PNP and MAT in Special Ed

[Jerrysdogmommy]

I am starting my MAT in Special ED and my PNP as well (both very slowly, 1 class each at a time). I'd like to mesh the two together and come up with a program where I treat the patient's medically yet, help them learn effectively. I saw from my Pedi ED days that some children can become labeled as ADHD yet grandma just gave them a 20 oz Mountain Dew. As a teacher only, I wouldn't have impact on their health yet, as a PNP/Special Ed teacher, I could advise them holistically.

I'd like thoughts about this idea. I'm tossing ideas around.

[InquisitiveAPN]

I'm sorry, but holistic treatment can be addressed by any walk of life. You need not double degrees to do it.

To the harsh truth, there isn't really a realm that an inexperienced SpEd teacher / inexperienced pediatric NP is going to work together. Maybe you're more inclined to PMHNP?

As a teacher, you cannot and should not be examining and treating children. I'd be livid if my kids elementary teachers were nosing around in their medical affairs! As their PCP, you should not be designing their IEP and 504 plans.

School psychologists in my area have been abundantly clear that they are not at all interested in any physician's input let alone a nurse practitioner.

Maybe you could just tutor at Kumon?

Some things, despite one's best intent, don't allow for blending.

Perhaps school psychology is more your suit.

When I finished college I taught middle school for two years through an alternative licensing program when there was a actual teacher shortage. I left teaching, did things in places, and became an APN (now called aprn).

[pro-student]

I have worked in both nursing and special education and have master's degrees in both. While the knowledge I have from both backgrounds is invaluable, there is exceedingly little overlap between the two fields.

For instance, there are students with medical needs and health impairments that receive nursing care in schools settings however the standard, based on case law, is that school must pay for required health-related services for them to participate in school but not medical services. The distinction is made between those services which would require a physician (and presumably an APN) rather than nursing care. So while there is a role for nurses in special education, schools are specifically exempt from paying for the services an APN would be uniquely qualified to provide.

Even though I maintained my RN license while I taught, I would never provide any service other than what a typical teacher would (e.g. - giving out a bandaid). I still sent kids to the school nurse which is entirely appropriate since my role and liability coverage is as a teacher and not a healthcare provider. Plus, as a teacher, you will have more than enough to do without trying to extend your job description.

You might want to consider the PMHNP role rather than PNP. Out of the categories of disability recognized by IDEA, students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are the most underserved and least likely to have a qualified teacher. Most of these students meet criteria for a mental illness and pose special challenges that teachers are rarely equipped to address. You would still need to ultimately choose a role (teacher or APN) but having a common understanding of the systems, vocabulary, and procedures of the education and mental health fields would be an asset. You could assess, diagnose, and provide treatment for students/children with mental illness (including ruling out physical causes). You could fairly easily create a role for yourself consulting and providing professional development on EBD.

There are some schools that have medical clinics often staffed by NPs to provide primary care to students including some that specialized in care for pregnant students and/or students with children of their own. The role in these settings is really exclusively as a healthcare provider, the clinic just happens to be in a school.