Catalog Description:

The RN Refresher Course is a theory and clinical experience designed to assist the student in applying the nursing process and other essential skills to the care of clients experiencing common health alterations. The course serves as a comprehensive refresher for nurses who have limited nursing practice or for those required by the State Board to complete as part of disciplinary action. Clinical emphasis is placed on the management of clients in an acute care setting such as a hospital. Students are required to complete all components of this course.

Purpose of the Course:

The purpose of this course is to assist nurses to re-enter the field of nursing. It is recommended that nurses take the Clinical Skills Lab and IV Therapy 30 Hour offered by SPC.

Contact Hours:

• 130 hours of didactic on the Internet.
   
• 96 hours of clinical in an acute care setting, such as the hospital, with a preceptor.

Required Texts:

Ignatavicus & Workman. (2009). Medical Surgical Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care, 6th Ed. WB Saunders: Philadelphia. ISBN: 978-814-6049036

Altman, G., Buchsel, P., & Coxon, V. (2010). Fundamental & Advanced Nursing Skills Handbook, 3rd Edition. Delmar: United States. ISBN: 1418055337

Any drug guide for the current calendar year.

Please call Greenville Technical College at 1-800-922-1173 ext 8173 or 864-250-8173 to order required texts.
Do not order textbooks until you are registered for course.

Recommended Texts:

For pediatric module: Rebeschi, Lisa M., and Mary L. Heiens Brown. Pediatric Nurses Survival Guide. 3rd ed. Thomson Delmar Learning, 2007. ISBN 1401897169

Methods of Instruction:

• Assigned Readings
   
• Online lecture
   
• Preceptored clinical hospital experience

Learning Environment:

Most of the course content will be on-line. You may access the on-line class at home on your PC. Many local libraries have computers with Internet access also. You do not need to be a computer expert to take this on-line course. In addition, local hospitals will provide the student with a clinical site to complete their 96 hours of preceptored hospital experience.

Evaluation:

• Module examinations on-line
   
• Clinical evaluation

The didactic portion of the course will be evaluated on unit exams which will be administered upon completion of the each module. All module exams must be completed within 90 days of the student’s start date. The nurse will be given two attempts to successfully pass each exam. The student must achieve a 75% or better on each examination to pass the course. A one time 30 day extension may be granted (new fee charged) if the student has not completed at the end of their 90 days. If the student does not complete after the 30 day one time extension, they will be eligible to retake the course (new fee charged) one time only (no further extensions) at the next course offering date.

The hospital experiences are graded on a pass/fail basis. All classroom material must be completed before the clinical time can be started. The student must achieve a 75% or better on each of the unit exams and successfully complete the clinical component. If the student is unsuccessful he/she will not pass the course. A clinical evaluation is completed by the hospital preceptor. An unsatisfactory evaluation or dismissal from the clinical site will result in the student failing the course. There will be no further opportunity to retake this course with SPC/Greenville College.

Objectives:

Upon completion the student should function as providers of care, managers of care, and members within the discipline of nursing as they:

• Integrate the nursing process as a framework for the management of care of clients and families. The student will be able to assess the client and family, analyze the data, form a nursing diagnosis, develop and implement a nursing plan of care with goals and outcome criteria, evaluate the plan of care, and make changes to the plan of care as needed to restore the health of the client or to provide the client with respectable end of life care.
   
• Apply organizational and interpersonal communication strategies in managing the care of clients, families, and other health care workers. This includes effectively reporting and recording patient assessment information and plan of care and integrating teaching and learning strategies for client and family education.
   
• Integrate cultural, spiritual, psychological, and developmental influences when managing client care.
   
• Integrate the principals of pharmacology safely and competently when providing client care. This includes being knowledgeable of actions, side effects, doses, and precautions of commonly prescribed medications as well as safe administration of oral, parenteral, and intravenous medications.
   
• Integrate the principles of safety when providing care to clients and families.
   
• Incorporate the principles of nutrition for maintaining optimal healthcare for clients and families.
   
• Value legal, ethical, and professional parameters when managing client care.

Expectations:

The student is expected to attend all web sessions and clinical hours. The student is expected to find their clinical site prior to registering for the course.

Students are expected to attend all clinical hours. If a student misses a clinical time it is the student's responsibility to call the unit and inform them that he/she will not be attending clinical. The student must also arrange a make up date with his/her preceptor. Absences are discouraged, as this will delay the completion date.

Clinical Requirements:

Clinical site must be located prior to registering for the course:

Site must be a hospital that will provide a medical surgical acute care experience.

Units NOT APPROVED for preceptorship include:

• Operating Room
   
• Emergency Room
   
• Labor and Delivery
   
• Mom/Baby
   
• Intensive Care areas

Clinical Requirements: Must be completed at least two weeks before completion of online study. It is the responsibility of the student to arrange an interview with Mrs. Kerwin at that time to complete their paperwork. You will not be allowed to participate in clinicals without completing the following:

DO NOT complete the requirements below until you have registered and paid for the course.

• Provide proof of current nursing liability insurance to ensure maximum coverage ($1 million/$3 million) www.nso.com.
  (NSO is used as a sample only. You may choose any malpractice coverage that meets the requirements.)
   
• Proof of health insurance
   
• Current Healthcare provider CPR certification
   
• Current PPD or Chest X-ray if PPD is positive
   
• Rubella and Rubeola titer
   
• Varicella titer
   
• Physical exam or statement of health from primary care provider - Health Examination Form (PDF)
   
• Core Performance Standards (PDF) 
   
• Background check - St. Petersburg College - Healthcare Student Background Check (PDF)
   
• Student is responsible for any additional tests/titers/documentation required by the hospital

Once you have completed and passed all unit exams, I will submit paperwork to hospital contact person to arrange your clinical dates. This is usually accomplished in 5-10 working days. When the contact person has verified orientation and preceptor, you may begin your clinicals. Clinicals must be completed within 45 days of the completion of the on-line portion of the course. A clinical experience WILL NOT be allowed until all clinical requirements have been submitted to St. Petersburg College. If you are a remedial student, you will submit a new application to take the State Board Exam immediately upon successful completion of your clinicals and plan to retake your exam within 45 days.

If you have not completed your clinical experience within 45 days of your completion of the online portion of the course, you will NOT pass the course. There will be no further opportunity to retake this course with SPC/Greenville Technical College.

Once you have completed your clinical rotation and we receive your completed paperwork, we will issue your certificate of completion. If you are a remedial student, the Florida State Board will be notified that you are eligible to retake the exam.

If you are seeking re-activation of your license or seeking endorsement from another state, be sure to contact the Board of Nursing to obtain an application.

Florida State Board of Nursing: 850-245-4125

To register for the course, please contact Kerwin.Denise@spcollege.edu for a telephone interview. Please have the name, telephone and email address of your contact for your clinicals. This must be verified before you can register for the course.

Textbooks and malpractice coverage are extra.