Nurse Refresher Simulation Lab

Nurses General Nursing

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I haven't practice nursing for more than 10 years and I am currently doing a refresher course. I am going to a simulation lab training and IV training in 3 weeks and I am so anxious. Do I have to wear scrubs? What should I expect? What if I don't know what to do and how to do skills? How do I prepare myself for it?

I don't know the answer but wanted to wish you the best of luck. I am currently (probably forever) on disability so I am not working.

Specializes in Oncology (OCN).

I took a RN Refresher Course about 1 1/2 years ago. Like you, I had been out of nursing due to medical disability for over 10 years. I did the skills lab (simulation lab). It was very similar to skills lab in nursing school. While I can’t speak for how they will do it for your particular program, I can tell you how they conducted mine. They gave a talking demonstration of the procedure (IV start, NGT, teach care, etc.). Allowed us time to talk through it and practice the skills and then checked us off on a return demonstration. Don’t be too anxious about it. You’ll be amazed how quickly muscle memory comes back. I’ve been back working for 5 months and it feels like I never left.

I'm just worried that they'll expect me to know the skills step by step. I want to prepare myself the best way I can. I don't know where to start though. And, I'm a foreign educated nurse so my skills lab when I was a nursing student might be different here in the US.

Specializes in BMT.

Definitely wear scrubs! It also wouldn’t hurt to brush up on skills by watching YouTube tutorials if you are really nervous and want to prepare.

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