Thanks for that explanation... it was very helpful. I am not required to have state certification for my current job in an independent school, but think it might be useful to prepare and sit for the national certification? Thoughts? Can anyone comment on how they best prepared?
From a state level, I do not have the time of funds to take a university based program that will require clinical hours.
NASN has been most helpful for me to get prepared in best practice.
I wish nursing in general would have more transparent and universal requirements in terms of certification and license.
------------------------------
Barbara Dougherty MSN, RN CEN
School Nurse
Philadelphia, PA
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 09-12-2018 16:18
From: Pat Krin
Subject: question about cert
This is a very common question. Let's start with the explanation below. I am adding a document with this information to the library of this discussion list.
What is the difference between state school nurse certification and national board school nurse certification?
State school nurse certification is generally provided by a state department of education. It is frequently required, but in some states it is voluntary. It is generally tied to certification for teachers and often mimics the requirement for teachers at least in some degree. It commonly requires specific educational requirements. Sometimes it is required prior to hire and sometimes there is a lead time so to speak and the school nurse can work for a certain amount of time while meeting the requirements for certification. Sometimes there is testing involved in applying for the certification. The certification is only applicable to the state in which it is issued. It often involves recertification by continuing education every so many years.
National board certification, on the other hand, is a voluntary process that recognizes nurses who have met the educational and practice requirements to sit for and pass the certification exam, assuring competence by measuring the knowledge, skills and experience required to pass that exam. As with many state certifications it involves recertification by continuing education (or to resit for the exam) every five years. One state, North Carolina requires national board certification within 3 years of hire, and Massachusetts which has state certification allows national board certification in lieu of a masters' degree.
Universities that offer a certificate in school nursing are generally in states that require state certification and that certificate is what is required to obtain the state certification and that is the path to certification in those states.
I hope this helps to answer your question.
Regards,
Pat
Pat Krin, MSN, RN, FNP-BC-Retired, NCSN, FNASN
Executive Director
National Board for Certification of School Nurses
www.nbcsn.org
nbcsnexec@nbcsn.org
Original Message------
Hi all, I am a masters prepared nurse and started working as a school nurse in a private school last year. I am a bit confused by the difference between certification through a program at a university vs sitting for this exam. Then am I to understand states have separate certifications as well? Thanks for any and all info!
------------------------------
Barbara Dougherty MSN, RN CEN
School Nurse
Philadelphia, PA
------------------------------