Every industry has experienced Baby Boomers retiring at a rapid pace over the past decade, with not nearly enough qualified candidates to fill positions for many trades-based occupations. More immediate - and partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic - health care in Oklahoma is experiencing the same skills gap where licensed practical nurses and registered nurses are concerned.

For nearly 50 years, 29 local technology centers throughout Oklahoma’s CareerTech system have been a major resource for graduating LPNs and other quick-entry health care employees. Now, CareerTech has collaborated with the University of Oklahoma Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing to create a solution to the dire nursing shortage in the state by developing a Nurse Refresher Course that is self-paced, offered partially online and has the skills lab and clinical rotations designed so a candidate can renew their license in less than six months. This course meets the continuing qualifications for practice as required by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.

After completing the online portion of the course, students may now finish the skills and clinical experience portion of the course in as little as 40 hours. Those seeking to renew their Oklahoma Board of Nursing RN or LPN license are encouraged to contact the Oklahoma Board of Nursing to ensure enrollment in the Nurse Refresher Course meets the continuing qualifications for practice requirements based on each applicant’s personal situation.

To register for the Nurse Refresher Program at Moore Norman Technology Center or for questions contact Adult Health Coordinator Sammie Kimmel at 405-801-5833. Additional CareerTech information about the Oklahoma Board of Nursing Board-Approved Refresher Courses is found here: https://bit.ly/3pvHhNn. For information about OU’s College of Nursing visit nursing.ouhsc.edu.