Please refer to the main Nursing Refresher page for information regarding program application, acceptance and enrollment.

The RN Refresher program meets all of the AZBN license renewal requirements for registered nurses with lapsed licenses. The program consists of one 10 credit course that includes both theory (6 credits) and clinical (4 credits) components. The theory component of the course is delivered online. The clinical portion is a combination of on-campus labs and a precepted clinical experience under the supervision of a registered nurse. This course is offered in a modular format. Content is based in medical/surgical nursing. In addition, all Refreshers will update in modules relating to the core standards of nursing, pharmacology and nursing skills.

The precepted clinical is with a registered nurse employed in an approved facility. The registered nurse works on a one-to-one basis with the nurse refresher. The refresher works with the RN preceptor in order to achieve clinical competency in the selected practice environment. Non-patient care experiences are acceptable as long as the preceptor is a registered nurse functioning in an RN capacity.

The program is designed for

1. RN's who have not met the 960 hour AZBN practice requirement at time of license renewal,
2. RN's with an unrestricted active, inactive, lapsed or re-issued license,
3. RN’s with practice experience after obtaining licensure from respective board of nursing or after obtaining licensure in a foreign country,
4. new graduate nurses who have never practiced nursing after obtaining RN licensure and
5. nurses with a confirmed RN preceptor for the clinical portion of the course.

If your license is under stipulation/restricted by the Arizona State Board of Nursing, the MCC nursing faculty believes that a structured refresher program in a traditional classroom setting will best meet your learning needs. In this circumstance, we refer you to the RN Refresher Program offered by our sister college, Gateway Community College: http://www.gatewaycc.edu

This program is not approved by any other state board of nursing as a refresher for nurses.

Program start dates follow the college’s Fall and Spring academic calendars. The RN Refresher course, NUR295, is an 16 week course.

The course has defined start and end dates; it does not follow an open-entry, open exit course format. Students must have a confirmed preceptor placement prior to course enrollment.

The clinical component of the course is 180 clock hours. The first 48 hours of the course includes skills instruction/review, participation in on-campus labs, and competency testing. Portions of the skills modules are completed online prior to campus lab sessions. All campus labs will be held on the Mesa Community College Southern & Dobson campus. The campus labs will give you an opportunity to practice skills, work with the equipment, and complete any required orientation to your designated facility.

After these 48 hours are completed, you will work the same schedule as your preceptor for 132 hours. You will gradually assume his/her work load until you are working independently with little supervision. You may work only when the preceptor is working. You and the preceptor negotiate a work schedule that is satisfactory to both of you. You must complete the 132 hours within the specified course dates.

You are given 16 weeks to complete the program.

Prior to enrollment, you must have an active or temporary license from the Arizona State Board of Nursing or from a state that participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. If you are taking these courses to renew your license, you need to apply for a temporary license from the Arizona State Board of Nursing. The temporary license is good for 6 months. You will need to apply for the license at least 6 weeks prior to the start of your program. You will need to show proof of enrollment in a refresher course and proof of citizenship to the Arizona State Board of Nursing in order to obtain the license.

For more information, visit the Arizona State Board of Nursing website.

After the course is completed, the Program Coordinator will send a Letter of Completion to the Arizona State Board of Nursing. AZBN will then issue your active license.

The tuition for the Maricopa County Community College District is listed on the Cashier Services website. This cost per credit hour is always subject to change prior to school beginning.

Please refer to the RN Refresher Information Packet for an estimate of program costs.

Yes! All of the NUR295 theory material, as well as several skills modules, is online. Therefore, you must be comfortable navigating the internet, opening attachments, sending attachments, using Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, and sending and receiving email.

Click on eLearning Information and pay special attention to the Minimum Computer & Technology Requirements section. The computer skills listed on this page are the minimum computer skills needed to take the online refresher course.

Visit the ATI Technical Requirements for a listing of what is needed to support the online resources used in this course.

A preceptor must be a registered nurse working in a facility with a clinical experience agreement (CEA) with the Maricopa Community College District. If a contract is not currently in place, MCC can request the initiation of a new contract. Please refer to the RN Refresher Information Packet regarding this process. Click here to download preceptorship information.

MCC is able to facilitate selected hospital preceptorships. It is highly encouraged, however, that the student finds his/her own preceptor

There are benefits to finding your own preceptor. It allows you the flexibility to do your clinical work in your community and it increases your chances to obtain future employment with the selected facility.

Click here to download preceptorship information.

Refer to "Process for Finding a Preceptor" in the RN Refresher Information Packet. Each agency needs to have a clinical contract in place with Maricopa Community Colleges and approval of the agency must be obtained from the MCC nursing faculty. Ideally, the refresher will choose a healthcare agency for the clinical preceptorship that the refresher wants to work in after completing the refresher courses.

Click here to download preceptorship information.

No, but the agency may hope that you will. The agency and the preceptor are investing time, money, and energy to refresh you. Hopefully, you will want to work for them and they will want to hire you. It is recommended that you do your precepted clinical at an agency where you want to be employed.

Yes. Peds, OB and psychiatric / mental health practice settings are acceptable for preceptorship experiences. You must have prior employment experience in the nursing specialty you choose to complete the preceptorship (a resume/curriculum vitae will be required).

The preceptorship may be completed in any practice environment the preceptor is a registered nurse doing work that requires an RN license. Preceptorships in specialty areas require that you have prior work experience in the specialty area (a resume/curriculum vitae will be required).

All of your health and safety requirements must be completed prior to program enrollment. For a list of required health and safety requirements, please refer to the RN Refresher Information Packet.

You will need a Health Care Provider CPR Card that is current up until the course end date. A CPR course that includes in-person skills demonstration is required. The didactic portion of the CPR course may be taken online.