FAQ

Please refer to the main Nursing Refresher page for information regarding program application, acceptance and enrollment. 

The RN Refresher program consists of two AZBN approved courses that meet the licensure renewal requirements for RNs with lapsed licenses. The first course, NUR228, is a 6 credit theory course delivered online. This course is offered in a modular format. Content is based in medical/surgical nursing.  In addition, all Refreshers will update in modules relating to the core standards of nursing, pharmacology and nursing skills.

The second course, NUR229, is a 4 credit precepted clinical experience under the supervision of a registered nurse. View NUR229  to learn more about this course.

The precepted clinical is with a registered nurse employed in an approved facility. The registered nurse works on a one-to-one basis with the nurse refresher. The refresher works with the RN preceptor in order to achieve clinical competency in the selected practice environment. Non-patient care experiences are acceptable as long as the preceptor is a registered nurse functioning in an RN capacity.

These courses are designed for 1) registered nurses who have not met the 960 hour practice requirement in the past 5 years required by the Arizona State Board of Nursing for license renewal. 2) RN's with an inactive license who have been out of nursing for no more than 15 years and 3) RN's who have an active license in nursing and wish to update their skills. 

If your license is under stipulation/restricted by the Arizona State Board of Nursing, the MCC nursing faculty believes that a structured refresher program in a traditional classroom setting will best meet your learning needs. In this circumstance, we refer you to the RN Refresher Program offered by our sister college, Gateway Community College: http://www.gatewaycc.edu

These courses are not approved by any other state board of nursing as a refresher for nurses.   

Program start dates are in the Spring (February) and Fall (September) each year.   The two required courses are taken sequentially, first the theory (NUR228) and then the clinical (NUR229). NUR228 is a prerequisite to NUR229. 

The theory course is structured with weekly assignments that begin at the start of each program offering (February & September). For this reason, the course has defined start and end dates; it does not follow an open-entry, open exit course format.

The NUR229 clinical course is 180 clock hours. The first 36 hours of the course will be spent on the Mesa Community College Southern & Dobson campus to obtain a course orientation and allow for skills practice and competency testing of selected nursing skills and drug dosage calculations. You will have an opportunity to work with the equipment in a nursing lab and complete any required orientation to your designated facility.

After these 36 hours are completed, you will work the same schedule as your preceptor for 144 hours. You will gradually assume his/her work load until you are working independently with little supervision.  You may work only when the preceptor is working. You and the preceptor negotiate a work schedule that is satisfactory to both of you. You must complete the 144 hours within the specified course dates. You may choose to complete the required hours on a part time basis, at least 16 hours per week, or full time. 

It will take six to seven months to complete the program depending on how quickly you reach the 144 required preceptorship hours. 

You must have an active or temporary license from the Arizona State Board of Nursing prior to starting the clinical preceptor course. If you are taking these courses to renew your license, you need to apply for a temporary license from the Arizona State Board of Nursing. The temporary license is only good for 6 months. You will need to apply for the license at least 6 weeks prior to starting your preceptorship. You will need to show proof of enrollment in a refresher course and proof of citizenship to the Arizona State Board of Nursing in order to obtain the license.

For more information, visit the Arizona State Board of Nursing website. 

After the clinical course is completed, the Program Director will send a Letter of Completion to the Arizona State Board of Nursing. AZBN will then mail you your active license. 

The tuition for the Maricopa County Community College District is listed on the Cashier Services website. This cost per credit hour is always subject to change prior to school beginning.

Please refer to the RN Refresher Information Packet for an estimate of program costs. 

Yes! All of the NUR228 theory material is online. Therefore, you must be comfortable navigating the internet, opening attachments, sending attachments, using Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, and sending and receiving email.

Click on eLearning Information and pay special attention to the Minimum Computer & Technology Requirements section. The computer skills listed on this page are the minimum computer skills needed to take the online refresher course. 

A preceptor must be a registered nurse working in a facility with a clinical experience agreement (CEA) with the Maricopa Community College District. If a contract is not currently in place, MCC can request the initiation of a new contract. Please consult the  RN Refresher Program Director regarding this process. 

MCC is able to facilitate clinical placement for RN Refreshers but is unable to guarantee preceptor placement. Refreshers wanting to do a preceptorship in a hospital in Maricopa County will have access to an online preceptor placement process. Refreshers wanting to do a preceptorship outside of a hospital, or a preceptorship at a hospital outside of Maricopa County, will need to find their own preceptor.

There are benefits to finding your own preceptor. It allows you the flexibility to do your clinical work in your community and it increases your chances to obtain future employment with the selected facility.

Again, there is no guarantee that you will be provided a preceptor through the online preceptor placement process. If you are not placed via the online system, please know that you will be responsible for finding your own preceptor. Be aware, if you are unable to secure a preceptor within a time frame that will allow you to complete the course by the course end date, you will NOT be entitled to a tuition refund.

Refer to "Process for Finding a Preceptor" in the RN Refresher Information Packet. Each agency needs to have a clinical contract in place with Maricopa Community Colleges and approval of the agency must be obtained from the MCC nursing faculty. Ideally, the refresher will choose a healthcare agency for the clinical preceptorship that the refresher wants to work in after completing the refresher courses.

No, but the agency may hope that you will. The agency and the preceptor are investing time, money, and energy to refresh you. Hopefully, you will want to work for them and they will want to hire you. It is recommended that you do your precepeted clinical at an agency where you want to be employed. 

Yes. Peds, OB and psychiatric / mental health preceptorships can be requested through the online preceptor website. You must have prior employment experience in the nursing specialty you choose to complete the preceptorship (a resume/curriculum vitae will be required). 

The preceptorship may be completed in any practice environment as long as it is conducted by a registered nurse. Preceptorships in specialty areas require that you have prior work experience in the specialty area (a resume/curriculum vitae will be required).

All of your immunizations and safety documents must be completed prior to beginning the clinical course. For a list of required immunizations, please refer to the RN Refresher Information Packet. 

We will need a copy of a CPR Health Care Provider Card that is current throughout the clinical course. A CPR course that includes in-person skills demonstration is required. 

Additional requirements include a health declaration form signed by a health care provider, a level one fingerprint clearance card, a background check, a urine drug screen and a professional registered nurse liability insurance policy. The Fingerprint Clearance Card may take up to 8 weeks to obtain. Information is available at the Fingerprint Clearance Card Information site. Please refer to the RN Refresher Information Packet for all health and safety requirements.