National School Nurse Certification Exam

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2018

I just took my NSNC exam and was super stressed! Has anyone else taken it? How did you feel after you took it? Can't believe it takes 8 weeks to get our results!

I felt like I KNEW NOTHING!!! It was worse than the NCLEX. Or perhaps enough time had gone by that I had forgotten what the NCLEX was like. Anywho...I found it to be full of very practical stuff and not theoretical stuff. I went home thinking I did not pass but 8 weeks later, I got to add NCSN behind my RN.

Also, I now sit on an NBCSN group that reviews those questions for accuracy and appropriateness. Any question with multiple answers outside the standard bell curve gets a review. So, there's a lot of thought put into making sure that the test is really reflective of our practice.

Congrats on taking the test!

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Mar 9, 2018

Kind of like old school NCLEX... LOL, on my to do list!

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2018

Kind of like old school NCLEX... LOL, on my to do list!

I encourage you to do it! But don't do what I did. Find a study group so you're accountable to yourself and others. I pushed my test date back twice in the summer and backed myself into a corner...but I passed!

My nursing boss could not have cared less about my passing, and the district has stopped giving a stipend for certification (only masters' level get additional $). However, our principal made a Big Deal about this because....she got it. It's something that "proves" my expert-in-the-building status. Was I an expert before? Sure. But certification means something to professional educators.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Mar 9, 2018

Thx for the advice, Yea I think we are all professional and now I am certified in NH but I need to get it together. It wil be a personal goal, no $$ for that stuff!

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2018

Thx for the advice, Yea I think we are all professional and now I am certified in NH but I need to get it together. It wil be a personal goal, no $$ for that stuff!

Personal goal for me, too! I need to pass in in the next 4 years to get my "professional" school nurse status through the department of education in MA. Because it is still way cheaper than my Masters and likely more useful in my job then a masters.

Guests · Mar 9, 2018

Personal goal for me, too! I need to pass in in the next 4 years to get my "professional" school nurse status through the department of education in MA. Because it is still way cheaper than my Masters and likely more useful in my job then a masters.

Speaking of that, I only have the 2-day training left (going 3/19 and 3/20) and then I will finally have everything to have my DESE certification. I already have a Master's Degree (I am a NP) so what does that mean in terms of the "professional" vs. the "initial"? Is it automatic for me? It was terrible trying to get a lteer about my experience as my two old nursing jobs destroyed old records and I had a really hard time getting an experience letter- but I finally got it.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2018

Speaking of that, I only have the 2-day training left (going 3/19 and 3/20) and then I will finally have everything to have my DESE certification. I already have a Master's Degree (I am a NP) so what does that mean in terms of the "professional" vs. the "initial"? Is it automatic for me? It was terrible trying to get a lteer about my experience as my two old nursing jobs destroyed old records and I had a really hard time getting an experience letter- but I finally got it.

You have to do the initial license first and then with your master's in place you should qualify for the professional license after getting the initial license.

WineRN · Mar 9, 2018

Also, I now sit on an NBCSN group that reviews those questions for accuracy and appropriateness. Any question with multiple answers outside the standard bell curve gets a review. So, there's a lot of thought put into making sure that the test is really reflective of our practice.

That is so cool that you do that!

I'm planning on taking mine this summer and I'm already nervous about it. I have a binder with notes and it does feel like studying for the NCLEX all over again.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2018

That is so cool that you do that!
I'm planning on taking mine this summer and I'm already nervous about it. I have a binder with notes and it does feel like studying for the NCLEX all over again.

Go, Wine, GO!!! The force is strong with you (as is your practical knowledge).

Kittery · Mar 9, 2018

You can verify certification on the website, I checked that everyday and found out I passed 3-4 weeks after taking the exam, much better than 6-8 weeks for the letter!

Amethya · Mar 9, 2018

How can one take this test?