The Nurse Refresher Program Independent Studies North Carolina Area Health Education Centers
(AHEC) Program School of Nursing
The Nurse Refresher Program consists of a self-study theory course and a clinical practicum.
It addresses a full range of common nursing problems including medical-surgical concepts and
psychosocial aspects of nursing care. Students may enroll for the complete program (self-study
theory course and clinical practicum) or for the self-study theory course only.
The self-study theory course, “Medical-Surgical Nursing Review,” includes 23 modules on topics
in the field of Nursing. The Friday Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
offers 14 continuing education units, which is equivalent to 140 Contact Hours upon program completion.
The clinical practicum (available only in North Carolina) consists of 160 hours in a medical-surgical
unit working one-on-one with a preceptor. It offers 16 Contact Hours that are awarded by the regional
AHEC or by the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. The clinical
portion of the Program is coordinated by regional AHEC Nurse Refresher coordinators or by a
faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing. The clinical practicum can begin only after
the self-study theory course has been completed. Potential Program entrants must discuss Program
participation with a regional AHEC Nurse Refresher Coordinator before enrolling in the self-study
theory course. Contact Hours will be awarded for successful completion of the self-study theory
course whether or not a clinical practicum is completed.
Cost Of The Program
The fee for the correspondence course is $480. For Option 1, you will also need to pay other
charges (including professional liability insurance) that are associated with the clinical practicum.
Discuss these charges with the coordinator in your area.