Online RN Refresher Course Information

Registered nurses (RNs) who have been out of the field for a year or more may benefit from online RN refresher courses. Read on to learn about programs that pair online coursework with on-site clinical supervision to review essential nursing concepts.

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Information About Online Refresher RN Courses

Designed for nurses who have been out of active practice for a significant time period, online refresher RN courses offer a clinical and didactic nursing review to prepare for re-engagement in the healthcare field. Programs are open to nurses with an active non-restricted RN license or a temporary permit-to-practice. Regulations vary by state; thus, it is important to ensure that a particular program meets necessary regulations to renew RN licensure in a given state. Nurses with an active license may earn contact hours for license renewal by participating in the didactic course component only.

Online Course Requirements

Students need a computer and access to the Internet, with a browser capacity that supports recent versions of Internet Explorer or Firefox. Classes may require students to have access to Microsoft Office, Acrobat Reader, Flash, Real Player or QuickTime. An active e-mail account is necessary to communicate with professors. Some courses may require students to have sound cards and speakers to deliver online audiovisual content.

RN Refresher Course Overview

Online classes typically occur on self-paced schedules with a timeline that fits a 15-16 week semester. Once the semester has begun, students may submit assignments and take exams at their own pace, with an expectation that they complete online coursework within the semester. Professors offer feedback when students turn in assignments. Exams may be taken online or at approved sites under the supervision of a proctor.

Upon successful completion of didactic coursework, students are eligible to begin the clinical course component at a program-approved clinical site. Students may be responsible for locating clinical settings and choosing appropriate clinical preceptors. Clinical course components typically consist of 80-100 preceptor-supervised hours, which must be completed within a student's state of nursing licensure.

Common Course Topics

Course content commonly includes effective communication skills in the healthcare workplace, safety issues in acute care settings and quality of nursing concerns. Specific topics vary, but typically include:

  • Legal and ethical implications of nursing
  • Medication administration
  • Nutrition
  • End-of-life issues
  • Pharmacology updates
  • Physical patient assessment
  • Current nursing trends
  • Nursing for special patient populations
  • Obstetric nursing
  • Pediatric nursing
  • Psychiatric nursing
  • Gerontology nursing
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