PA Senate Bill 802

Specialties School

Published

Just got an email from the PSNA. Apparently, there is a senate bill out there that is seeking to eliminate the requirement that all school nurses, both public and private, must be certified in school nursing. I don't really have an opinion on that matter, but maybe someday I will when I have children. An interesting thing that I've noticed is that many schools that I've looked into for a certification in school nursing no longer offer the program due to low enrollment. Do any of you have an opinion on whether or not schools require their nurses to be certified?

That may be your state's definition or your opinion, but in PA it is an advanced practice certification. No where did I state national certification. It is a post-graduate field of study.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
That may be your state's definition or your opinion, but in PA it is an advanced practice certification. No where did I state national certification. It is a post-graduate field of study.

So are you saying that in your state, school nurses must be either Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Nurse Specialists? These are the 4 commonly recognized categories of Advanced Practice Nurses.

Or are you referring to an advanced degree requirement (formal education beyond a Bachelor's Degree), which does not necessarily equate with advanced practice nursing?

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So are you saying that in your state, school nurses must be either Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Nurse Specialists? These are the 4 commonly recognized categories of Advanced Practice Nurses.

Or are you referring to an advanced degree requirement (formal education beyond a Bachelor's Degree), which does not necessarily equate with advanced practice nursing?

You know exactly the point I was making. School nurses are an advanced practice specialty. Several hold Master's degrees. Conversation over.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
You know exactly the point I was making. School nurses are an advanced practice specialty. Several hold Master's degrees. Conversation over.

No I don't. I wouldn't waste my time if I did. I don't live in PA and am unfamiliar with the PA Nurse Practice Act. For all I know, it requires a Master's-prepared Advanced Practice Nurse to use the title of "School Nurse."

Based upon your response, I assume this is not the case. I would caution you from referring to yourself as an advanced practitioner if you do not hold the credentials set forth by the PA BON for recognition of advanced practice nursing.

There are plenty of nurses in all specialties with graduate level education who do not meet the legal definition of advanced practice nurses and who do not attempt to represent themselves as such.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Jolie - that is my point exactly.

Just because you have 24 hours as a post-BSN and 100 clinical hours - that does not equal an APN.

To say you are an APN when in fact you are not, is lying.

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"The package of bills was endorsed by organizations representing school superintendents, business officials and school boards. But Piccola noted the special interests that fought for the mandates, which he said protect the interests of adults and school systems "not necessarily focusing on kids, parents or taxpayers," will make their opposition known to legislators.

He noted Morgan Plant, a lobbyist representing the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners, has made it clear that that group opposes the lifting of the mandate on certified school nurses.

A statement from the group's president, Cheryl Mattern, voiced disappointment that Piccola and Dinniman would diminish the standards of children's health and safety. She maintains school nursing is an advanced practice specialty and lifting the requirement that schools hire nurses with this level of training puts children and school district at risk."

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

And this person is also misinformed.

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Same info posted on PASNAP under "Talking Points of SB 802"

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
"The package of bills was endorsed by organizations representing school superintendents, business officials and school boards. But Piccola noted the special interests that fought for the mandates, which he said protect the interests of adults and school systems “not necessarily focusing on kids, parents or taxpayers,” will make their opposition known to legislators.

He noted Morgan Plant, a lobbyist representing the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners, has made it clear that that group opposes the lifting of the mandate on certified school nurses.

A statement from the group’s president, Cheryl Mattern, voiced disappointment that Piccola and Dinniman would diminish the standards of children’s health and safety. She maintains school nursing is an advanced practice specialty and lifting the requirement that schools hire nurses with this level of training puts children and school district at risk."

Same info posted on PASNAP under "Talking Points of SB 802"

So school nursing is now an Advanced Practice Nursing Specialty because Cheryl Mattern, the President of the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners, says it is? Who knew?

Mis-statements or opinions of a lobbyist, an organization president and/or a website do not alter the legal requirements for recognition as an advanced practice nurse, something Ms. Mattern should know and respect, if she is a nurse herself.

It is a shame that those who purportedly speak for school nurses in PA are doing such a bad job of representing the facts. It may backfire and cause well-informed citizens to question the honesty and motivation of not only these spokespersons, but the nurses they represent. In order to protect their reputations and perceptions of professionalism, school nurses in PA should be refuting these mis-statements, not perpetuating them. If they expect public support for their cause, they need to be honest with the public about their qualifications and legal standing.

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So school nursing is now an Advanced Practice Nursing Specialty because Cheryl Mattern, the President of the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners, says it is? Who knew?

Mis-statements or opinions of a lobbyist, an organization president and/or a website do not alter the legal requirements for recognition as an advanced practice nurse, something Ms. Mattern should know and respect, if she is a nurse herself.

It is a shame that those who purportedly speak for school nurses in PA are doing such a bad job of representing the facts. It may backfire and cause well-informed citizens to question the honesty and motivation of not only these spokespersons, but the nurses they represent. In order to protect their reputations and perceptions of professionalism, school nurses in PA should be refuting these mis-statements, not perpetuating them. If they expect public support for their cause, they need to be honest with the public about their qualifications and legal standing.

The reputation and professionalism of PA school nurses are intact. To insinuate otherwise is ridiculous. No one is claiming to be an APN unless they have the education behind them. There are School Nurse Practitioners that are still employed in some districts. The statement by Cheryl Mattern, in my opinion, refers to school nurses having an ADVANCED education in their SPECIALTY. There is nothing to refute.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
So are you saying that in your state, school nurses must be either Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Nurse Specialists? These are the 4 commonly recognized categories of Advanced Practice Nurses.

Or are you referring to an advanced degree requirement (formal education beyond a Bachelor's Degree), which does not necessarily equate with advanced practice nursing?

You know exactly the point I was making. School nurses are an advanced practice specialty.....Conversation over.

The statement by Cheryl Mattern, in my opinion, refers to school nurses having an ADVANCED education in their SPECIALTY. There is nothing to refute.

Your previous post seems inconsistent with this reply.

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Your previous post seems inconsistent with this reply.

I reviewed all of my postings and was unable to find where I posted my credentials as "APN".

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