School Nurse Certification Exam Friday- I am SO nervous!

bergren · Aug 6, 2009

If you have worked for at least 2 years as a school nurse, and are prepared, you should do well. Best advice, get enough sleep and eat a decent meal - it is a LONG test 250 questions. But that means you can get a lot wrong and still pass!!

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Aug 6, 2009

best of everything to you artistic ! you will do fine. we support you 110 % ! let us know how you do.

praiser :heartbeat

Artistyc1 · Aug 6, 2009

best of everything to you artistic ! you will do fine. we support you 110 % ! let us know how you do.
praiser :heartbeat

thank you so much! i appreciate the votes of confidence ! :wink2:

SchoolNurseBSN · Aug 11, 2009

Did you take it yet? How did it go? I will be taking mine next year...

Artistyc1 · Aug 11, 2009

Did you take it yet? How did it go? I will be taking mine next year...

You know, I am not sure how to take it. There were about 130 questions I was "sure" of the answer. There were about 90 that I was not certain of, but had a clue. There were 30 or so I didn't have a clue about. So, it is a waiting and hoping game...... Mary:typing

Blessed2beStressed · Aug 14, 2009

If you have worked for at least 2 years as a school nurse, and are prepared, you should do well. Best advice, get enough sleep and eat a decent meal - it is a LONG test 250 questions. But that means you can get a lot wrong and still pass!!

Can you work as a school nurse without this certification? :nurse:

Also, does anyone know how common it is for most districts (I am in So. Cal) to hire RN over LVN? I am asking because I would LOVE to become a school nurse when I am done with LVN school. I have 4 school age kids. I would LOVE to be a school nurse above anything else I could aspire to be. I am not doing this for the money...would LOVE summers off with my tribe......trying to make "MOM" time a priority even though I have to work.

OH and please do share with us when you get word on your test. Praying for you!!! how exciting :yeah:

bergren · Aug 14, 2009

"Can you work as a school nurse without this certification? "

You do not need national certification to be a school nurse in MOST states. It is required in North Carolina, and I believe it can substitute for the required masters degree in Mass? (Can someone verify that?)

"Also, does anyone know how common it is for most districts (I am in So. Cal) to hire RN over LVN? I am asking because I would LOVE to become a school nurse when I am done with LVN school. "

California is the only state that requires school nurses to take specific course work AND a masters degree within 5 years of accepting the job, the same requirement as the teachers.

Blessed2beStressed · Aug 15, 2009

"
California is the only state that requires school nurses to take specific course work AND a masters degree within 5 years of accepting the job, the same requirement as the teachers.

I checked into my local school district here in So. Cal today. Went to their website and researched their requirements. Although they only hire RN with Certification, and prefer BSN, they do not require specific course work or a masters degree within 5 years of accepting the positions. Both of my sisters are teachers, as well as my Mother in Law, Sister in Law and many good friends, and out of all of them (who have been teaching for many years) only my sister has her Masters degree. It is not a requirement here in California. Is it where you are from?

Just wanted to clarify this information for anyone looking into this field.

bergren · Aug 15, 2009

Thanks for the information. I live in Chicago, but used to work as a school nurse in California.

The credentials required are listed on the Calif School Nurse Organization web site.

http://www.csno.org/Default.aspx?Page=Credential

Requirements For The Preliminary Credential

Applicants may apply directly to the Commission if they satisfy both of the following requirements:

Verify possession of a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally-accredited college or university

Verify possession of a valid Registered Nurse license issued by the State of California (If you do not hold the license, contact the Board of Registered Nurses, 400 R Street, Suite 4030 , Sacramento , CA 95814 , (916) 322-3350).

Requirements For The Professional Clear Credential

Applicants must apply through a California college or university with an accredited school nurse program and must satisfy all of the following requirements:

Hold a preliminary School Nurse Services Credential

Complete two years of successful experience as a school nurse (If the preliminary School Nurse Credential was issued on or before July 1, 1981, this experience is not required.)

Complete an approved school nurse program (The application must include the formal recommendation of the college or university where the program was completed.)

Term Of The Credential

The preliminary School Nurse Services Credential is issued for five calendar years and is not renewable. The professional clear credential is issued for five calendar years and may be renewed.

I checked a couple of the universities that offer the school nurse credential and they are post masters certificates - so earn the masters and then add on the school nurse required course work.

What I shared about the teachers was second hand - mea culpa.

Blessed2beStressed · Aug 16, 2009

God Bless our school nurses! That is a lot of hard work (ie, education) that hardly measures equal to their compensation, imho. The public school system is asking for an aweful lot. Here in So. Cal, the equivalent compensation to that type of education -- in a hospital setting (in a management type position)--- is 100K and upwards. I know that money is not everything, but thats a huge decrease in salary to ask for a nurse with that kind of education/qualifications.