Supported by a contract with the United States Public Health Service, the University of Wisconsin Department of Nursing, University Extension, has provided refresher courses for inactive nurses, on a state-wide basis. This is a report of a survey of enrollees in the 18 courses offered between September 1967 and December 1968. The majority of the courses were given in southeastern Wisconsin; content and format varied, depending on the needs of each community. It was found that of the 196 nurses who had taken a refresher course, 63% were working, 62% were working in hospitals, 79% were working part-time, 75% were married, and 93% had children, and most were between 40 and 49. Most of the enrollees were graduated from hospital diploma programs and one out of three had had additional education beyond the basic diploma. The largest number had been inactive from 11 to 20 years. One of ten indicated an unsatisfactory or inadequate orientation to the position they held. Their main problems in returning to work were lack of confidence, inadequate orientation or supervision, unfamiliarity with new medications and treatments, adjusting their time, and their family's adjustment. The majority felt the course met their needs; suggestions for improvement frequently related to the kind and amount of clinical practice. (EB)