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Discussion

RN refresher course

Hi I am finishing the course work for a RN refresher course. For the last 3 months, my instructor and I have tried to set up clinicals at an area hospital. The director of nursing doesn't return phone calls and will not commit to a date for clinicals. My instructor doesn't want to bother checking other hospitals. (She really doesn't like her job and is passive aggressive.) Since she handles our grades is the only person in this program. I feel stuck. Has anyone encountered similar problems???? :angryfire

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Matt123

HI! I also am in an RN refresher course finishing up my clinicals.

I think some hospitals don't want refreshers because they are sometimes considered as "students." I can understand that part. Luckily, our instructor sticks up for us and we are in a great hospital for our clinicals.

But I don't understand why your instructor won't make any more effort to find a place for you. That's her job!!! Can you go discreetly to the facility that is sponsoring your refresher? I just don't understand that. I am in a large city. How about you? If it is a small city, maybe they don't have that much available for refreshers, although I sure hope that isn't the case. I certainly hope you succeed and hope you will let us know how you have fared.

  • Expert

Your refresher course is connected with a school of nursing, is it not? If so, it probably wouldn't hurt to go to the dean of the nursing program and tell her the problem you are having getting clinical time. The school has part responsibility in providing opportunity for clinical time since they are making an offering of this class. Another route to go would be to contact the board of nursing who certifies this course. They may be able to help in sending you in the direction of a clinical clerkship for you. That aside, you could complain to the state board anyway because if the clinical time was advertised as part of the course content then the organization making this refresher course available is failing their obligation to provide what they told the state board they would provide. The places to look for clinical time are those hospitals that normally take on student nurses. A unique approach would be to contact an HMO and ask if you could shadow their family doctors or internists, particularly the ones with hospital patients (just a thought). I would also try approaching any V.A. hospitals in the area. Good luck.

Hi,

what kind of refresher are you in that the clinicals are not included. It sounds like an on-line type program where you have to get separate clinical arrangements. The other suggestions are on track....it really would depend on your program though. The BON in some states don't even require clinicals in a hospital...but i would suggest to you that if you are wanting to go back to the hospital.....you need a refresher clinical in the hospital.

Nurse educator

  • Author

This RN Refresher course is through a community college in Denver.This program is separate from the AD/RN-so the line of command is blurry. We had 6 fridays 4:30-8:30pm labs in Denver; @200 hours of on-line reading and tests. The clinical portion is 120 hours in a hospital setting. Seven of the 15 RNs in the class are from northern Colorado. Each of us wanted to do our clinicals at one of the 3 hospitals in our area VS driving 70 miles each way to Denver. This instructor has not been proactive. With 3 of the RNs, she just contacted the facility and we are to finish our clinicals by Feb.1 I personally contacted a hospital 3 months ago but they will only talk to the instructor. With the nursing shortage, all of us returning RNs thought that it would be simple.:uhoh3: WRONG.....Two of the other instructors resigned because this instructor is difficult. Our families are Envisioning $2000 down the drain. Thanks for the input on contacting ? superior and the Board of Nursing. It is scarey returning to the workforce and I didn't expect obstacles. This is a great forum that I just happened across. I appreciate the kind words and support!!:)

Hello Matt

i am new to the forum also. Most RN Refreshers that are on-line i understand have some problems...but most do not. It seems you have gotten the raw end of the stick. My refresher is not on line and has been very successful with placement and clinicals because i have my own clinical contract at an acute care hospital. this makes the transition much easier for the nurse and some can even stay there to work.

Maybe you should be more proactive with the instructor and remind her that $2000.00 has been paid and results are mandatory...don't be afraid to approach her/him. If there is no other person to go to for this problem i suggest you be tactful and deal with her.....give her the phone number of the facility that you research...surely she doesn't mind calling them....the work is done.

good luck

Matt, I am interested in the same community college program. Did you have any luck getting clinicals in a hospital? I am getting really poor feedback from hospital recruiters. They are telling me even with a refreshor course and clinicals, that I will probably not be able to get a job in a hospital in CO.

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