Program Brochure (Word)

NURSE REENTRY PROGRAM Q&A

1. Q: How many parts are there to the Reentry Program and how long does each take?
A: There are 2 parts.

1) Part one is didactic (self-study). You are given 2 weeks from the date that it is issued to complete.
2) Part two is the clinical portion. This portion consists of a minimum of 160 hours of supervised clinical practice. The length of time varies but is usually around 1-3 months.

2. Q: What will I need to do to enroll in your Reentry Program?
A: Download an application form the Georgia Board of Nursing (BON) web site. Complete and return the application for licensure to the BON and state that you want to enroll in Foothills AHEC’s board-approved Nurse Reentry Program. If your name has changed, include a copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order. You must be living in the 31 county Foothills AHEC service area in order to be considered as a potential reentry student for our AHEC. Click this link to determine which AHEC Center services your county.

3. Q: Who completes Form A, B and C for the Board of Nursing?
A: The AHEC, after you send in the application to the state.

4. Q: Prior to meeting with the AHEC’s nurse reentry coordinator, what do I need to do?
A:

1) Get a history and physical exam (within last 6 months) that states you are in good health. No specific form needs be used.
2) Get Tetanus/Diphtheria booster within past 12 months.
3) Get PPD or chest x-ray (if history of positive PPD skin test within the past 12 months)
4) Provide AHEC with proof of current immunizations for MMR (or Rubella titer), Polio, DPT, and Varicella virus and Hepatitis B series. Positive antibody titers are acceptable. You may sign a letter of declination if you do not wish to take the Hepatitis B series.
5) Provide proof of current American Heart Association CPR certification. This must be valid for the entire reentry supervised practice time period.

5. Q: How long will the entire reentry program take?
A: It takes anywhere between two to 4 months.

6. Q: How often will I meet with the Coordinator?
A: You will meet approximately three times. You will meet to be issued the self-study modules. You will meet again to receive the clinical packet before you start your clinical time and then again at the completion of the clinical time. The coordinator may also communicate with you via phone and email.

7. Q: How does the didactic portion work?
A: You receive a module (notebook) that you take home to complete as a self-study. It consists of 28 sections and at the end of each section you will find a test to complete. Once you have completed all 28 tests, the coordinator will grade them. You must pass with a minimum score of 80% on each section or module. The tests are open book. If you do not pass a module, you can restudy and retake the test. There is no penalty. We are trying to ensure that you have regained basic knowledge in each of the 28 areas.

8. Q: What is the cost for the entire program?
A: $800.00, which can be paid in two payments. The first payment of $400.00 dollars is collected when the modules are issued. The second payment of $400.00 is collected prior to beginning clinicals.

9. Q: Are there any other costs associated with the program?
A: You will have to pay for your immunizations, physical exam, malpractice, CPR training, background check, and the Board of Nursing application fee.

10. Q: I have not practiced in the last four years; do I need a reentry program?
A: The Board states: “Applicants that cannot document three months or 500 hours of licensed practice as a registered nurse within the last four years immediately preceding the date of application must complete a Board approved reentry program.”

11. Q: I have not practiced for years; do you think I can do this?
A: Yes. We have been doing this for several years and have had nurses who have been out of nursing for as many as 17 years and they have been successful in completing the program and obtaining a job.

12. Q: What if I do not finish the Reentry Program within the six months in which my temporary license has been issued?
A: You must reapply to the Board of Nursing and start the process over.

13. Q: Who actually contacts the facility to obtain a preceptor?
A: The AHEC’s reentry coordinator will work with one of our affiliated hospitals to identify a preceptor.

14. Q: Do I have to do the 160 hours in a hospital?
A: Yes, the Board prefers that you receive a basic nursing experience in an acute care setting.

15. Q: May I have more than one clinical preceptor for my experience?
A: No.

16. Q: What role does the clinical site play?
A: They allow you to attend their hospital orientation (this does not count toward your clinical hours); they identify a qualified RN, who has practiced at least one year, to supervise you; and they allow you to spend 160 hours of supervised time in the hospital in order to help you reenter the work force. You will not get paid during your 160 hours of clinical.

17. Q: Will I have to have a criminal background check?
A: Each institution requires some type of check. We will inform you of how to proceed once the institution has been identified.

18. Q: Is an institution obligated to let me do the clinicals if something negative shows up in my background check?
A: No.

19. Q: Who arranges the actual hours I will work during my clinicals?
A: The facility and unit determine what shift you will be provided a preceptor. Once that has been determined, you and the preceptor work together to make those arrangements. You must document the actual days and hours worked and submit that information to AHEC at the end of your clinicals. The facility may have a minimum number of shifts that they require you to work each week.

20. Q: Will the hospital require that I work for them once I finish the Reentry Program?
A: No, not at most of the hospitals participating in the program. A number of reentry nurses have been offered jobs upon completion of the program at the hospital following their clinical experience. The clinical practice part of the program is an excellent time to learn about employment opportunities at the hospital. The application process for the hospital must be initiated if interested in employment.

21. Q: Are there certain competencies I must demonstrate during the clinical?
A: Yes, you and your preceptor will be given a copy of them.

22. Q: Do I have to work 12-hour shifts?
A: Shift hours vary by the facility and the department that you are placed in. It is usually an 8 or 12-hour shift depending upon the shift your preceptor works.

23. Q: Do I need insurance during my clinical time?
A: Yes, you need both liability insurance and an accidental health insurance (medical coverage).

24. Q: Can I choose which shift and which area I would like to do my clinical?
A: No. The clinical hours and unit are assigned based on the availability at the facility. You may state your preference for shifts but that is not a guarantee that you will be placed on that shift. Our modules are based on adult health and therefore you will be placed in a clinical setting for adults.

25. Q: Can I do this program if I have a current nursing license?
A: Yes, the program may be done if you have a current license and want a refresher to brush up on your skills and to make you more marketable as an employee.

26. Q: Does your program have a scheduled start date for sessions?
A: There are no scheduled start times for our program or deadlines for enrollment. The only deadlines are those set by the state due to the expiration date on your application and the expiration of your temporary license.

For more information contact Foothills AHEC at 770-533-6866.