School Nursing Credential Oversight?

[geocachingRN]

Here's one for you:

A local district hired a school nurse who did not have a school nurse credential. They wrote a contract instead and call her a district nurse. Interestingly, in California there are rules about calling someone a school nurse, but not a district nurse. She is doing almost everything a school nurse does. Get this, no one is able to enforce the that the school district follow California Ed Code on this! The California Department of Education directed me to the School Nurse Consultant who directed me to the office of California Teacher Credentialing (who is the responsible body school nurse for credentialing, who has done nothing) and NASN,(who will write a letter). BUT nobody seems to have any teeth regarding enforcement.

Does anyone else wonder about this? Why should people pay more than 10K to get a credential when there is no oversight?

[Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN]

10K for a credential? Up in Washington State (and Oregon nurses come here too), we need a one credit class. Costs about $400.

What do you get for 10K - we end up on the same salary schedule as the teachers. Not all districts use certificated nurses though - some districts have them as classified staff, but they are supervised by a certificated nurse (my supervisor is actually the Director of Special Education in my district)

[geocachingRN]

Wow, that's great. Are there any programs online?

In California one has to be credentialed like as a teacher, it's equivilent to one year post grad at most schools. I'm going to go to CSU Fresno who has moved the program to continuing ed and charging $300-$400/unit and we need about 24 units.

[Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN]

Wow, that still seems like alot. Here is a link to the class I took, it is continuing ed:

http://www.plu.edu/~ccnl/courses/intro%20sn%20summer.html

Looks like tuition has gone up a bit - now almost $600.

How long does the certification in Calif last? Our initial cert lasts for 7 years, then you need to re-cert. That takes 45 credits over that 7 year period. Many people work toward their Master's for that, so in a way, it can cost alot more than just the initial course.

[geocachingRN]

I see, so you do need additional education. Ca is similar, a 4 year degree in any subject and a nursing credential will qualify one for a preliminary credential, then you have 5 years to clear the credential same as a teacher.