Here's my experience:
I worked for 4 years at a Philippine ER and took a break for 3 years. There was no refresher course in my area and up to now, I couldn't find a hospital who would take me in if I pursue the RN online resfresher course from Mount Carmel College of Nursing (I compared all that was listed in rn.ca.gov and what my searches have produced and so far,this is the best in terms of price and curriculum).
I applied for an ER position in one of the hospitals here. The Nurse Recruiter didn't even schedule me for an interview. I was able to get one through friends that work in the ER (they talked to the Director).
Unfortunately, the Director said "that though you have potential, but since you stopped working for 3 years and have no US experience, I couldn't afford to re-train you."
I applied at a Nursing Home and got accepted (they are literally desperate for RNs). The NH experience made me want to go back to the hospital more.
I then applied to our county hospital, I didn't get a reply. I decided then to take this hospital's ACLS and talked to the instructor which happened to be its Nsg Education Director. She told me that they could probably host the clinical component of my refresher course but since I only stopped for 3 years, she doesn't think I don't need it. She advised me to apply. I did, and the HR said there's no vacancy as of the moment.
After 2 wks, I followed up and decided to name-drop (hehe) and mentioned the conversation I had with the ACLS instructor. The HR asst called me the following morning and told me I don't need the refresher course and offered me a Per Diem Float Pool nursing interview. I initially accepted, but changed my mind. FLoat nursing is stressful and is not right for me at this time. I would seriously reconsider if it were a Full Time Position, but it is not.
Since this county hospital is a teaching hospital, I would think that they would accept me in their New Grad / Re-entry RN program (yes, they accept re-entry RNs) but I was wrong. I told the HR asst that if there was no vacancy for that, I am still interested in doing the online refresher, and if they could allow me to do the clinicals there. I'm still waiting for a reply.
I am thinking of applying to a versant program in SoCal, even if it is for New Grads. I would update you if it works for me.
Best of luck to everyone!