Nurse Refresher Series

Program Description

Nurses play a critical role in a wide variety of healthcare settings ranging from acute care hospitals, physician’s offices, urgent care centers, ambulatory care facilities, long-term care centers, to school nurse’s offices. A registered nurse’s (RN) or licensed practical nurse’s (LPN) primary role is to ensure that every patient receives the direct and proper care they need. RNs and LPNs assess and identify patients’ needs, and implement and monitor patients’ medical plans and treatments. RNs and LPNs perform routine procedures, adjust and administer the patient’s medication and provide instant medical care in emergencies. They collaborate with physicians and the facility’s healthcare team to provide the best possible care for the patient. It is the RNs and LPNs duty to ensure that patient care is conducted according to policies and standards of their healthcare facility.

​In the Nurse Refresher Series students will be provided with instruction that updates a nurse’s knowledge on the current practice of medical-surgical nursing in the acute care setting. Topics covered include: patient safety; infection control; healthcare trends; electronic healthcare documentation; nursing roles; nursing process; pharmacology and dosage calculation; body systems (neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and reproductive); nursing considerations regarding: hematology, immunity, gerontology, oncology, and pain management.

​Students entering this program need to be dedicated to their profession; they need to be able to be on their feet for long periods of time caring for patients at the bedside and transferring and/or positioning patients; they need to exercise safe practices while exposed to unpleasant sights, odors, materials and communicable diseases. Their duties also require them to function quickly with accuracy while being detail-oriented. A high level of manual dexterity, psychomotor skills, and personal integrity are vital.

Nurses are currently entering a job market with an abundance of open positions. More information can be found at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm​

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this Continuing Education class series, students will be able to:

1.  apply with the Maryland Board of Nursing for active licensure.

2.  refresh their nurse’s theoretical knowledge on current practices or medical-surgical nursing. 

3.  properly dose and dispense medication.

​4.  practice their nurse’s skills in a clinical setting through patient evaluations and settings of treatment plans.

CCBC Pathway

Health Professions Pathway.  Pathways are designed to help you meet your academic and career goals by aligning related courses and programs.  Pathway students participate in a variety of activities that help explore career opportunities in their field of study.  You can meet with a CCBC advisor who help align — or realign — your educational plan with the Pathway that best supports you and your goals.

Program Credentials

CCBC Credential:

Students will have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript).

Students will be able to apply to the Maryland Board of Nursing for active nursing licensure.

Certifying Organization:

Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON)

4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21215; (888) 202-9861 or (410) 585-1900

https://mbon.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Financial Aid and Payment Options

We offer financial aid by packaging public and private funding options to those who qualify, in select Continuing Education courses and programs. Additional opportunities for financial support include partial payment options through Nelnet Business Solutions and tuition waivers for those who qualify. Resources outside of CCBC may also be available through employer/sponsor paid tuition,  the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), and your local office of workforce development.

Length of Training

4-6 months

Program Requirements

​Program Requirements:

Non-expired active, inactive or volunteer Registered Nurse license with MBON or non-expired, active, inactive or volunteer Licensed Practical Nurse license with MBON; computer literate; and Internet access.

Students must have the following paperwork uploaded to https://discover.castlebranch.com prior to the start of Part II: Clinical.  Please e-mail CEHealth@ccbcmd.edu with any questions.

• Medical Exam Report signed by your physician
• N95 Mask Questionnaire signed by your physician
• Negative Tuberculosis test (PPD, blood test) or negative chest x-ray (not older than one year)
• Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccination or titer record
• Current flu vaccination
• Covid-19 vaccination
• Hep B vaccination or declination form 
• Tetanus shot (less than 10 years)
• Health insurance card
• CPR for Healthcare Providers verification
• Drug test
• Background check
• Valid government issued picture ID
• Nurse’s Professional Liability Insurance (cannot be student coverage)

This program is not eligible for Baltimore County Public Schools Blueprint funding.

