Nurse Refresher Program:
FAQ’s
How did the Nurse Refresher Program
come to be?
The Nurse Refresher Program (NRP) was created
over 30 years ago by nurse
educators throughout
Idaho.
The program was originally administered by the Area Health
Education Consortium (AHEC) and the Idaho Board of Nursing (IBN) and
housed at the Boise Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC).
It has subsequently been administered by the Idaho Commission
on Nursing and Nursing Education (ICNNE), Idaho State
University-Boise, Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC), and now is
owned and administered by the Idaho Alliance of Leaders in Nursing
(IALN).
The Idaho
Council of Nurse Educators, a committee of the IALN, provides
guidance and direction to the NRP.
Where do NRP students usually come from?
Our students are nurses (LPN’s and RN’s) who were once licensed, but
let their license lapse or go inactive.
This is most likely due to some change in life
circumstances—raising a family, inability to find a job, etc.
In order to return their license to active status, their
state Board of Nursing may require that they complete an approved
nurse refresher course.
The IALN Nurse Refresher Program is approved by Boards of Nursing in Idaho, Nevada and Utah.
Other nurses may still have an active license, but may have been out
of clinical practice or working in a non-clinical setting.
They may feel they need a refresher course to brush up on
their knowledge and skills.Still
other nurses may have an active license and have no requirement of a
regulatory board, but their employer may require a refresher course
for their own needs.
Are all returning nurses eligible for the NRP?
No.
If a nurse has been out of clinical practice for a certain
number of years (20 or more years in Idaho; varies from state-to-state) they may
not be eligible for a refresher course and may need to be directed
to an instructor-led course through an established nursing program.
It is important to contact your Board of Nursing to confirm
that you are eligible for the NRP before purchasing the program.
Is the information in the Nurse Refresher
Programs current?
The program
content of the programs is reviewed periodically to ensure it is
up-to-date. There was a
major update and revision of both the RN and LPN programs in the
fall of 2006.
How do I find out the content of the programs?
Brochures describing the programs and listing the content of each
module (chapter) in the texts are posted on this website.
Are any additional textbooks required to complete the programs?
The most
recent edition of the Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice is
required to complete the RN Refresher Program.
It is not required for the LPN Program, but it would be
helpful. This text is
available at bookstores and on-line booksellers such as Amazon.com.
How do I set up the Clinical Preceptorship
portion of the refresher program?
The clinical preceptorship is usually completed at a facility that
provides general medical/surgical care.
A list of the skills to be covered in the clinical experience
is posted on this website.
A packet of information is sent to each student at the time
they take the final test.
This packet provides helpful information necessary to
schedule your clinical experience, along with all the forms that
must be completed throughout the preceptorship.
Students who are residents of Southwest
Idaho may purchase Clinical Placement services for an
additional fee of $100.
When this service is purchased, our Clinical Coordinator sets up the
preceptorship for you.
How long do I have to complete the program?
You have two years from the date the material is sent to you to
complete the theory, final test, and clinical preceptorship.
The average time for students to complete the program is
approximately 8 months.
What do I do if I have questions about the content of the program?
Phone or email the Program Coordinator if you have questions.
Phone
208-794-8031; email
nurserefresher@nurseleaders.org.
If the Program Coordinator cannot answer your question, it will be
referred to our Clinical Coordinator for a response.
office (208)-794-8031