Refresher Classes

Hello,

This is my first post. I've graduated from an LPN class in 1994. but haven't taken the boards. What do I have to do to become a nurse?

In Maryland, if you haven't taken the boards yet, all you have to do is reapply for the NCLEX. A refresher course w/clinicals is not required, for that class is to help reactivate your license. But if you never got one, you can't reactivate it. Like I said, the course is not required here in Maryland, but it does really help you out, especially if you been out of school for awhile or never got the chance to take the nclex in the first place for whatever reasons. I myself, am taking the refresher course right now. I have class twice a week (approx 4 hours each day), and the class is televised to 3 campuses. Initially, on the first day of class, we had about 6 people (all 3 satellite classrooms) drop out. We just had our first test, and for being out awhile, it was a doosie. You had to make an 80% in order to pass. About a little more than half (in my class - my campus) passed.

Check with your state board first to be on the safe side if the course is required or not.

So basically, I would highly encourage you to take the refresher course first, find a person you can study with (via inperson, email, or whatever), then take the boards. The course here in Maryland was approx. $800 for it. And the course will last till mid-Dec. Email me ([email protected]), if you need more info., or in need of a study partner (via email or whatever) I know, I could always use extra help to study. Whatever you decide, good luck!

Chris

I think all you would need is an NCLEX review class. It would be less expensive and less time consuming. Check your local community colleges and tech schools and ask if they have any coming up. Im a new grad taking an NCLEX review class right now, its 8 hours a day for a week and its basically a crash course in mostly everything we learned in nursing school. There is one girl in there who graduated 5 years ago and another one 10 years ago. It can be done, even on your own. You just need to dedicate more time to it than someone fresh out of school so I would suggest spending about 3 months on studying. Get Saunder's Comprehensive Review to NCLEX PN, 2nd edition. It comes with a CD with 3000 practice questions and the book teaches you everything there is! I wish I would have used it in school bc it is a condensed version of everything and it would have helped a lot. Its in Outline format and organized by system. Anyway, I promise the book is so easy to follow and understand. Good luck! You can do it!

The thing that concerns me the most are your skills. It's one thing to pass the questions, it's another to be able to do the technical stuff. Have you inserted/removed a catheter lately, done a tube feed, etc.?

The thing that concerns me the most are your skills. It's one thing to pass the questions, it's another to be able to do the technical stuff. Have you inserted/removed a catheter lately, done a tube feed, etc.?

There are 2 parts to the course. The bookwork, and the clinicals. Like I mentioned previously, in the state of Maryland the refresher course is not required for those that have not taken or passed the NCLEX exam, no matter how long it has been. The clinicals, however cannot be done, until the person has passed their nclex for the first time. meaning: if you are just reactivating your license, you have to do the clinicals in order to get your licensed switched back over to active; if you are in need of taking the nclex, you have to take the test first before doing the clinicals (plus you have to have completed the bookwork part of the course prior to doing the clinical part).

No matter what her situation is, I would highly reccommend the refresher course, then take the NCLEX, then do the clinical section before she moves into a job (more for her comfort level prior to getting back out onto the floor working full time) As, I am learning, ALOT of things have been changed in the last 10 years that I have been on that floor.

Hello,

I've contacted the state board and was told that I just have to apply to take the boards and to get a book on the Nclex.

Thanks for all your help. I am going to purchase the NCLEX book today and start studying.

The thing that concerns me the most are your skills. It's one thing to pass the questions, it's another to be able to do the technical stuff. Have you inserted/removed a catheter lately, done a tube feed, etc.?

I've done those things while I was in school. Maybe I can volunteer or something before I start a job.

It's been 11 YEARS! In my part of the world, you have to retake the entire programme if you don't pass the national PN exam within a year of graduation.

I'm not worried about YOUR comfort level with your skills, I'm worried about patient safety!

It's been 11 YEARS! In my part of the world, you have to retake the entire programme if you don't pass the national PN exam within a year of graduation.

I'm not worried about YOUR comfort level with your skills, I'm worried about patient safety!

I don't mean to misunderstand you, but are you getting mad at me? I hope not, for I personally encourage anyone to get a refresher on as much as possible. By the way, just out of curiousity - what part of the world are you in? I am just curious as to what state (if you are in the US), that dictates a person must take the entire course over if you did not get your license within one year. I have never heard of that.

It's been 11 YEARS! In my part of the world, you have to retake the entire programme if you don't pass the national PN exam within a year of graduation.

I'm not worried about YOUR comfort level with your skills, I'm worried about patient safety!

I am sure that I can find a volunteer job until my comfort level is fine.:wink2:

I think all you would need is an NCLEX review class. It would be less expensive and less time consuming. Check your local community colleges and tech schools and ask if they have any coming up. Im a new grad taking an NCLEX review class right now, its 8 hours a day for a week and its basically a crash course in mostly everything we learned in nursing school. There is one girl in there who graduated 5 years ago and another one 10 years ago. It can be done, even on your own. You just need to dedicate more time to it than someone fresh out of school so I would suggest spending about 3 months on studying. Get Saunder's Comprehensive Review to NCLEX PN, 2nd edition. It comes with a CD with 3000 practice questions and the book teaches you everything there is! I wish I would have used it in school bc it is a condensed version of everything and it would have helped a lot. Its in Outline format and organized by system. Anyway, I promise the book is so easy to follow and understand. Good luck! You can do it!

Thanks so much for your help. I've ordered the book on amazon.com and I mailed my application off for the nclex. The board also gave me the phone number of a nurse that would tutor me on the test. I need all the help I can get.