One community college-based nursing program in New Orleans has offered a nurse refresher program through the office of workforce development.
As baby boomers age, American healthcare employers are noticing a significant nursing shortage (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014). This shortage will only multiply. For every two 84 year old adults that nurses are caring for now, in about fifteen years there will be at about seven. In 2030, when the last baby boomer turns 65, the demographic profile of our nation's citizens will have changed greatly. One of every five Americans, which projects to be about 75 million people, will be an older adult (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005).
At the same time, many nurses who have been out of the workforce for over five years are looking for jobs. However, employers are directing registered nurses who are rusty from unemployment, to attend a nurse refresher program in order to get updated on skills and new trends in healthcare. One community college-based nursing program in New Orleans has offered a nurse refresher program through the office of workforce development.
As these older professional students return to school, best practices are essential for the adult learner. Many of the refreshers struggle with informatics and computer technology. Nurse refresher programs (created for nurses who kept their licenses current) and re-entry programs (created for nurses who let their licenses lapse) help nurses to transition back into the acute clinical setting smoothly and safely (Rothwell, 2005). Currently, there are four nurse refresher programs approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (Louisiana State Board of Nursing, 2015).
Upon graduation, many refreshers were thankful for becoming emancipated from the fears of technology and the fog of unemployment. See details how this award winning hybrid course operates (Quality Matters, 2014). The Quality Matters Seal of Approval for online education was awarded by the non-profit company that is dedicated to quality online education.
Use a best practice evaluation rubric to determine the degree of excellence in this hybrid program. Determine if a similar hybrid course would do well in your community. Student satisfaction results will be shared.
The learning outcomes of this session include:
The learner will understand the need for a community nurse refresher program.
The learner will appreciate hybrid strategies used for the adult learner.
The learner will evaluate the nurse refresher curriculum for best practice and innovation.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2014). Nursing shortage fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005). Health-related quality of life surveillanceóUnited States, 1993-2002. MMWR. 54(No. SS-4).
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). The state of aging and health in America 2013. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/features/agingandhealth/state_of_aging_and_health_in_...
Louisiana State Board of Nursing (2015). RN refresher courses approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. Retrieved from https://www.lsbn.state.la.us/Portals/1/Documents/Forms/RNRefresherCourse...
Quality Matters (2014). Retrieved from https://www.qualitymatters.org/
Rothwell, K. (2005). Re-entry programs help nurses return to the profession. Retrieved from http://www.nursezone.com/printArticle.aspx?articleID=21658