LPN Refresher

[tobanurse]

I am considering a return to nursing after being out for 10 years. I aced school, and practiced for 6 years before taking a break with family and moving.

The Florida Board of Nurses has approved me to sit for my NCLEX-PN after i complete a refresher theory and clinical program which I am actively looking at doing. I am wondering if there is anyone else who had completed a refresher program and felt confident in returning to practice after a hiatus from practicing. I guess my confidence is a little shakey after being out for an extended time.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions :)

[Mumto4]

I'm an RN who recently did this. I got my RN in 2001 as an ASN. I worked for 2 1/2 years until I couldn't continue. I had a 4th, very unexpected, child and a slew of medical issues and it was too much. I spent the last 11 years home with my kids, raising my family, and doing some 'work from home' types of jobs. Right after my youngest's birthday last year, I sat down and talked with my husband and told him about my desire to go back to work. He was very supportive. I enrolled in a refresher program in November. Even though I did very well on the written portion and the final test, I was scared out of my mind to go back into an acute care setting. Then, I did my preceptorship in June and it was amazing at how quickly everything came back to me. By the time my clinicals were done, I was handling a full assignment almost entirely on my own. And the following week, I was missing it immensely.

My license was reinstated last month and after a couple of interviews, I recently received a job offer. I am looking forward to going back to work and doing what I loved. :) Good luck!

[LPNjo]

I'm an RN who recently did this. I got my RN in 2001 as an ASN. I worked for 2 1/2 years until I couldn't continue. I had a 4th, very unexpected, child and a slew of medical issues and it was too much. I spent the last 11 years home with my kids, raising my family, and doing some 'work from home' types of jobs. Right after my youngest's birthday last year, I sat down and talked with my husband and told him about my desire to go back to work. He was very supportive. I enrolled in a refresher program in November. Even though I did very well on the written portion and the final test, I was scared out of my mind to go back into an acute care setting. Then, I did my preceptorship in June and it was amazing at how quickly everything came back to me. By the time my clinicals were done, I was handling a full assignment almost entirely on my own. And the following week, I was missing it immensely.

My license was reinstated last month and after a couple of interviews, I recently received a job offer. I am looking forward to going back to work and doing what I loved. :) Good luck![/quote

Congrats!!

I am keeping my fingers crossed to find the right program....did you do an online course or in class? I'm not sure online is the way for me to go, so many distractions at home, not to mention lack of having someone there in front of me to bounce questions off of.

Again, way to go!!

[Mumto4]

Thanks!

It varies by state and how long you've been non-practicing. I took the online course thru nurserefresher.org. It was a lot of reading, but because I've been working from home, I didn't have a hard time being self-motivated. I'm used to keeping a schedule. The program is accepted in several states, but you need to check with your BON to see if your state is one of them. They have an RN program and an LPN program. The written course itself was quick for me, but it took me ages to get everything thru my BON and then to arrange a preceptorship. I think a classroom setting would've been nice just because I feel that lectures reinforce learning for me, but it wasn't an option in my area.