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NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

  • 1.  NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-10-2025 02:24 PM
      |   view attached

    Welcome to Week #1 of our online NCSN Study Group. My name is Sarah Portle, and I am so honored to be able to work with our NCSN Candidates!  I have been a School Nurse for 15 years and an NCSN for 5.  I have had the privilege of working as an SN in Illinois, Florida, and Arizona, and most recently, I was the Program Manager of the Arizona School Nurse Access Program (ASAP), which helped increase the certification of NCSNs in Arizona by 300%! I am so excited to work with you all on your NCSN journey!

    Remember to enjoy the process. In the end, you might find that you learned a lot through this refresher course in school nursing practice!  

    The application window for Spring 2025 testing is open now – Early Bird Registration is until January 18, 2025, and the window closes on February 1, 2025. The Spring 2025 testing window is from March 1-31, 2025.

    There are two main books that I suggest you have on hand to review during the preparation process:

    1. Selekman/Cogan School Nursing Certification Review book 3rd Edition Digital (There is a hard copy version available as well).

    2. Selekman, Shannon, and Yonkaitis School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text

    Let's start our study group by reviewing the content of Chapters 1 & 2 of the School Nursing Certification Review book and the associated information in Selekman, et al. School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text (Chapters 1-4 and 11-13).

    When you have finished reviewing these chapters, please take the assessment at the end of Chapter 2 in the School Nursing Certification Review book.

    Review Book Chapter 1 National Certification – The Why and How

    This chapter provides general information about the exam including:

    1. Why and How National Certification is Achieved

    Please visit our website at www.nbcsn.org for information. You can also find some of this information in the Candidate Handbook (we suggest that you download it for future reference) available at https://www.nbcsn.org/resources/ncsn-handbook/

    Corresponding Selekman, et.al. 3rd ed. School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text Chapters 1 & 2

    Review Book Chapter 2 – Foundations of Pediatric Nursing: Understanding Children and Their Families

    1. Growth and Development
    2. Foundations of School Nursing Practice

    Corresponding Selekman, et.al. 3rd ed. School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text 3rd Edition Chapters 1-4 and 11-13

    This week's assignment: reflect on why you decided to pursue national certification, please share on this thread!

    I have been an NCSN for just over 5 years and completed my recertification over the summer.  Becoming a nationally certified school nurse was a decision rooted in my passion for providing students and their families with the highest standard of care. I wanted to ensure I had the most up-to-date knowledge, skills, and resources to support students' physical and emotional well-being. Certification has empowered me to advocate for my students more effectively, addressing their health needs while promoting a safe and inclusive learning environment.

    The certification process challenged me to grow both professionally and personally. It deepened my understanding of school health policies, evidence-based practices, and a school nurse's critical role in academic success. Being nationally certified has also connected me to a network of dedicated professionals, allowing me to exchange ideas and collaborate on best practices.

    Ultimately, I pursued certification because every student deserves a healthy, supportive environment where they can thrive. My certification affirms my commitment to this goal and strengthens my ability to make a positive impact in their lives every day.

    If you have any questions about the material, please post them to this discussion board. The more responses, the richer the discussion! I am here to support the group in any way I can, and I encourage you to reach out to each other as well for support, ideas, and suggestions to create the kind of virtual study group that you need. ** Remember when discussing questions, refer to the questions and answers by chapter, number, and letters, eg., Chapter 2 Question 3 Answer B. The information in the review book is copyrighted so you cannot copy the questions and answers to the discussion list. **

    Congratulations on taking this important step.  Once you dig into the content, I promise it will be fun and you will feel empowered by taking ownership of the process.  Take the word study out of the equation and substitute it with being curious; we are lifelong learners; it's the nature of a nurse! Keep in touch, and happy learning!



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    Sarah T. Portle M.Ed., BSN RN, NCSN
    Director for Arizona
    Lead Nurse - Arizona State University Prep Academy
    PhD Student - Arizona State University, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
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    Attachment(s)

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    NCSN Week 1.docx   1.81 MB 1 version


  • 2.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-10-2025 03:11 PM

    Hi!  My name is Tonya Burgess.  I am an elementary school nurse in Northern Indiana. I have been a school nurse for 4 years and prior to that I worked in the hospital and in a physician's office. I love being a nurse and want to be the best nurse that I can be which is why I have chosen to pursue the National Cert Exam.  I feel that it will be a great way to grow as a nurse while providing excellent and evidence-based care for the kids and staff at my school and I love learning!



