Where do I start ?
Please refer to the Getting Started page for information on getting accepted and registered for the refresher course. Top
What is the on-line nurse refresher program?
The Mesa Community College nursing faculty have developed an online internet registered nurse refresher program. This program consists of two courses that have been approved by the Arizona State Board of nursing. The first course, NUR228, is a
6 credit hour course delivered via the internet on WebCT and MyNursingLab. This course is offered in a modular format; Refreshers can choose to update in
medical / surgical nursing, obstetrical nursing, pediatric nursing and/or psychiatric / mental health nursing. All Refreshers will update in modules relating to the core standards of nursing, pharmacology and nursing skills.
Click on this link to learn more about NUR228. The second course, NUR229, is a 4 credit precepted clinical in a health care agency with a registered nurse. Click on this link to learn more about NUR229.
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What is a precepted clinical?
The precepted clinical is with a registered nurse employed in an approved agencey. 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.
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Who should take the internet nurse refresher program?
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 and 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 by the Arizona State Board of Nursing, the MCC nursing faculty believes that you need a structured refresher program and that an internet program is not a good match for your needs. We would refer you to the RN Refresher Program offered by Gateway Community College, (http://www.gatewaycc.edu), as it is offered in a traditional classroom setting.
These courses are not approved by any other state board of nursing as a refresher for nurses.
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When will this program start?
Both the theory course and the precepted clinical are offered three times a year in a non-tradtional semester. A non-tradtional semester cuts across two semesters. For example, a course can be offered spring/summer, summer/fall, etc. The courses are taken sequentially, first the theory (NUR228) and then the clinical (NUR229). NUR228 is a prerequisite to NUR229.
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Can I enter the online course at anytime?
The theory course is structured with weekly assignments that begin at the start of each each class offering. For this reason the course has defined start and end dates.
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How long is the clinical course?
The Arizona State Board of Nursing requires that refreshers work 160 clinical hours to reactivate their license. The clinical course is 180 clock hours. The first 20 hours will be spent at the MCC campus nursing resource center. The 20 hours of clinical laboratory at MCC includes an orientation to the course, practice time for skill testing, dosage testing and skill testing.
You have an opportunity to work with the equipment in a nursing lab, and complete any required online orientation to a health care agency. You may still have to complete an in-person agency orientation in addition to your 160 hours of clinical.
After these 20 hours are completed, you will work the same schedule as your preceptor for 160 hours gradually assuming 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 160 hours within the specified course dates. You may choose to complete the required hours on a part time basis, at least 20 hours per week, or full time.
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How long will it take to complete the program?
It will take six to seven months depending on how quickly you reach the 160 required preceptorship hours.
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What type of nurses' license do I need to start?
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.
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How does my temporary license become reactivated?
After the clinical course is completed, MCC will send a letter of completion to the Arizona State Board of Nursing. The refresher will receive a copy of the letter upon completion of the program. Top
How much does it cost?
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.
When determining the cost remember to include textbooks, a minimum of $300, and the cost of a uniform, shoes, stethoscope, immunizations, nursing license, etc, for the clinical course. Please refer to the RN Refresher Information Packet for an estimate of program costs. Changes in tuition could occur at any time. For up-to-date tuition information click on this link.
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Do I really need to know how to use a computer?
Yes. You need to feel comfortable moving about the Internet, opening attachments, sending an attachment, using Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, and sending and receiving email. All of the theory material will be on the Internet. You may contact your instructor through email If the idea of using a computer is uncomfortable to you, then you may need to take a traditional nurse refresher course in a classroom. Gateway Community College offers one.
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What computer hardware / software will I need?
Click on Distance Learning 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.
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Who can be a preceptor?
A preceptor must be a registered nurse working in the health care agency that has agreed to update your clinical skills. Ideally the preceptor should have the same level of education as the student. Top
Will the school provide preceptors for nurses?
At this time, the answer is maybe. Refreshers wanting to do a preceptorship in a hospital, who live in Maricopa County, will be directed to an online preceptor placement process. Refreshers wanting to do a preceptorship outside of a hospital, or those who live outside of Maricopa County, will need to find their own preceptor.
This allows you the flexibility to do you clinical work in your community without having to come into the Phoenix area. Of course the MCC nursing faculty will verify the preceptor's qualifications.
There is no guarantee that you will be provided a preceptor through the online preceptor placement process. Should this occur you will be responsible for finding your own preceptor. If one cannot be found in time for completion of the class you will not be entitled to a refund.
If you are worried about being unable to find a preceptor, then you should consider a traditional classroom refresher program, such as the one offered at Gateway Community College.
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How do I find a preceptor?
The precepted clinical is to be done in the nursing specialty module studied in the theory course. Once a refresher is enrolled in the clinical course, they will be directed to an online preceptor request site for selected Phoenix, Arizona hospitals. Refreshers, living outside of Maricopa County, or planning on doing their preceptorship in a healthcare agency that is not a hospital, must arrange their own preceptorship (see Steps For Finding A Preceptor). 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.
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Am I required to work for the agency where I do my preceptorship?
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.
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Can I do my preceptorship in peds, OB, or psych?
Yes. Peds and OB preceptorships can be requested through the online preceptor website, but you must arrange for your own psych preceptorship. In addition, you must have prior experience in the nursing specialty that you wish to complete your preceptorship.
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Is there any place that I cannot do my preceptorship?
Yes. You may not do a preceptorship in any critical care area. This includes all intensive care units, operating room and the emergency department. The reason for this is that the course is a review of basic nursing. We do not review any advanced nursing skills. Nurse mangers and operating rooms are requiring an operating room course before accepting refreshers.
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What immunizations will I need?
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 Nurse Refresher Information Packet. Please submit copies of your immunization or titer records to Certifiedbackground.com Download Certified Background Student Instructions to establish an account. Review the Certified Background Student Tutorial for information on how to submit your documents. A verbal history of having had a disease that has available immunizations is not acceptable proof.
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What CPR card do I need?
We will need a copy of a CPR Health Care Provider Card that is current throughout the clinical course. Internet CPR courses are not accepted.
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What else will I need for the clinical course?
You will need a Fingerprint Clearance Card and a professional registered nurse liability insurance policy. The Fingerprint Clearance Card can take time to obtain. If you are enrolled in the theory course, start working on obtaining it.
That information is availble at Fingerprint Clearance Card Information site.
We need a copy of the Fingerprint Clearance Card. We will also need a copy of your Malpractice RN Insurance Policy (obtain this prior to the start of the clinical course, as it is only good for one year).
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You haven't answered my question. How do I get in touch with you?
Email Diane Dietz:
diane.dietz@mcmail.maricopa.edu
