Massachusetts Nurses

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

I am finally registered to attend the mandated school nurse trainings and take the MTEL Communication and Literacy exam. Any pearls of wisdom for the MTEL? Also, how were the conferences? I am attending the "Mandated Screening" in May and the "Medication delegation" in June. The remaining 2 day nursing one I'll do sometime in the Fall since I can't make the one in July. MTEL is June 28th. I am happy to say that my school agreed to pay for them all, which is part of the reason I was holding off until now.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

I took the MTEL a few years ago....if you passed the nursing boards you can EASILY pass this. I didn't even study. It is basic English, read a paragraph and answer questions about what you read, and you need to write something, they ask you a question and you have to present your side of the question. I think mine was something like "should parents pay for sports or should they be free, why or why not?" Then you have to write so many words to back up your statements.

In terms of the classes, I took them 5 years ago as well when they we given by NEUSHI,, now I guess they are given by BU? Not sure. but they were great, very informative, easy. Again if you passed nursing school and the boards, and have been an RN for awhile, no problem!

Just a caution, when you go to DESE for your certs, make many copies of everything (they tend to lose things), and it takes a while! I actually drove to their office (in Malden) and they have armed guards at the doors! Which I totally get as it can be very frustrating dealing with them! So if you can, I would go there and pass in all your papers together, instead of faxing or sending online. Also, get any names and dates, times if you call and talk to them. I think they are so busy and overwhelmed. Good luck!

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Specializes in School nursing.

I actually just took the MTELS in February. I didn't study and passed. But warning, you do need to wait 1 full month for results to be available. My school also paid for me to take the MTEL (well reimbursed me when I passed), which was awesome.

I submitted paperwork to DESE in early March and they just finally approved my license this week - yay! They take forever, but I was told I submitted at a good time as they process a lot more applications during April and May then they do at other times of the year.

Oh, and I just scanned everything into PDFs and submitted online. You do need certified PDF (official) of your transcripts, which I ordered directly from my school's website. It was pretty easy.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.
I took the MTEL a few years ago....if you passed the nursing boards you can EASILY pass this. I didn't even study. It is basic English, read a paragraph and answer questions about what you read, and you need to write something, they ask you a question and you have to present your side of the question. I think mine was something like "should parents pay for sports or should they be free, why or why not?" Then you have to write so many words to back up your statements.

In terms of the classes, I took them 5 years ago as well when they we given by NEUSHI,, now I guess they are given by BU? Not sure. but they were great, very informative, easy. Again if you passed nursing school and the boards, and have been an RN for awhile, no problem!

Just a caution, when you go to DESE for your certs, make many copies of everything (they tend to lose things), and it takes a while! I actually drove to their office (in Malden) and they have armed guards at the doors! Which I totally get as it can be very frustrating dealing with them! So if you can, I would go there and pass in all your papers together, instead of faxing or sending online. Also, get any names and dates, times if you call and talk to them. I think they are so busy and overwhelmed. Good luck!

ARMED GUARDS??? Wow! I'll definitely make copies, LOL. Thanks for the advice- that would be a huge pain to have everything lost.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.
I actually just took the MTELS in February. I didn't study and passed. But warning, you do need to wait 1 full month for results to be available. My school also paid for me to take the MTEL, which was awesome.

I submitted paperwork to DESE in early March and they just finally approved my license this week - yay! They take forever, but I was told I submitted at a good time as they process a lot during April and May then they do at other times of the year.

Thanks, good to know about the wait time. I will have to wait to submit everything since I can't take the 2 day training until Fall at the earliest. So I guess I am the one that needs to submit everything? I had this fantasy that it all automatically gets sent in to DESE and a certification magically appears - guess not. Thanks for the advice. It's been seriously since 2001 since I have taken any type of real exam so I feel out of practice. I'll have to just do a practice test they have available for free on their website.

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Specializes in School nursing.
Thanks, good to know about the wait time. I will have to wait to submit everything since I can't take the 2 day training until Fall at the earliest. So I guess I am the one that needs to submit everything? I had this fantasy that it all automatically gets sent in to DESE and a certification magically appears - guess not. Thanks for the advice. It's been seriously since 2001 since I have taken any type of real exam so I feel out of practice. I'll have to just do a practice test they have available for free on their website.

The practice test is exactly what the exam is like. I did one just so I'd know the format.

And yep, you have to submit everything. Your MTEL passing score will get linked to your ELAR account (you need to get a MEPID to register for the MTEL and that same ID is used and connected with your license). I have had everything but the MTEL for a couple of years - I was dragging my feet on taking it. But seriously, it wasn't so bad. And I took after a full day of work at 4 PM! You have 4 hours to complete it; the essay was time consuming as my brain was a bit fried, so it took me about 2 hours to complete.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.
ARMED GUARDS??? Wow! I'll definitely make copies, LOL. Thanks for the advice- that would be a huge pain to have everything lost.

YES, and a metal detector! They mean business! When I was there there were several teachers in TEARS because their stuff got messed up! I did go at a busy time though, beginning of August, so I am guessing they will slow down by October/November! Also, I forgot to say make sure if any of your stuff in in your maiden name (like school transcripts) you have to write them a letter saying your married name (at least I did). They do not automatically link by social security numbers (at least when I went thru them), which is what I thought they did, that is why I went there in person to straighten out everything and bring my marriage license as proof of my name now. LOL, yes they make you jump thru hoops, and it is way worse for the teachers!

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Specializes in school nursing.

Ill be seeing you at both of those :)

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