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    Tonya Burgess R.N., BSN
    Goshen Community Schools
    Goshen, IN United States
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  • 3.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-11-2025 01:14 AM

    Hello! I'm Jennifer Farrell, and I've had the privilege of working as a school nurse for 15 years. After taking a two-year break to teach, I realized how much I missed school nursing, so I'm thrilled to be back this year. During my time in the classroom, I worked hard to earn my teaching certification, constantly striving to improve my skills to better support my students. Now that I'm back in school nursing, I'm focused on pushing myself professionally and growing within this field. My goal is to provide exceptional care to students and their families while also inspiring and empowering fellow nurses to pursue certification in school nursing. I'm excited about this journey and the opportunities it brings for both personal and professional growth.



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    Jennifer Farrell
    Cumberland, MD United States
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  • 4.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-11-2025 01:15 AM

    Hello! I'm Jennifer Farrell, and I've had the privilege of working as a school nurse for 15 years. After taking a two-year break to teach, I realized how much I missed school nursing, so I'm thrilled to be back this year. During my time in the classroom, I worked hard to earn my teaching certification, constantly striving to improve my skills to better support my students. Now that I'm back in school nursing, I'm focused on pushing myself professionally and growing within this field. My goal is to provide exceptional care to students and their families while also inspiring and empowering fellow nurses to pursue certification in school nursing. I'm excited about this journey and the opportunities it brings for both personal and professional growth.



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    Jennifer Farrell
    Cumberland, MD United States
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  • 5.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-11-2025 09:02 AM

    Hello! My name is Whitney and I am a lead nurse in Texas. I have worked 2 years as a school nurse with my LVN. Left to get my BSN and came back to school nursing! This is my 5th year back and as lead, I have wanted to get my certification for a while, but I kept putting it off. I am so excited for this study group and cannot wait to test in march! 



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    Whitney Whitaker
    BSN, RN
    Hallsville, TX United States
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  • 6.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-13-2025 10:06 AM

    Hello!

     My name is Amanda and I work in Texas as a school nurse and quad lead nurse.. This is my 12 year as a school nurse, I graduated last year with my BSN. I signed up for this test April 2024, then in March my husband had a major heartache and right before the test I had a hernia surgery, needless to say I attempted to take the test and fail. I am praying that this year it goes better. Good luck and prayers for everyone.





    THANK YOU

    Amanda Castellanos BSN, RN

    Lead Nurse for Quad 2

    New Tech Odessa/OCA/OCT

    (432)456-8865

                                              

    Confidentiality Notice:  This e-mail message, including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential information.  Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited under the Federal Family Education Rights & Privacy  Act and/or HIPAA. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy, or disseminate this information.  Please contact the sender immediately and destroy all copies of the original message including attachments.









  • 7.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-12-2025 10:04 AM

    Hi everyone! My name is Naomi and I am a new school nurse working in Poughkeepsie, NY. I have been a school nurse for a year now. I am a second career nurse and worked as an interior designer doing retail design for Starbucks before having kiddos and going back to nursing school. I completed my ADN in 2023 and just finished my BSN this December 2024. I love community health nursing and school nursing has been a great fit for me as once upon a time I considered being an elementary school teacher. There has been significant turnover in our district for years with the school nursing staff. Our role is not quite understood by many people and we are undervalued and understaffed many times. I am hoping to build a solid foundation with training through the national certification and think it is important as I advocate for the importance of school nurses.  Looking forward to studying with you all. 



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    Naomi Flinchum-Marquez, RN
    School Nurse
    Poughkeepsie City School District
    Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
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  • 8.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-13-2025 10:05 AM

    Good morning,

    I have been a school nurse for 6 years. Prior to school nursing I was a cardiac care nurse for 20+ years. I have 8 children and 2 grandchildren, I have been married for 35 years and a foster parent for 18 years. To say that I love children is an understatement, I have always been an advocate for children so deciding to change careers in the midst of the hardest season of my life was actually an easy one. I have always been driven to learn thanks to my Grandmother who was a retired school teacher. I made the decision to pursue my certification in order to learn as much as possible about school nursing in order to better advocate for the health and well-being of my students. I look forward to learning with you. 



