North Dakota Nurses RN Refresher

opalmRN · Oct 30, 2004

I have been inactive for 15 years and need to reactivate my RN license as quickly as possible. Can anyone give me their thoughts on this particular program?
My main concern is finding a facility for clinical in the central NH area. If you request a preceptor in a facility, does that facility expect that you will work for them afterwards?? I am leaning towards office, hospice, correctional or psych nursing, and realize that I won't be able to use those types of facilities during my course.
Does the NDNA staff give you suggestions as to local facilities? Their information suggests that I will be at the "facility of your choice".

Just a bit confused, I am. Are you looking for information in ND or NH? You may want to post your questions on the state website as well.

Good luck and welcome to allnurses!

Sandyd · Oct 30, 2004

Guess my morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet-sorry!!

I live in NH, but am interested in taking the refresher course offered by the North Dakota Nurses Association.

As part of the course requirements, I have to do 100 hours of clinical here in NH.

I am interested in hearing from others that have taken the North Dakota refresher course-no matter where they are from.

I'm primarily interested in the quality of the course, but also concerned about how clinical is set up. More specifically, if a facility in NH agrees to let me do my clinical rotation at their site, will they expect me to work for them after??

Hope this makes a little more sense!! The North Dakota program boasts over 4000 nurses have completed their program and I'd love to hear from 1 of them!!

I'll try the NH forum as well-thanks for the suggestion. Since the NDNA program is nationally accredited, figured I woudn't be so selective on my first post.

Sandy

opalmRN · Oct 31, 2004

Guess my morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet-sorry!!
I live in NH, but am interested in taking the refresher course offered by the North Dakota Nurses Association.
As part of the course requirements, I have to do 100 hours of clinical here in NH.

Ahhh, now I get it.

I'm primarily interested in the quality of the course, but also concerned about how clinical is set up. More specifically, if a facility in NH agrees to let me do my clinical rotation at their site, will they expect me to work for them after??

I would get the expectations spelled out before hand. My education has been distance ed and none of the facilities I did my clinical rotations expected me to work for them afterwards. I do know some of my fellow students did sign an agreement to work for their clincial sites afterward but for me that was not an option as some of my clinical rotations were out of my home state.

Hope this makes a little more sense!! The North Dakota program boasts over 4000 nurses have completed their program and I'd love to hear from 1 of them!!

Perfect sense, guess my java wasn't working either!! I can't help you out with your particular question but I bet you will find someone either here or on the state websites who will help.

Good luck to you!

denisebailey · Mar 30, 2005

I have been inactive for 15 years and need to reactivate my RN license as quickly as possible. Can anyone give me their thoughts on this particular program?
My main concern is finding a facility for clinical in the central NH area. If you request a preceptor in a facility, does that facility expect that you will work for them afterwards?? I am leaning towards office, hospice, correctional or psych nursing, and realize that I won't be able to use those types of facilities during my course.
Does the NDNA staff give you suggestions as to local facilities? Their information suggests that I will be at the "facility of your choice".
How comprehensive were the 8 modules? How did the final exam compare to the NCLEX? What type of feedback did you receive from the staff at CNE-Net? Would you recommend this program??
I have been studying at home and doing quite well on the NCLEX prep exams. My other thought was to simply sit for the NCLEX again (which satisfies NH requirement to reactivate my license), but since I have been out of nursing for so long, I am concerned about my clinical skills. I did ER for 11 years so am pretty confident on basic skills, but how much have they changed??
I sincerely appreciate any thoughts!! Beginning divorce proceedings so need to do this as quickly and with as little stress as possible!!!
:chair: Thanks!!!!
Sandy

Hi Sandy,

Did you receive any feedback? I am interested in doing a refresher as well and would greatly appriciate any feedback.

I am curious about the North Dakota program.

Sandyd · Apr 3, 2005

Hi Denise,

Sorry for the delay-I misplaced my password so I couldn't log on.

It has been an interesting few months! I am now almost done with the online RN Refresher course at the NH Tech Institute.

At the time I wrote this post, I was trying to decide between the NH program and the North Dakota program. I never did receive any replies from this board or any other, which was a bit frustrating.

I contacted both schools and requested a reference from a former student. Within an hour, I had a reply from someone who had recently completed the NH course and she was very positive about the experience.

After a week of hearing nothing from North Dakota, I called in and spoke to the school secretary directly. She couldn't offer anyone for me to speak with-she kept saying she'd have to wait until someone from NH applied to the course. I kept trying to tell her that I didn't need to specifically speak to someone from my state, just someone who had taken the course and could tell me about their experience. That didn't seem to sink in!! She finally ended the conversation saying that she'd get back to me and that was the last I heard from them.

Needless to say, I was not too impressed! I communicated with the NH Tech

several times and finally decided to try their program.

It has been very difficult but I can say it is a great program. I'd be happy to tell you more about my experience if you want more info. my email address is [email protected]

Too bad North Dakota was not more responsive-you hear so much about their program. But hopefully you'll hear something more positive from someone else!

Good luck!

Sandy

PS-Where do you live?? How long have you been out of nursing?

ISM · Apr 4, 2005

I have been inactive for 15 years and need to reactivate my RN license as quickly as possible. Can anyone give me their thoughts on this particular program?
My main concern is finding a facility for clinical in the central NH area. If you request a preceptor in a facility, does that facility expect that you will work for them afterwards?? I am leaning towards office, hospice, correctional or psych nursing, and realize that I won't be able to use those types of facilities during my course.
Does the NDNA staff give you suggestions as to local facilities? Their information suggests that I will be at the "facility of your choice".
How comprehensive were the 8 modules? How did the final exam compare to the NCLEX? What type of feedback did you receive from the staff at CNE-Net? Would you recommend this program??
I have been studying at home and doing quite well on the NCLEX prep exams. My other thought was to simply sit for the NCLEX again (which satisfies NH requirement to reactivate my license), but since I have been out of nursing for so long, I am concerned about my clinical skills. I did ER for 11 years so am pretty confident on basic skills, but how much have they changed??
I sincerely appreciate any thoughts!! Beginning divorce proceedings so need to do this as quickly and with as little stress as possible!!!
:chair: Thanks!!!!
Sandy

hi; i just noticed your thread and realised that i too am going for the North Dakota Refresher. I too have been inactive for several years, and after failing the NCLEX twice i decided to do the course. I have not started but it was hard to pin down a clinical site; i finally did and i am awaiting course material from them. I did have someone contact me regularly and di say the course was a difficult but achieveable one. It was recc. by the florida Nursing Board and i am in Orlando. what have you decided to do?