Johnson Beth-El offering seasonal refresher course for nurses

The RN Refresher Program (RNR) is a program designed to bring inactive or out-of-practice registered nurses (RNs) up to date with current technology and standards in the fast-paced healthcare environment. It covers various topics including basic patient care, medical/surgical nursing, professional confidence, and new career or educational opportunities.

Anxious, scared, and unsure of their skills and knowledge, program students all had the same nervousness entering the program. Some worried about the challenges of balancing work and life.

Beth, an RNR student, shared, “Learning about the program, getting into it, the instructor, and the group, has been phenomenal; and just encouraging and motivating. It is a great atmosphere to learn in with others who are in the same boat.”

Whether someone has paused their career for family or are gearing up for licensure, the RN Refresher Program offers the boost nurses need. Johnson Beth-El faculty offer a supportive, unique experience that builds students’ confidence and expertise. Those enrolled in the program are looking for a way to refresh their skills so they may confidently work in a clinical or hospital setting.

“This course just offered a whole other level of comfort,” shared program student Julie.

The comprehensive, semester-long, program covers essential topics like patient care, medical/surgical nursing, and modern healthcare standards.

“There is nothing out there that is like this program. I know, I’ve done the research,” shares Sally, a current volunteer nurse enrolled in RNR, who is looking to refresh her skills to transition to a hospital or clinic.

Maria and Beth both have five children each, and similarly have been out of the field for 15 years. They found the coursework flexible enough to still have time with their families.

“I started this program kind of unsure of myself,” Maria said. “This program was excellent. Our clinical instructor and the instructor here at the school is wonderful.”

Immediately, anyone can see the closeness of the spring RN Refresher cohort. They all work in unison simulating a patient “code blue” in a mock hospital room in the Simulation Learning Center. They administer CPR and use a defibrillator to save the patient, a controllable manikin, from cardiac arrest.  

Victoria, enrolled in the program to prepare for her National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), said, “I can’t stress enough how supportive this environment this is.”

Program instructor Michelle Mongillo watches from behind the scenes. She makes notes on what they’ll discuss in the debrief room to improve their skills for the next time and in actual practice.

Michelle shared, “I am so proud of these students for taking the initiative to enter or renter the nursing workforce. This program was designed exactly for that purpose.”

With a big smile, Maria proudly states, “We’re nurses again!”

Easier to watch or listen? Find the RN Refresher Program video online.

About Johnson Beth-El

The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences has trained and educated the region’s health professionals and human performance professionals for over 120 years, and in 2022, celebrated 25 years with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). At Johnson Beth-El, students are trained to meet the needs of a rapidly changing health care landscape by providing transformative, high-quality, and compassionate care.

In 2022 Johnson Beth-El, along with CommonSpirit, launched an accredited Master of Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics program. The new degree is the first Future Education Model program in the state of Colorado, and is an integrated two-year graduate program designed to provide students with an applied learning experience in preparation for a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Learn more about healthcare undergraduate and graduate degree programs with Johnson Beth-El at johnsonbethel.uccs.edu.