How the heck am I supposed to know all these petty insignificant facts? There's no critical thinking, you just have to know the 3000 pages of this nonsense by heart. I already paid $1200 for theory/assessment portion of the course and will be highly disappointed if I don't pass the comprehensive exam. If I have to retake it will mean I will have to re-study, and this means it will take me at what 3-5 months AT LEAST? I'm married now and don't have the whole day to study like I used to when I was preparing for NCLEX... I could be working now, but I decided a refresher course will look good on my resume...

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Even though it sounds like a lot of work you will be the more wiser for it. I found the course I took unreasonable. 5 hours of class room plus having to read 25 pages in small print. I didnt think refresher meant taking an entire med surg class over again. I didnt feel that I got anything out of it even though I was able to pass the tests. What I really needed to take was the clinical. YOu know practical application of nursing. It wont hurt your resume and hopefully you will regain some confidence.

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Specializes in Education, IV Therapy, Travel Medicine.

Nurse Refresher Programs vary from alot. Many of them only cover the basics which can be boring. Other programs cover more hands on clinical items which is very helpful of what is changed since you have been out. Clinicals should be structured to give you enough opportunties to practice skills such as assessments, med administration, IVs, IMs, etc. A good suggestion is to ask to speak to some former students to get a better idea.

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Ok, I finished this course. Clinical was good (med-surg), but I didn't do any IV starts due to the floor having their own phlebotomist. Got the idea of what's nursing is about, and was able to function more or less independently with non-acute 2-3 patients at a time. It was good.

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could you please provide the name of the school or org. you took your course with Neuve? Thank you much.

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I AM Nuieve, the original poster. :)

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