Prior Learning Assessment

This program has potential options for waiving select courses based on previous coursework or articulated coursework from an approved curriculum.  A maximum of 90 program hours may be earned from prior learning.

Application Process

Provisional Entry: Students must provide verification of nursing credentials before or at the first class session.​

Program Course Sequence

Attendance is mandatory. Students may miss only three sessions during the NR Theory class.

All three class of the Nurse Refresher program must be completed within 12 months from the start of the program.

Additional Information

Course Substitutions:
Please contact CEHealth@ccbcmd.edu to discuss waiver requests

Additional Expenses:
CastleBranch service, including drug test and background check approximate cost $107.50; professional liability insurance, and scrubs​.

Career Opportunities:​
Most hospitals are hiring BSN Registered Nurses. There are increasing vacancies for LPNs in long-term care facilities.

Career Coach

Research your career interests, explore live job postings, take a career assessment, discover which companies in the Baltimore region are hiring, and more.  View a brief tutorial video on how to use Career Coach at https://youtu.be/C7KpznbPYfA.  Explore career and training opportunities at https://ccbcmd.emsicc.com/.

Program Contact Information

For more information please e-mail CEHealth@ccbcmd.edu

Technical Standards

Technical Standards for CCBC’s Nurse Refresher Training Series
The primary goal of The Community College of Baltimore County’s Nurse Refresher Training is to adequately prepare students for re-entry into the workforce as an RN or LPN at the bedside in an acute care hospital, a physician’s office, urgent care center, ambulatory care facility, long-term care center, and other health care facilities. 

Nurses are required to be on their feet for long periods of time, caring for patients at the bedside and transferring and/or positioning patients. They need to exercise safe practices while exposed to unpleasant sights, odors, materials and communicable diseases. Their duties also require them to function quickly with accuracy while being detail-oriented. A high level of manual dexterity, psychomotor skills, and personal integrity are vital.
 
The following is a partial listing of the types of skills usually required for adequate job performance: 

Physical Requirements: 
A.    Sufficient strength and mobility to: 

•     Work and/or stand for up to 12 hours 
•     Lift at least 50 pounds or more and position patients 
•     Move swiftly within close quarters while maintaining sterile field 
•     Perform tasks requiring good hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

B.    Adequate vision to: 

•     Read patient ID bracelets for correct administration of care 
•     Read instruction sheets and computer screens 
•     Read medical measuring equipment, scale, thermometer, graduated cylinder, sphygmomanometer, patient files

C.    Sufficient hearing to: 

•     Hear and understand verbal instructions 
•     Properly use stethoscope
•     Interact appropriately with professionals 

Interpersonal Skills and Professionalism:
A.    Have the ability to: 

•     Work in a professional manner as part of a team 
•     Interact in a professional manner with many personalities and attitudes and with people from many different backgrounds 
•     Respect patient confidentiality and rights 
•     Interact with other health professionals in a polite and professional manner 

B.    Sufficient communication skills to: 

•     Give and receive accurate written and verbal instructions 
•     Carry out all written and verbal instructions 
•     Follow proper channels of communication 
•     Communicate in a calm and professional manner 
•     Interpret patient needs accurately
•     Provide patient/public education related to the nursing assistant/geriatric nursing assistant profession

    
Intellectual Ability and Emotional Stability To: 

•     Exercise independent judgment within the practice to properly care for patients 
•     Accurately identify and carry out tasks delegated by registered nurses 
•     Work calmly and efficiently in stressful situations 
•     Maintain calmness during an emergency situation 
•     Complete program requirements 

Environmental Requirements: 

•     Wearing gowns, caps, masks, gloves, and eye protection 
•     Working in an environment that may be noisy at times
•     Working in an environment that exposes one to potentially hazardous materials including cleaning agents and chemicals, body fluids
•     Working in an environment with unpleasant odors
•     Provide proof of recent immunizations against infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and tetanus
•     Receive Hepatitis B vaccinations and or sign a waiver