---
title: "Returning to Purpose: One RN Refresher’s Success Story"
description: Discover how NWAHEC's RN Refresher Program helps nurses return to practice, highlighting a success story of a nurse reentering her passion for Endoscopy. Read on our blog!
---

[What's New at NWAHEC](https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/blog)

# [Returning to Purpose: One RN Refresher’s Success Story](https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/blog/rnrefresherstory)

 Written by [Ellen Zimmerman, MSN, RN](https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/blog/author/ellen-zimmerman-msn-rn) | Oct 5, 2026, 3:00:00 PM

At Northwest Area Health Education Center (NWAHEC), we are proud to support nurses as they return to practice and reconnect with the profession they love. One recent RN Refresher Program participant exemplifies the impact of dedication, partnership, and regional collaboration.

This nurse set her sights on returning to a specialty that she loved: Endoscopy. Having worked in the field years earlier, she was eager to reenter nursing practice and continue serving patients in a role she was passionate about.

As part of her RN Refresher experience, she completed the online theory course through UNC Chapel Hill, then was placed for her clinical practicum at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (AHWFB), where she refreshed her clinical skills and rebuilt her confidence in the healthcare setting. The placement provided valuable hands-on experience and helped prepare her for the next step in her professional journey.

Recognizing her desire to have her license reactivated and secure employment quickly and close to home, NWAHEC and South Piedmont AHEC (SPAHEC) coordinators worked together to explore opportunities that aligned with her goals. Through this collaborative effort, she successfully secured a position at Atrium Health Lake Norman, allowing her to continue her nursing career while remaining within her local community.

This success story highlights the power of partnership across North Carolina's AHEC network. By working together to support workforce development and nurse reentry, NCAHEC RN Refresher Coordinators help experienced nurses overcome barriers, return to practice, and fill critical healthcare workforce needs across the state.

We celebrate this nurse's determination and are grateful for the collaborative efforts that helped turn her goal into reality. Her journey demonstrates how the RN Refresher Program not only helps nurses regain their skills but also opens doors to meaningful career opportunities and a successful return to the profession.

Interested in returning to nursing practice? The [NCAHEC RN Refresher Program](https://nurserefresher.web.unc.edu/course-options/) provides the education, support, and clinical experience needed to help nurses confidently reenter the workforce and continue making a difference in patient care. For more information- contact Ellen Zimmerman [Ellen.Zimmerman@Advocatehealth.org](mailto:Ellen.Zimmerman@Advocatehealth.org)

<https://nurserefresher.web.unc.edu/accelerated-offer/>

 

 

[View full post](https://go.northwestahec.wakehealth.edu/blog/rnrefresherstory)

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