refresher course for inactive nurses

mtjmnov · Oct 30, 2006

Hi, we're on the same boat, I graduated in 1996. As far as I remember, I asked the PNA and BON about the "refresher course", but what they told me was, as long as we pass the local board we can practice our profession anytime and apply to any hospitals here in our country of course. The hospitals however provide trainings for us, if not, we subject ourselves as volunteer nurses before they hire us. But you can also ask them so as not to confuse you.

prettyRN.mom · Oct 31, 2006

hi mtjmnov! Thanks so much for the info. I was also informed by a friend nurse that we can just ask a school or university if they offer a refresher course. And if according to PNA and BON we do not have to, then at least it's not a 'requirement' at all for cases like us.. but personally, I would still love to take that lecture and training again. Good luck to us!

excited but afraid · Dec 29, 2007

So happy to hear that there are some schools or universities here in our country that offers refresher courses!

Can you give me names of those schools or universities? Im so excited to know. I hope there is somewhere near in Pangasinan, but anywhere in Manila would be okay too.

I am just waiting for my IV license this february. still kinda confused as to where to get my experience...is it better in a private hospital (so i could have lots of time to observe what my fellow nurses do without being toxic) or in a government hospital (where there are soooooo many patients and toxic cases)....haaayyy....please help...i really wanna start my career, its just that i dont know if i have the guts to enter the real nursing world...coz i think i really need that refresher course....

suzanne4, RN · Dec 29, 2007

Bigger question for you is where do you plan to work? Are you planning to get experience in your local area? How long ago did you graduate? Do you still have an active license?

Be aware that the thread that you have posted to is about two years old or so, many things have changed there.

excited but afraid · Jan 1, 2008

hi suzanne and everyone here...:)

I think its better if i work here in the province (Pangasinan) cause we have just moved here this year. Even if i wanted to work in the city, it would be somewhat difficult for me to fully concentrate on my work if my mind is on my family who's far from me, aside from the bus fare and allowances...

I've finished my IV training course at a regional government hospital here. And yes I am planning to get experience here (even if I still dont know how to fully understand their dialect) in Pangasinan but i am still afraid to volunteer at the said government hospital because i dont know how to move yet in a "toxic" place.:chair: but then my IV training collegueas have started their work as trainee nurse volunteers at the said hospital. They graduated last 2006 only and i think that they're still much updated, compared to me .

most of the private hospitals here need "backers" but as much as possible i want to volunteer on my own...especially thinking it would be unfair for the other senior nurses...

please help! i really dont know how to start and time is running out...i have plans of pursuing my nursing career in new york (i have in-laws there) and for now im still waiting for the child abuse certification from nyspcc, before appying for my licensure there. from time to time, im reading xeroxed nursing books i bought in front of PRC...

RNHawaii34 · Jan 3, 2008

hi suzanne and everyone here...:)
i think its better if i work here in the province (pangasinan) cause we have just moved here this year. even if i wanted to work in the city, it would be somewhat difficult for me to fully concentrate on my work if my mind is on my family who's far from me, aside from the bus fare and allowances...
i've finished my iv training course at a regional government hospital here. and yes i am planning to get experience here (even if i still dont know how to fully understand their dialect) in pangasinan but i am still afraid to volunteer at the said government hospital because i dont know how to move yet in a "toxic" place.:chair: but then my iv training collegueas have started their work as trainee nurse volunteers at the said hospital. they graduated last 2006 only and i think that they're still much updated, compared to me .
most of the private hospitals here need "backers" but as much as possible i want to volunteer on my own...especially thinking it would be unfair for the other senior nurses...
please help! i really dont know how to start and time is running out...i have plans of pursuing my nursing career in new york (i have in-laws there) and for now im still waiting for the child abuse certification from nyspcc, before appying for my licensure there. from time to time, im reading xeroxed nursing books i bought in front of prc...

well, don't feel bad. you are not the only one who is in the same position right now. i understand you want to work in the state of new york. the problem now is that there are no available visa for you guys. if i were you, i will continue looking for a job, even if you feel that nobody will hire you. just continue looking. at least start from the very bottom, working in the united states is not easy, you need to pass all the exams, all the requirements, and that is just a dent for everything. if you have a backer, or you know someone in the hospital, there is nothing wrong with asking for help on how to get it in. volunteering will take you nowhere, or there could be a 50-50 chance that they will hire you, am i getting myself clear? i don't understand by what you mean it will be unfair for the senior nurses? just take your time..and eventually, you will get a job.goodluck to you.

azilrn07 · Jan 3, 2008

hi hanns were in the same situations,i am inactive nurse also for almost four years now. what i've known is that u have to be a volunteer trainee first for about 6 months then the hospital will appraise your compentence & performance if they must hire you as a staff nurse.

Michael'sprv8RN · Apr 4, 2008

Hello, another inactive nurse here. I am on my reviews supposedly to take NCLEX in Manila, but with meeting my fiance' last year, I got a K1 Fiancee Visa on process so we've decided to just take my exam in Ohio. So if fortunately I pass the exams, what do you think are the requirements for me being out of the nursing field for several years?

I will greatly appreciate any opinion. It sometimes frustrates me studying thinking I am much left behind with the new trends in nursing.

Thank you and more power to all!

