Where can I get RN refresher course?

Straydandelion · Oct 13, 2008

That is going to be extremely hard to do being out of nursing that long. I had to find one in the Tennessee area and a hospital refresher program had just closed a year earlier. Sometimes you can find a smaller hospital willing to give you a long precept time in order for you to work there, which is what happened to me yet I wasn't out of nursing that long either. In the past MOST refresher courses wouldn't cover being out of nursing that many years. I am hoping someone else will have a good idea, the only one I can think of is to retake at least some courses in a nursing school...possibly an accelerated course.

rn/writer, RN · Oct 13, 2008

I would check with your state Board of Nursing to find out what their requirements are. In my state, it doesn't matter how long you've been non-practicing as long as you kept your license current. In other states, there is a limit on how long you can go without working before your license is no longer renewable.

If your license is still valid, the BON might be able to refer you to programs in your area. If they can't, check with community colleges and tech schools. I went to a refresher course at a community college that was exactly what I needed. Regular four-year institutions may also have refresher courses, but they will probably be more expensive. Some hospitals may offer refresher classes in exchange for a commitment to work for them for six months or so.

I had been out for only a few years when I took my class, but there were several who hadn't worked in a very long time. One woman in my class was coming back after 15 years and had only had one year of nursing experience prior to the break. In an earlier class, there was a student who had been away from nursing for 21 years. She was able to return successfully.

Some questions you may be asked by a school or employer:

How long did you practice as a nurse before you left?

What kind of nursing did you do?

Have you done anything during your hiatus to keep up your skills? If you provided physical care for your parents, this would certainly be worth mentioning.

What kind of nursing would you like to do now?

I wish you the best in your quest. If what goes around truly does come around, your choice to take care of your parents should put you at the front of the line where they hand out blessings.