The RN Refresher is a non-credit, certificate refresher course designed by the Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN) to prepare inactive RNs to return, after an absence of three years or more, to the practice of nursing in first-level medical-surgical staff positions in hospitals, long-term care facilities, or in home care.

The CLN may be contacted at (203) 235-6873.

Course Content

The course consists of four modules, all of which are offered entirely online, thereby eliminating the need to travel to a classroom. You can access the online modules at any time of day or night convenient to your schedule.

You must complete all four modules to earn a refresher course certificate. Should you opt to participate in only some of the modules, for personal enrichment, you will earn the associated contact hours.

If you do not have a current Connecticut license and have been inactive in nursing for more than 10 years, you MUST contact the State Board of Nurse Examiners at 860-509-8389 for review of your licensure status prior to registering for the refresher course.

Module Descriptions

Module One (NUR041) - (Theory) This module addresses basic concepts and skills applicable in the care of patients experiencing a variety of health care problems. Concepts explored include the nature of the health care delivery system; infection control; application of the nursing process in nursing practice and patient education; nursing care of older adults; legal and ethical issues in health care; nursing care of the patient experiencing surgery; nursing care for patients with fluid/electrolyte and nutritional imbalances; nursing care for patients experiencing pain; nursing care for patients with cancer. (Contact Hours: 45)

Module Two (NUR042) - (Clinical) In this module, students apply concepts reviewed in module one and use decision making and critical thinking skills in caring for patients in a virtual hospital setting. The virtual hospital has realistic architecture and access to patient rooms, a nurses' station and a medication room. Students work with multiple complex patient simulations and also learn to access information resources (including an electronic health record) that are essential for high quality patient care. The clinical experiences of this module focus on cultural aspects of care; fluid balance; electrolyte imbalances; pain; perioperative care; blood transfusions; cancer; and end-of-life care. (Prerequisites: NUR041; Contact Hours: 35)

Module Three (NUR043) - (Theory) This module addresses selected health problems affecting the respiratory, cardiac, metabolic, renal, immunologic, gastrointestinal, neurological and musculoskeletal systems for which there have been recent therapeutic advances. In each instance, the physiological and psychosocial aspects of the problem are explored, and the contemporary medical/surgical, pharmacological, and nursing regimens are described. (Prerequisites: NUR041; Contact Hours: 45)

Module Four (NUR044) - (Clinical) In this module, students apply concepts reviewed in module three and use decision making and critical thinking skills in caring for patients in a virtual hospital setting. The virtual hospital has realistic architecture and access to patient rooms, a nurses' station and a medication room. Students work with multiple complex patient simulations and also learn to access information resources (including an electronic health record) that are essential for high quality patient care. The clinical experiences of this module focus on care of patients with asthma; emphysema and pneumonia; pulmonary embolism; acid-base balance; atrial fibrillation; hypertension; diabetes; intestinal obstruction and colorectal cancer; and total knee replacement. (Prerequisites: NUR041, NUR042, NUR043; Contact Hours: 35)

Course Registration

You do not need to apply to, or matriculate (enroll) with, Charter Oak State College in order to take these non-credit courses. To register, visit the student online portal, ACORN; click on "Course Search"; then click on the Search Button on the next page. Click on the link to Request a Log and Password to set up a student account.

For more information, please contact the CLN at (203) 235-6873.

Tuition

Module One:	$600
Module Two:	$700
Module Three:	$600
Module Four:	$700
TOTAL:	$2,600

NOTE: In addition to the above tuition, a one-time, non-refundable, course registration fee will be charged at the time of registration for Module One.