RN Refresher Course

[gmdlc]

I just recently passed my NCLEX RN and I've been out of nursing school for 7 years. My license is New Mexico and I plan to endorse it to Maryland. But Maryland seems to have a 5 year rule for safe practice or so. And I also saw this...

Those applicants who cannot present evidence of 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the last 5 years, or successful completion of a Board-approved refresher course or preceptor program, may apply for inactive license.

Can somebody please help me or advice me on what to do about it? I currently live in California. TIA!

[Jolie, BSN]

You need to contact the MD BON to clarify their requirement.

Does the practice requirement begin upon graduation or upon receiving your initial license? Since you just passed NCLEX and received your first license, the continuing practice requirement may just be beginning, in which case you would be eligible for a MD license, providing everything else is in order.

Or do they go back to your graduation date and begin the continuing practice requirement then, in which case, although your license is new, you have not met the requirement.

If MD says that you do not meet the continuing practice requirement, you can either take a refresher course, or find a state in which you are eligible to practice and get 1000 hours under your belt before moving to MD.