ONCE A NURSE, ALWAYS A NURSE? A STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTERED NURSE REFRESHER COURSES IN WASHINGTON STATE.
Contributors: Seattle University.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 189
Subjects: Education, Adult and Continuing.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study evaluates the effectiveness of registered nurse refresher courses in preparing inactive nurses to re-enter active nursing practice. Effectiveness is examined through the perceptions of three groups: nurse educators, refresher nurses, and nurse administrators. Background information related to the history of R.N. refresher courses, reasons for leaving and returning to nursing, past evaluations of refresher courses and legal issues relevant to R.N. refresher courses were addressed.

The data for this study were collected during 1984 and 1985 from refresher nurses, nurse educators and nurse administrators who had been involved with Washington state refresher courses between 1983 and 1985. Mailed questionnaires were used in this process. Criteria for refresher course effectiveness were developed and responses were compared to these standards.

The results of this study indicate that refresher nurses and nurse educators perceive refresher courses to be effective in preparing the inactive nurse to resume practice. Nurse administrators viewed refresher courses as a marginally effective means for re-entry preparation.

It is concluded from the study that nurse administrators have little or no knowledge of refresher course curricula and do not prefer to hire refresher nurses. Refresher nurses still leave and return to active practice for essentially the same reasons they did in the past. Evaluation of refresher courses is influenced by the fact that nurse educators do not keep follow-up records of refresher nurses' progress after course completion.

Other significant findings indicated that all three groups supported the legal requirement of R.N. refresher courses for nurses who had been inactive for a specified length of time. Refresher nurses overwhelmingly rejected a requirement of active practice for annual license renewal. Nurse educators were undecided on this issue and nurse administrators were equally divided on the active practice requirement question.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-05, Section: A, page: 1571.

Thesis (ED.D.)--SEATTLE UNIVERSITY, 1986.

School code: 0551.