Daly City RN · Apr 6, 2008

Hello, another inactive nurse here. I am on my reviews supposedly to take NCLEX in Manila, but with meeting my fiance' last year, I got a K1 Fiancee Visa on process so we've decided to just take my exam in Ohio. So if fortunately I pass the exams, what do you think are the requirements for me being out of the nursing field for several years?
I will greatly appreciate any opinion. It sometimes frustrates me studying thinking I am much left behind with the new trends in nursing.
Thank you and more power to all!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nursing is a very dynamic field. Like for instance in Dec. 2006, when I went on vacation to the Philippines from my nursing job in a medical center here in San Francisco, California, I was gone from my job for almost one month. When I came back to work several things had changed: from new policies and procedures to new drugs that were made available, or were no longer available because insurance would no longer pay for this or that particular drug. As an RN, you must know these things or know somebody who does.

Another recent good example was this last Jan. 2008, a Filipina RN also spent her well-earned vacation in the Philippines and when she got back to work we had advanced our computerized charting to new heights. She had to play catch up with the rest of us. She was away from work for only four weeks, imagine yourself being away from nursing for several years.

I do hope that these inactive RN's who plan to become active RN's and wish to come to the U.S.A. are computer literate. Most acute care hospitals in the United States, as everyone should expect, are highly computerized. In our hospital we have two computer terminals in the Nurse's station and a computer terminal every few feet in the hallways of our unit, and we also have ten "COW's" or Computer On Wheels that nurses use anywhere these computers are needed. After their initial physical assessments of their assigned patients and making sure his/her patients are safe and comfortable, you would normally see the RN's in our unit in front of a computer "charting" or ducumenting their initial assessments in one of the computers in our unit. There are more computer terminals than there are nurses working in a particular shift.

I do hope that these inactive RN's will read about or even see and operate IV pumps, kangaroo pumps, high-tech beds, and other equipments. They should review tracheostomy, T-Tubes, C-Paps, Bi-Paps, Chest tubes, Central lines, etc, etc. Don't forget about the drugs, indications, side effects, nursing implications, patient teachings. They should re-learn IV insertions, blood draws, glucose monitoring, laboratory values, their interpretations etc.

They should have critical thinking, good at time management, able to keep their cool when the sh** hits the fan!

Of course they have to go back to the basics by reviewing Medical-Surgical, OB-Gyn, Psychiatric nursing etc.

And for those who are linguistically challenged, they should attend English language courses. Remember, you will be speaking with English speaking doctors, fellow nurses, other allied professionals and most important of all, your patients. Take speech lessons if you have a heavy accent so that the English-speaking people whom you will be speaking with will not have a hard time trying to understand you.

Don't be disappointed! Don't be scared! There is a saying: "How do you eat an elephant?"

Answer: "One small bite at a time."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

TLC93 · Apr 28, 2008

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
nursing is a very dynamic field. like for instance in dec. 2006, when i went on vacation to the philippines from my nursing job in a medical center here in san francisco, california, i was gone from my job for almost one month. when i came back to work several things had changed: from new policies and procedures to new drugs that were made available, or were no longer available because insurance would no longer pay for this or that particular drug. as an rn, you must know these things or know somebody who does.
another recent good example was this last jan. 2008, a filipina rn also spent her well-earned vacation in the philippines and when she got back to work we had advanced our computerized charting to new heights. she had to play catch up with the rest of us. she was away from work for only four weeks, imagine yourself being away from nursing for several years.
i do hope that these inactive rn's who plan to become active rn's and wish to come to the u.s.a. are computer literate. most acute care hospitals in the united states, as everyone should expect, are highly computerized. in our hospital we have two computer terminals in the nurse's station and a computer terminal every few feet in the hallways of our unit, and we also have ten "cow's" or computer on wheels that nurses use anywhere these computers are needed. after their initial physical assessments of their assigned patients and making sure his/her patients are safe and comfortable, you would normally see the rn's in our unit in front of a computer "charting" or ducumenting their initial assessments in one of the computers in our unit. there are more computer terminals than there are nurses working in a particular shift.
i do hope that these inactive rn's will read about or even see and operate iv pumps, kangaroo pumps, high-tech beds, and other equipments. they should review tracheostomy, t-tubes, c-paps, bi-paps, chest tubes, central lines, etc, etc. don't forget about the drugs, indications, side effects, nursing implications, patient teachings. they should re-learn iv insertions, blood draws, glucose monitoring, laboratory values, their interpretations etc.
they should have critical thinking, good at time management, able to keep their cool when the sh** hits the fan!
of course they have to go back to the basics by reviewing medical-surgical, ob-gyn, psychiatric nursing etc.
and for those who are linguistically challenged, they should attend english language courses. remember, you will be speaking with english speaking doctors, fellow nurses, other allied professionals and most important of all, your patients. take speech lessons if you have a heavy accent so that the english-speaking people whom you will be speaking with will not have a hard time trying to understand you.
don't be disappointed! don't be scared! there is a saying: "how do you eat an elephant?"
answer: "one small bite at a time."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>[/quote
ah-uh!kinda frightful!but thanks for the information for i am an inactive nurse,too.i will remember all you've stressed out.

malaya · Apr 29, 2008

can you suggest a school that offers refresher course for inactive nurses in Manila