RN Refresher Course-CSUSM or UCSD??

U.S.A. California

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Anyone out there that could share any experiences with the nursing re-entry courses at either Cal State San Marcos or through the UCSD extension courses? I'm considering enrolling in one or the other if I can't get into a new grad program this winter since I've been out of school for a few years now. I figure anything might help-the job market for new grads or those with just a little experience is SO limited!! I'm getting very discouraged!

Thanks in advance, I hope there's someone out there with some input!:bow:

Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

did anyone do the grossmont refresher? how did you like it?

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Specializes in Cardiac - ER.

The best way to find out info is to call the office. They will refer you to anyone you need to speak with for additional info.

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Thanks for mentioning the RN Refresher/Reentry option at Grossmont Health Occupations Center. I had not heard of that one. Is there anyone here who has experience of that program?

I am an English trained psychiatric nurse and have just been told that I am eligible to take the NCLEX-RN by the California BRN. However, I graduated 12 years ago and never worked after and have no experience in non-psychiatric nursing.

Since the CSUSM program is not currently running, I think that Grossmont might be a good fit for me because it looks as though the UCSD refresher is theory only.

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I am currently in the Grossmont program, having just completed the first week. My situation is like yours, former psych nurse, out of nursing 20+ years, just recently passed NCLEX-RN to reinstate my license. The reason I chose this program is because they offer a REAL clinical refresher, 8 weeks (3 shifts each week) in a very reputable acute hospital, with committed preceptors and a structured program. In contrast most online refresher programs, and even some 'live' programs are much more expensive AND you have to find your own clinical setting and preceptor (very iffy these days). This course seems very much like nursing school. The first 8 weeks (before clinical) are lectures in the classroom with a skills lab about once a week. The class has about 20 RNs in it, and four of us are from out of town, having found rooms to rent during the week, and go home on the weekends, or, depending on the distance, won't go home much. For someone with so much time out of nursing, so far I recommend it as the best option currently available (and I have looked nationally).

I don't know if there is still availability to join this semester's group. The next one begins in January.

You can call the program office for additional info:(619) 956-4300

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Thanks Evolution2011. I was checking it out today and noticed that the program started last week. I also love the fact that there are lots of clinical hours in addition to the theory. I will call on Monday. The only problem I forsee, (asides from there not being availability), is that I have not yet taken the NCLEX, so do not have a california license. The main reason I need/want to do the program is to get immersed in nursing again in order to feel confident to begin studying for the NCLEX. There is always another course starting in November. Thanks again!

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I tried to do it that way too at first, use the theoretical part of a refresher course to jumpstart studying for NCLEX. Programmatically there just isn't a program designed for that. Some online refresher programs may let you do the theoretical review without a license, then take NCLEX, then do the clinical after you have your license (but you are then back to trying to find the clinical situation on your own). I finally took the ATI Testing online course, with one of their coaches. This gave me the structure to begin to tackle the job of reviewing all of nursing (because where do you begin when you're going to eat an elephant?). They have content mastery assessments to help you know when you have studied 'enough' in a particular area, so you can move through the course efficiently and not overstudy any one area. Another classmate in the refresher class used the Kaplan online course for her NCLEX review (she is a foreign trained nurse who also hadn't been in a hospital in 20 years). We each devoted about 3 months to studying using different courses. It can be done, you just need a structure, and you need to be ready to make it the #1 priority in your life for several months!

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Thanks for your advice. If I had had any non-psychiatric nursing training, I would just get stuck in and study for the NCLEX now, as you did. The thing is that if I did that, in reality I would be teaching myself all the medical/surgical content from scratch. In England, the nursing training is different and I specialised in mental health nursing after a very very basic 18 months of general nursing, (we did not learn anything that I see on the NCLEX sample questions -in fact it was like reading Chinese when I looked last night). I am very much out of my depth with general nursing and really need to take some basic nursing courses before I can even attempt to study for the NCLEX. I am looking into courses at Palomar College since CSUSM and Mira Costa have no availibility. After, I will hopefully be able to take the Pre-NCLEX program that the Welcome Back Center, (for foreign students), offers in January, take the NCLEX and then sign up for the program that you are doing now. It will be a long process, but I will get there in the end. I have 2 years from now to take the NCELX, (my deadline from the BRN).

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same boat here. graduated yrs ago passed the ca-nclex in 2009 have attempted to find a job in northern california with no sucess... I have my ACLS BLS AND PALS but still no job.. can tell im getting rusty and would like to find a refresher course in Sf bay area. Im in San jose..... any suggestions?

;)

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
same boat here. graduated yrs ago passed the ca-nclex in 2009 have attempted to find a job in northern california with no sucess... I have my ACLS BLS AND PALS but still no job.. can tell im getting rusty and would like to find a refresher course in Sf bay area. Im in San jose..... any suggestions?

;)

Find a way to live in the area for a while:)

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Find a way to live in the area for a while:)

The only way is to find a job in the next few months

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
The only way is to find a job in the next few months

have you considered other states? CA is saturated with new grads now. Also, with a refresher, you can network, sometimes it's who you know that matters. Anyway, I've heard good things about Arizona and Texas and some of the Southern states. Good luck.

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have you considered other states? CA is saturated with new grads now. Also, with a refresher, you can network, sometimes it's who you know that matters. Anyway, I've heard good things about Arizona and Texas and some of the Southern states. Good luck.

I would definitely consider working out of state. what in your opinion is the best way to go about finding/applying to out of state new grad programs?

thanks so much for taking the time

:)

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