want to get some retraining before going back into nursing- any suggestions l

What you are looking for is an RN refresher course. These are sometimes difficult to find. I took a look at the Iowa BON site and they don't specifically list anything like it. So, here are my suggestions on how to find one of these programs. Call and talk to the nurse recruiters starting with the largest hospitals around you. If anyone knows where these programs are to be had, the recruiters should know. The next group to ask would be the various nursing schools themselves. You can get a list of those from the state board of nursing on their website. These refresher programs are offered by either (1) schools of nursing as a continuing education program (2) hospitals as part of an orientation and recruitment program for RNs, and (3) by continuing education companies to make money. Also, keep your eyes open for advertisements of nursing job fairs. These job fairs are a conglomerate of people in the know who need to hire RNs. By networking with some of these people you may get a line on a refresher course. Ultimately, it is always possible that an employer might step forward who would be willing to put you into an orientation program that would allow you some space to "catch up" to today's technology. Some facilities would treasure your maturity over your rustiness anyday. The problem is finding out who they are.

Have you contacted the nursing school at the University of Iowa? Someone over there should know something.

Ask for a "new grad" program. The hospital should understand that you need to knock off the "rust" before you take on a patient load.