Nurse Refresher Courses

Registered Nurse (RN) Refresher Course

For Nurses Looking to Return to the Workforce

The RN Refresher Course is designed for Registered Nurses whose licenses have been expired or nurses out of clinical practice who need a refresher course to meet the requirements of the Board of Nursing.

Our State Board of Nursing approved RN Refresher course is an online, independent study course designed with your needs in mind. Flexible formats allow you to update your nursing knowledge and skills while working within your busy schedule to get your license reinstated. No travel required!

Did you know?
We offer our course to nurses outside of Colorado

We are fully approved by the Boards of Nursing in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, and Wyoming!

Additionally, nurses from Montana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, and more have been approved to take the course.
If you live outside of these states you may still be able to take the course, contact us to discuss your options.

Scholarship Opportunity

If you live on the Western Slope of Colorado* or in Weld County, you may be eligible for a Scholarship covering up to 100% of your tuition in any of our courses. Funds are limited, so apply now!

*Western Slope Counties: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Jackson, Lake, La Plata, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Juan, San Miguel or Summit

Select the appropriate option when registering for the course. Contact us at refresher@coloradonursingcenter.org if you have any questions.
Western Slope scholarship is funded by a grant from the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation.
Weld County Scholarship funded by a grant from the Weld Trust.

Complete Within 9 months
(at your own pace)

Direct Access to Staff through Email, Phone, or Video Calls

Interactive modules and course content

Engage Through Discussion Boards

Pre-Hospital practice Scenarios and Simulated E-Cases

Monthly Virtual Open House Sessions

The Refresher course offers rolling admissions with a cohort design. Each cohort will begin the 2nd Tuesday of the calendar month following your registration. Payments for the cohort will come out of your selected payment method on the 1st of the month.

***Payments will be processed at midnight UTC. For example: April 1st payments will process at 5:00 pm MT on March 31st.

Many students eligible to complete clinical experiences and demonstrate competency through Virtually Simulated Clinicals*. Contact refresher@coloradonursingcenter.org for more info!

What Students are Saying

I have not worked as a nurse for many years. I was nervous and wondered would I still have the knowledge and the critical thinking skills needed to care for patients. Having the option of learning and practicing skills in a virtual setting was very appealing. It allayed those worries because I was able to learn and practice in a low stress and safe environment. I came away with the confidence that I could identify the problems of my patients, and properly see to their care.

Elleah Johnson

RN Refresher Student

I was surprised at how much my critical thinking improved throughout the simulation cases. I highly recommend this course! I believe my ability to provide quality nursing care has been upgraded. I appreciate this option for the RN Refresher course.

Ashley Serrano

Virtually Simulated Clinicals Student

I wanted to thank you all very much for submitting recommendations for me to UC Health. I applied to 2 of their job listings and was offered 3 jobs! I accepted a fellowship and part-time position in acute care, surgery specialty at Anschutz. I know the RN Refresher Program opened doors for me in this application process, as I had been away from nursing for almost 10 years.

Ashley Ryan

RN Refresher Student

Kaiser Smoky Hill Clinic was very good to me in getting the last 60 hours of clinical experience. It was a miracle that I was able to get a site six blocks from where I live. The staff were all kind and helpful. I even ran into my primary care physician a couple of times. I helped that I had worked for Kaiser for nine years at one point so that I was familiar with their nurse visits and their other duties. Thank you for making that possible.

Nancy Lemmon

RN Refresher

Click here to register

*Attention CO Nurses: Nurses whose license has been inactive for 5-10 years may complete 100% of their requisite clinicals with simulation. Nurses whose license has been inactive for more than 10 years may complete up to 75% of their requisite clinicals with simulation.
Seeking licensure outside of CO? See if your state's Board of Nursing accepts virtually simulated clinical hours by contacting our team.

RN Refresher Lite

Has your license only been inactive for 2-5 years?

Our Refresher Lite course is for you!

Learn More

Have questions about reinstating your nursing license?

Contact us at brittany@coloradonursingcenter.org or
720-699-7833

Click here for faq

Virtually Simulated Clinicals

Interested in strengthening your clinical skills?

We offer Virtually Simulated Clinicals for any Registered Nurse

Learn More

Explore Below to Learn More about the Course

Course Overview

The nurse refresher course is divided into two phases. Phase One, theory, includes 120 hours of online, independent study and includes textbook readings, required quizzes, self-assessment quizzes, case reviews, online content, and 20 virtual simulation critical thinking e-cases. Phase One culminates with a final exam. Required exams must be passed with an 80% or better for successful course completion. Content is divided into 4 modules on the Moodle Learning Management System.

Phase Two, Clinicals. Students are required to find a medical facility to complete 120 hours of an in-person, precepted clinical experience. Refresher Program staff can assist students in finding a site and will work with the site to be sure an Affiliation Agreement is in place.

You will have 9 months from when you receive your logins to finish phase 1 and phase 2 of the course.

