Some nurses prefer to work in a school setting because it is less stressful than working in a hospital. In a school setting, the focus is on maintaining student safety and health rather than life or death situations. A certified school nurse’s overall goal is to promote the health of the school community through health education, assessment, and student intervention. Healthy students can learn better, according to the philosophy behind school health programs, which bodes well for the country’s future health.
Registered nurses interested in working in a school setting can complete the necessary coursework at an accredited university, leading to school nurse certification. There are also online programs that lead to this certification that can help you prepare for the exam. Even though many candidates have master’s degrees, or even PhDs, in nursing or a field related to school nursing, in most parts of the United States, the interested nurse must have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited hospital or university nursing program to qualify for enrollment in classes toward this certification.
The amount of coursework required for certification varies by state. Because a school nurse is responsible for coordinating student health care within the educational environment, typical coursework includes an overview of public health settings, human growth and development, and teaching and learning theories. Many nurses seeking school nurse certification have a master’s or doctoral degree in education or educational psychology. Nurses seeking post-graduate certification frequently take psychiatric nursing courses, as students face increasing social and psychological pressures. An internship under the supervision of an experienced, certified nurse usually concludes the postgraduate track.
Nurses in the United States can take the National Board for Certification of School Nurses’ voluntary certification exam (NBCSN). Before applying for the NBCSN school nursing certification exam, a candidate must have worked as a nurse in a school setting for at least three years. School nurse certification is typically valid for three years, after which it can be renewed. Every type of practicing nurse in the United States, including school nurses, must first be certified by the Department of Health and Education.