School Nurse Certificate Program

University of Illinois-ChicagoCollege of Nursing

School Nurse Program

Phyllis Powell Pelt, MS, RN

DirectorSchool Nurse Certification

Program

Phylpelt@uic.edu

Office : 312-413-0544

Fax- 312- 996-7725

Martha Dewey Bergren, DNS RN NCSN FNASN

Coordinator, School Nurse Master’s Programs

bergren@uic.edu

312-996-1321

Fax- 312- 996-7725

School Nurse Program Clinical Instructors

Frances Belmonte-Mann, MA, RN Margaret McGann, MSN, RN

School Nurse Certification

Sub-specialty

– distinct, unique body of knowledge

Ensures standard:

– preparation

– knowledge

– practice

Certification for School Nurses

Parallels teacher certification Commitment to profession Peer recognition Improves opportunities &

advancement

School Nurse Certification Steps

In the following sequence:

1. BSN

2. ISBE Test of Basic Skills

3. Education course

4. Two (2) School Nurse Courses

5. School Nurse Content Exam

University of Illinois School Nurse Certificate- New Fall 2006

Designed for nurses working IN schools in other states

Nurses working WITH schools in any state

Test of Basic Skills- REQUIRED

State, not university administered test Take NOW, BEFORE you apply Web registration & study guide

http://www.isbe.state.il.us/certification/html/testing.htm

ONLINE School Nurse Program

1. NUPH 501- Education Perspectives in School Health- (4 Semester Hours)

2. NUPH 502: School Nursing Theory and Trends (3 Semester Hours)

3. NUPH 519 School Nursing Internship (3 Semester Hours)

TOTAL: 10 Semester Hour PROGRAM

UIC Campus Participation

ONLINE Curriculum On campus Saturday classes twice

during programOut-of-state students may

substitute other experience for on campus experiences

ISBE School Nurse Type 73 Content Exam

Illinois State Board of Education

Study Guide

http://www.isbe.state.il.us/certification/html/testing.htm

School Nurse Internship required for certification

All students 300 hour internship (NUPH 519)**– Nurses in school nurse role may do 260 hours or fewer “on the

job” + 40 or more outside– Nurses not in schools earn all 300 hours supervised

15 weeks or one school year in length Clinical contracts with schools School nurse intern eligibility form required

– http://www.isbe.state.il.us/certification/pdf/73-44_ssp_intern_status.pdf 40 hours or more of UIC preceptor contact Preceptor w/i 30 miles of residence (or intern identified

preceptor)

NUPH 519 School Nurse Internship

**Variable Credit Options (Extended period to complete 300 hour internship and course requirements)

1. One credit = 100 hrs & School Community Assessment

2. Two credits = 200 hours & School Community Assessment, Lesson Plan & Case Study

3. Three hours of credit - 300 hours & School Community Assessment, Lesson Plan and Case Study & clinical project

300 total hours needed for IL Type 73 certification

Prerequisite Grades

2.75 overall GPA Applicants may petition admission

NEW!! Tuition

E-Tuition: $560 per graduate credit No student fees under E-tuition rate

How to begin?

1. Illinois Test of Basic Skills http://www.isbe.state.il.us/certification/pdf/73-44_ssp_intern_status.pdf

2. Order 2 copies of ALL transcripts. Keep one copy sealed

3. If course names on pre-requisite list differ, request course descriptions

Required Computer Skills

1. Get an email address2. Use email for routine correspondence3. Use Web Search engines:

www.GOOGLE.com www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/

4. Word processing Community computer classes1. Cut and paste2. Save and save under new name3. Open new folders4. Move files

UIC Masters and Doctorate

•School Nurse Masters Degrees: •School Nurse Practitioner•Advanced Community Health Practitionerhttp://www.uic.edu/nursing/programs/ms-apply.shtml

• Internship Preceptors can use tuition waivers.

Scholarships Evelyn Kahn Scholarship lwclark@cps.k12.il.us

Chicago Public School NursesIllinois Association of School Nurses www.iasn.org Illinois School Health Association

www.ishaweb.com National Association of School Nurses

www.nasn.org Discover Nursing www.discovernursing.com/scholarship_search.asp

How to prepare for the certification classes?

Join professional organization

National Association of School Nurses www.nasn.org

Position papers & publications Online access journal

Illinois Association of School Nurses

www.iasn.org (Application for professional organizations is a joint

state and national on NASN website).

Attend conferences

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH )- School Health Days and Critical Issues Conferences http://www.dhs.state.il.us/chp/ofh/SchoolHealth/

Illinois School Health Association www.ishaweb.com

National Association of School Nurses www.nasn.org

Illinois Association of School Nurses www.iasn.org

Network with school nurse colleagues

IASN listserv NASN listservs

– Early childhood– Special needs– Administrator

SCHLRN-L school nurse listservhttp://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=schlrn-l&A=1

AllNurses.com School Nursing:

http://allnurses.com/f49

Add to your library

National Association of School Nurses. (2005). School nursing scope and standards of practice. Scarborough, ME: NASN. www.nasn.org

 

Add to your library

Selekman, J. (2006). School nursing: A comprehensive text. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis. www.amazon.com

Add to your library

Schwab, N & Gelfman, M. (Eds.) (2001). A resource for school nurses, administrators and attorneys. Lincoln, NE: Authors Choice Press (www.iuniverse.com/). Available from Amazon.com

Add to your library

Schwab, N. C., Ruben, M., Maire, J. A., Gelfman, M. H. B., Bergren, M. D., Mazyck, D. & Hine, B. (2005). Protecting and disclosing student health information: Guidelines for developing school district policies and procedures. Kent, OH: American School Health Association. It can be ordered from www.nasn.org or www.ashaweb.org.

Add to your library

National Association of School Boards of Education. (2003) How schools work & how to work with schools: a primer for professionals who serve children and youth. Go to : http://www.nasbe.org/ . Look for NASBE Bookstore link and then Safe and Healthy Schools link. This publication is the first selection. $14.00  

Add to your library

Melnyk B. & Fineout Overholt (Eds.) (2005). Evidence-based practice in nursing and health: A guide to best practice Philadelphia: Lippincott

Stay Informed

“……advancing the specialty of school nursing and promoting the professional growth of school nurses”

Preparing to apply

1. Take Illinois Test of Basic Skills: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/certification/pdf/73-44_ssp_intern_status.pdf

2. Order 2 copies of ALL transcripts since high school. Leave one copy sealed

3. Request course descriptions from colleges if course names on pre-requisite form differ

Applying

4. Apply using “How to Apply” link: http://www.uic.edu/nursing/schoolnursing/apply.shtml

Use checklist to ensure a complete application: http://www.uic.edu/nursing/schoolnursing/supp_app.doc

Important Dates5. Space limited! Preferred Deadlines:

Summer – March 15th Fall – May 15th Spring – October 1th

APPLY EARLY – Space is limited

6. Calendar: http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/calendar/index.shtml

Why Apply??

School Nurse Leaders CAN and DO make a difference.

Invest in yourself as a life long learner and invest in your school community!!

Be a role model for the young people in your life.