[Zar]

I am a RN who graduated in 2003, went directly to a ADON position due to having 24 years in management before nursing. I was trained in this position. I am now trying to get into hospital nursing, since i feel i missed out on many things. The hospitals want me to take a refresher coarse. I have been out of nursing for two years. Refresher coarses i thought werwe for people out many years. I have not forgotten stuff, just never worked in a hospital. These are tree and four month classes.I thought when you applied for a job, you were taught on the job, not have to go back to school and clinicals again. Please advise.Zar

[vickynurse]

With all due respect, your bedside clinical skills may be a little rough since you have never worked at the bedside. I'm suprised that they didn't offer an extended orientation such as would be given to a new grad. Of course, they may want to shift the cost of the orientation / refresher to you. Will the hospital pay for the refresher course either up front or as tuition reimbursement? There may be some room for negotiation. Hang in there and keep applying. You have valuable skills that can be utilized so don't give up.

[Zar]

Originally Posted by vickynurse

With all due respect, your bedside clinical skills may be a little rough since you have never worked at the bedside. I'm suprised that they didn't offer an extended orientation such as would be given to a new grad. Of course, they may want to shift the cost of the orientation / refresher to you. Will the hospital pay for the refresher course either up front or as tuition reimbursement? There may be some room for negotiation. Hang in there and keep applying. You have valuable skills that can be utilized so don't give up.

They weill reimburse if i stay for six months. Meantime costs me 1300.00 for this coarse. I forgot to mention, i was a LPN before RN for 5 years. Zar

[llg]

If they are willing to reimburse you, then I would recommend doing it. If you try to start bedside nursing now, you will be behind the typical new grad level of clinical performance. They probably feel that you need to be at least at that new grad level to succeed and frankly, they are probably right. It would increase your chances of success if you got yourself up to the new grad level before you started employment as a bedside nurse.

I don't mean to sound mean but, you made the choice to not develop your bedside RN skills when you first graduated. Now, you have to live with the consequences of that decision. If they are willing to reimburse, it sounds like they are trying to find a reasonable compromise and I would take them up on the offer.

[tohunnee]

I'm looking for an estagblished preceptor program for the clinical setting. So far all I have found is schools and more questions....no answers.

[vickynurse]

I think the word 'preceptor' has many different meanings and I'm not sure what you are looking for. At our school a preceptorship takes place during the last semester of a two year program. Students are matched with a preceptor / volunteer and work with them side by side for a total of 40 hours over 6 weeks.

I thought you were looking for a refresher course. I think Missouri Baptist in St Louis offers one. It may just be for people planning to work there, don't know for sure.

Good luck to you.