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    Lisa Bryant
    Lee County Elementary School
    Leesburg, GA United States
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  • 9.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-13-2025 11:35 AM

    Hi All! Nice to "meet" all of you! I'm a school nurse in Colorado. My position is as an Itinerant Nurse - all of our schools in our district have building nurses and I float around and provide extra support and help cover sick days and leaves. I have been with the district since November 2023 and absolutely love this job - it's truly my dream job. I just finished my Masters in Education in School Nursing through Cambridge College and am excited to turn my attention to this exam now. I'm definitely nervous for it and thankful for the opportunity to study with all of you!



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    Hilary Mengel
    Castle Rock, CO United States
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  • 10.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-13-2025 03:54 PM

    Hi. My name is Ericka Miller. I am in my 4th year as a school nurse. Prior to this I was an ICU nurse, and prior to that I worked for international nonprofits, so nursing was a career hop. I am drawn to become nationally certified because I have been learning pretty independently, without much support or training, since becoming a school nurse. I am always seeking to gain a better level of competency (and confidence!), and becoming a NBCSN is a great step in that direction. I am grateful for the opportunity to study with a group who shares this goal also! 



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    Ericka Miller
    Fort Worth, TX United States
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  • 11.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-13-2025 05:12 PM

    Hello, my name is Tiffany and school nursing has been my specialty ever since I became an RN in 2015! I worked on the floor through college and quickly learned that while I adore nursing, the hospital isn't for me. I've worked overseas for a DODEA school, as a preschool nurse in Virginia, as an itinerant district nurse covering numerous schools in Colorado, and am now settled back in with one school building at another district in Colorado. I graduated with my MSN in Nursing Education in Spring 2023, and used to think that I would transition into academia. However, I have adored school nursing so much that I think one day I'm going to be the nurse at conferences standing up and saying, "I've been a school nurse for 35 years!" Becoming certified has always been a professional goal of mine, and I've committed to this year being the year! I am hoping that certification will help deepen my understanding of the role of the school nurse and broaden the scope of my practice. My family also moves a lot; my husband is active duty and I am always unsure of how long it'll take to find a job each time we have to move. The availability of school nursing positions varies so much across the country, with some areas being extremely competitive. I am hopeful that certification will bolster my ability to continue securing school nursing positions with each move. Most of all, I am excited to join a community of like-minded school nurses! 



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    Tiffany Whitehead
    Fountain Fort Carson School District #8
    Colorado Springs, CO United States
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  • 12.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-14-2025 09:38 AM

    Hello, my name is Ivory Roundtree. I am the lead school nurse for my school system for 25 years. Becoming NCSN certified is an idea I have debated for 5 years or more and put it off until now. I love being a school nurse and school nurse supervisor. The purpose to becoming NCSN is to continue to grow professionally as a school nurse and to be a model to my school health services team. I look forward to learning with the group. Currently, I am completing my DNP so all of this review coursework will be useful in my DNP program. 



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    Ivory J. Roundtree, MSN RN
    Lead School Nurse
    Randolph County Schools
    Wedowee, Alabama
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  • 13.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-15-2025 08:51 AM
    Greetings Everyone, I'm so thankful to study with you all this winter and prepare for the exam.  My name is Jordan Schriver and I've worked as a School Nurse since 2017.  My first degree brought me from San Diego to Washington DC to work for a think tank in foreign policy, so nursing found me later in life.  While adopting our fourth child from the Marshall Islands I was supporting a 2 year old in Foster Care who had a GBM tumor and was treated in Children's DC.  The first day the elevator doors opened to her floor I felt called into nursing.  I went back to school for my ABSN with 4 young kids at home and a desire to work with children.  

