Illinois school nurse changes re: Rule 226.840

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I am a non-certified school nurse and have working in my district for over ten years. According to a new rule change, now only certified nurses can conduct a medical review for special education students. While I value higher learning standards, the time frame outlined in the law will not allow for any non-certified nurse to obtain a BSN nor a Type 73 certification prior to July 2013. I am officially registered to begin school in January, but I cannot help feeling frustrated that the State feels that I am no longer qualified to write and update health histories after writing literally thousands prior to its implementation. While I do not have a Type 73, I do have a great deal of special education experience that I gained from working in the field which includes collaborating with special education director/coordinators, attending conferences and attending hundreds of staffings. Now our positions may be possibly restructured next year and I was wondering if any other Illinois school nurses were facing similar problems as a result of this rule change. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated. It is my hope that current nurses will be grand-fathered.

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I am in the same boat. Just found out about the change. What program are you going through? Please let me know how you are doing.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

that's going to put quite a strain on the districts to scramble to come into compliance to that code by that date. I would find it hard to believe that there would be no leniency for current nurses to be grandfathered as long as the were employed or the certification process was started.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Read about this in the paper recently. Yep, huge strain as school districts scramble to cut costs. I live in a rural area with no school nurses. I foresee smaller school districts dropping school nurses.

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That is tough. Hopefully they will future out a way to grandfather in those already in place even if only until they can obtain the new requirements. We don't require School Nurse Certification where I live. I wish we did. I would gladly take the classes. Here they don't have any classes because certification is not required so there's no demand.

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Hi! I'm new-ish to this board ( I've read through in the past but never posted ) and this is the first I've heard of this rule change! I work in a small rural school PreK-12 grade. I am the only nurse in the entire district and news doesn't get to me very fast. I do have a bachelor's degree in nursing and have been a school nurse since 06. Has anyone heard anymore information regarding certification? I had always expected to obtain it but when my school has never pushed it or offered any incentive to obtain, I decided it wasn't worth my extra time and $. I'd love to hear if anyone knows anymore information that could help! Thanks

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