School Nurse Certificate Program
University of Illinois-ChicagoCollege of Nursing
School Nurse Program
Phyllis Powell Pelt, MS, RN
DirectorSchool Nurse Certification
Program
Office : 312-413-0544
Fax- 312- 996-7725
Martha Dewey Bergren, DNS RN NCSN FNASN
Coordinator, School Nurse Master’s Programs
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 [email protected]
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.