Characteristics and outcomes of a statewide nurse refresher project.

This article describes a 3-year, federally funded statewide nurse refresher course offered by the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (S.C. AHEC) to address the state's nursing shortage. A total of 222 inactive RNs enrolled in the 160-hour course during the project period. A follow-up survey of the first 160 graduates of the course revealed that 76% had returned to active nursing practice, the majority in hospital staff nurse positions. Forty percent of respondents returned to work full-time, the remainder part-time. Respondents were employed in 72 health care facilities in 36 different communities in the state. Nearly 25% reported working in rural, underserved areas designated as health professions shortage areas. A survey of employers of course graduates revealed a high degree of satisfaction with their performance. As health care reform takes shape and nursing roles shift, the nurse refresher course will be revised and updated to assure its continued relevance for current and future practice.