How to become a school nurse in PA

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Hi I live in Pennsylvania and am interested in becoming a school nurse. I am an RN and have been working for 3 years.

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You need a BSN and a school nurse certification. I know Slippery Rock offers a CSN program online. Not sure which other colleges do. You can work in a school without the CSN but will be considered a paraprofessional and get much less pay. Pennsylvania requires 1 CSN for every 1500 students.

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Thank you so much for your help.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Women's Health,School Nursing.

I am a school nurse in PA...

First you need your BSN

then you need to take courses to get your CSN

I went through Slippery Rock (all online) other than you will have to get 100 clinical hours in at a school district of your choice. I really enjoyed the program and felt mostly prepared when I was cut free (all though you learn very quickly the rigorous hours of orientation most nurses receive in a hospital setting are nonexistent in the school nurse setting!)

Then you just wait for the opportunity to become available or apply as a substitute nurse to as many school districts as you can (and I know we are in dire need in my area for substitute nurses.)

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