Welcome to the Nurse Refresher Program
The Nurse Refresher Program (NRP) was created over 40 years ago by nurse educators throughout Idaho, in coordination with the Idaho Board of Nursing. The NRP is copyrighted by Idaho Alliance of Leaders in Nursing (IALN, d/b/a Idaho Center for Nursing) and managed by Nurse Leaders of Idaho (NLI). The NLI Education Committee and a faculty consultant nurse educator provide guidance and direction to the NRP.
The NRP program is continually reviewed and overall program changes are made every two years. However, students who are mid-cycle through the modules will complete the modules that were current at the time of their enrollment in the program, even if there are new module versions put in place before they have completed all modules received on enrollment.
The NRP has been continuously approved by the Idaho Board of Nursing and has also been approved or accepted as a refresher program by other state boards of nursing. Over the years, many nurses with lapsed licenses or who have been out of active nursing practice have successfully completed the program and had their license to practice renewed.
In 2022, the NRP was approved for 25 hours of Nursing Continuing Professional Development by the Arizona Nurses Association, an approved approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Today, the NRP has three focus areas that have evolved over the years:
- To update formerly licensed nurses to meet current professional practice standards and to re-activate their nursing license and return to practice.
- To provide continuing education to currently licensed nurses who may not have been engaged in active nursing practice and who wish to return to active practice.
- To provide education about the LPN scope of practice to registered nursing students who wish to license as a practical nurse based on their RN education program and become licensed by exception as LPNs. This required that the student complete only Module 1 of the LPN module set.
Program Information
Each module includes a pre-test, objectives for learning, narrative, and a self-assessment tool. A list of recommended supplemental reading is also included. Each module will require a minimum of two hours to complete, excluding supplemental reading.
Upon completion of the self-study modules, the post-test may be ordered. This post-test must be completed and returned to the NRP Coordinator for review and grading. The results of the post-test will be sent to the student as well as the Board of Nursing for the state in which the student seeks licensure.
After successful completion of the post-test, most students will be required to complete a clinical component. For southwest Idaho residents, a clinical placement service is offered through a partner site. Those enrolling in the clinical component in southwest Idaho will be interviewed by our Program Coordinator and a preceptorship of the appropriate length will be arranged at a participating health care facility. Those not in southwest Idaho must arrange this preceptorship independently and in accordance with the board of nursing in their state. Clinical placement is not guaranteed. Students who are not in southwest Idaho or who have restrictions against their license are advised to contact a clinical site prior to enrolling in the program.
Suggested Text for the Nurse Refresher Program
The Nurse Refresher Program suggests the purchase of the text, Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice by Sandra M. Nettina. The latest edition can be utilized for this course. These books are available in bookstores or can be purchased online.