Online Platforms Used:

Moodle: The Moodle Learning Management System hosts Phase One, the didactic theory portion of the course. The course is designed to develop and strengthen critical thinking skills and consists of four modules including assigned readings, interactive case studies, self-assessments, and additional resources.

NovEx: NovEx virtual simulation (v-sim) is an asynchronous online case-based learning experience. V-sim is integrated throughout the RN Refresher modules which allows students to practice and demonstrate required competencies and best practices required for re-licensure. Learn more about NovEx here.

Tuition: $3350

Instructions and confirmation of enrollment will be sent to you by the Nurse Refresher Team following registration.

Purchase Textbook

Lewis's Medical-Surgical Nursing 11th or 12th Edition

ISBN: 978-0-323-55149-6 (11th)
ISBN: 978-0-323-78961-5 (12th)

Estimated Cost: $150.00

HIPAA and OSHA Training

Required HIPAA and OSHA Training is provided by HealthStream.
Typically, the training costs $40, but we provide you with a 50% discount code.

Estimated Cost: $20.00

Once you have completed the course requirements, you will then be eligible to take the online open book final exam. You are required to pass the final exam with at least a score of 80% in order to continue to the clinical portion. Students may take the final exam only once. Those who do not pass may retake the course for an additional fee. Retaking the final exam requires the design and approval of a successful retake plan.

Financial Aid

Your local Workforce Center may be able to provide financial assistance. Visit your local agency for eligibility criteria.

Colorado Workforce Centers: Click Here

National Association of State Workforce Agencies: Click Here

Course Objectives and Outline

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

Refresh and update the knowledge and skills needed to complete physical assessments, history-taking, documentation, and best practices using health information technologies.
Review the importance of using the Nursing Process in the care of adult medical-surgical patients.
Understand changes in nursing practice, including addressing social determinants of health, culture, and specific needs of diverse populations.
Review the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs, administration of medications and dosing, and the use and best practices for intravenous therapy (IV) and specialty medications.
Review and identify evidence-based, current therapies, procedures, diagnostics, pathophysiology, and treatment modalities for common medical and surgical diseases.
Update their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse in applying nursing procedures for individualized patient care, including legal, ethical, and professional matters.

Course Outline

Module	Topics
Module 1: Current Concepts in Nursing	Changes in healthcare and nursing Ethics Legal Nursing process Health assessment Prioritizing Nursing Care Job application for employment
Module 2: Therapeutic Advances	Arterial blood gases Fluid and electrolytes Blood administration IV therapy Pharmacology administration
Module 3: Systems Review and Clinical Update	Cardiac Endocrine EENT GI Genitourinary Hematological Hepatic Immune Integumentary Musculoskeletal Neurological Respiratory Reproductive
Module 4: Contemporary Issues	Complementary and alternative therapy Chemical and biological hazards Infection control Pain management Perioperative care Transcultural nursing Wound/Ostomy care End of life care

Prepare for Clinicals

After passing the exam, you will need to complete the following:

Apply for License Reinstatement/Endorsement from State Board of Nursing
***State Board of Nursing application requirements vary. Please check with your Board of Nursing for guidance.

Colorado State Board of Nursing: Click Here

For all other states: Click Here to find your State Board of Nursing Website

Colorado State Board of Nursing Fingerprint Background Check

Price determined by fingerprinting agency.

The Center's requirements for clinical placement:

Drug Screen and Background Check (Only applies for in-person clinicals)

NOTE: We do not accept any other background check or drug screens.

Documents/Information for clinical placement

For your security, do not send these items via regular email. Please contact us to have them delivered securely.

Copy of Previous Nursing License
Proof of Professional Liability Insurance
Proof of Current Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association
Proof of current immunizations or titers:
- COVID series
- Hepatitis B full series or Titer
- MMR
- T-DAP
- Chicken Pox, Titer or date of disease
- Flu Vaccine
Polio (if required by clinical site)
Proof of TB Test or x-ray within the last 12 months
Personal Health Insurance (if required by clinical site)

Clinical Practicum Overview

Module Five consists of 120 hours of clinical practicum. Skills training and site-specific training utilizing self-assessment and skills check list must be completed under the direct supervision of an RN preceptor.

The clinical experience is individualized for the student based on their background, education and work environment.
The experience is a contract between the student, healthcare facility, and assigned preceptor. This practicum is arranged with the support of the Nurse Refresher Project Director.
An Education Agreement between The Center and the healthcare facility must be created before the experience begins.
The student must apply to the SBON for a permanent license
The State Board of Nursing (SBON) must assign a temporary nursing license which reads "Active-Refresher Only" before students may begin their clinical experience.
Students are required to submit a copy of this license to The Center prior to starting clinicals.

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) website has more information about these requirements.

Required Completion Hours: 120 Theory and 120 Clinical*
*The State Board of Nursing may require additional hours as determined by the Board on a case-by-case basis.

Clinical Hours in Virtual Simulation
If you are electing to use Virtual Simulation for all or a portion of your clinical practicum. Click the link below.

Do you live outside of Colorado?

We may be able to help you get re-licensed in your state. Contact us at refresher@coloradonursingcenter.org to discuss your options.