UNC-Chapel Hill waives tuition and fees for online nurse refresher program to help North Carolina registered nurses fight COVID-19

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UNC-Chapel Hill waives tuition and fees for online nurse refresher program to help North Carolina registered nurses fight COVID-19

The self-paced, online program offers pathway to relicensure

Chapel Hill, N.C. (April 1, 2020) – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is helping to address the state’s nursing shortage in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Today the UNC-Chapel Hill Friday Center for Continuing Education, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing and the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program announced they have waived tuition and fees for an accelerated version of their online, self-paced Registered Nurse Refresher theory course for April. The program will help trained and licensed nurses quickly get back into the field as COVID-19 caused a surge in the state’s need for health care personnel.

“This pandemic underscores an urgent need for experienced healthcare professionals across our state,” said Nena Peragallo Montano, dean of the UNC School of Nursing. “We’re hopeful that by offering this fast-track program and making it more accessible we can help nurses across the state as they continue serving North Carolinians in our fight against coronavirus.”

Recent industry data and projections show North Carolina is expected to have the second-largest shortage of nurses in the nation by 2025 – a deficit of nearly 13,000 nurses in the state.

The program includes a self-paced, online theory course and a clinical practicum. The clinical practicum fee of $250 cannot be waived. The program for registered nurses can be utilized by both those who have lapsed in their licensure and active RNs who are looking to refresh and update their knowledge.

Historically, the theory course takes up to nine months to complete. To graduate nurses in time to meet the highest need, the accelerated version must be completed in three months. The condensed timeframe provides nurses the same breadth of knowledge and training in the most updated technology and approaches.

Nurses who want to apply for the program and waived fees can visit nurserefresher.web.unc.edu/covid-19 for more information.

-Carolina-

About the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s first public university, is a global higher education leader known for innovative teaching, research and public service. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, Carolina regularly ranks as the best value for academic quality in U.S. public higher education. Now in its third century, the University offers 74 bachelor’s, 104 master’s, 65 doctorate and seven professional degree programs through 14 schools including the College of Arts & Sciences. Every day, faculty, staff and students shape their teaching, research and public service to meet North Carolina’s most pressing needs in every region and all 100 counties. Carolina’s 336,392 alumni live in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories and 164 countries. More than 182,182 live in North Carolina.

University Communications: Media Relations, 919-445-8555, mediarelations@unc.edu