    Besides working with great people like yourselves in this field, I have found that it compliments my former work with the federal government and policy with tactical "boots on the ground" work with students in school.  My current school started from the ground up last year with 650 students overnight so I've been able to create a clinic and serve the population and community here in Virginia.  

    I hope to use this time to solidify my school nursing knowledge to ensure I'm giving accurate and timely information to others.  During the time of COVID, it helped to connect me with boarding school nurses in Europe as well and I've been able to present overseas and I hope to continue to work in the broader global world of school nursing.  Blessings as we all prepare, Jordan





  • 14.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-14-2025 11:02 AM
    Edited by Kelly Ceniceros, BSN 01-14-2025 03:21 PM

    Hi,

    I’m Kelly Ceniceros. I’ve been a high school nurse in Georgia for about five years now. As many nurses do, I started off in acute care. I then moved to the ED working in a rural Arizona hospital near the border of Mexico. I’ve been in school nursing about 13 years now. For quite awhile I kept up with hospital: nursing on weekends, holidays, and summer vacations. A few years ago, I let the hospital go and have been exclusively in the school system since. 

    Now I am 62 and wondering what my next steps should be. I am looking to renew my passion as a school nurse by expanding my knowledge and challenging myself with this test. I have not had to take a significant test in a long while. I must admit, the thought makes me nervous. But I absolutely believe in lifelong learning and am looking forward to the next few weeks!



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    Kelly Ceniceros BSN
    BSN, RN
    South Forsyth High School
    Cumming, GA United States
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  • 15.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-14-2025 01:33 PM

    Hello!  My name is Melissa Ford.  I am a Public Health Nurse who is assigned to two elementary schools.  I have been in school health for a little over a year.  Previously I had worked in Endoscopy and Cardiac step-down, but I took 8 years off to raise my 4 children (until the youngest started kindergarten).  I am also a military spouse, and Ohio was not part of the multi-state compact until 2024, so here I am restarting my nursing career.  Previously (before obtaining my BSN) I was active duty in the Air Force.  Anyways, I am loving school nursing and would like to continue to learn and grow in this role and I believe pursuing the NBCSN would be a great way to focus my knowledge.  I look forward to studying with you all!  



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    Melissa Ford
    SILVERBROOK ELEM
    Clifton, VA United States
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  • 16.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-15-2025 08:12 AM

    Thank you for your service. 



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    Kelly Ceniceros BSN
    BSN, RN
    South Forsyth High School
    Cumming, GA United States
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-15-2025 04:10 PM

    Good afternoon! My name is Jennifer and I am a School Nurse in Kansas. I was introduced to School Nursing in 2010. I would substitute for my children's School Nurse on my days off. I worked in Family Practice for 6yrs, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for 10yrs, and I have been a full-time School Nurse since 2016. I feel studying for the exam will help me to review and enhance my knowledge in order to maintain a safe and healthy environment for our students. 



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    Jennifer Brown
    Augusta, KS United States
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  • 18.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-16-2025 07:14 PM

    Hi. This is my third year as a school nurse. I'm the only nurse in our district. I have a background in emergency and cardiac nursing. Being a school nurse is not like any type of nursing I've done. It was a little overwhelming coming into this field without experience or another nurse colleague in the district. I've made good connections throughout our state. But I feel like getting my NCSN would help me grow as a school nurse and also show my commitment to our students and families. Thanks for putting this group together!



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    Mandy Ross
    Cloudcroft, NM United States
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  • 19.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-17-2025 12:28 PM

    Hello! My name is Katherine. I am an elementary school nurse in Western Massachusetts. I became a school nurse in September of 2020, during the Covid pandemic. Prior to that I worked as an outpatient oncology nurse for 6 years. I am looking forward to strengthening my knowledge and foundation as a school nurse by hopefully becoming nationally certified in March!



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    Katherine Longo
    West Springfield, MA United States
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  • 20.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-16-2025 06:57 AM

    Hi! I am looking forward to the sessions and expanding my knowledge and getting certified at the end of it!



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    Kerry Russell
    Prince George's County Public Schools
    Brandywine, MD United States
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  • 21.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-16-2025 10:40 AM

    My name is Sami Bushnell, and I am from Utah. I have been a nurse for 15 years, all of which have been dedicated to pediatrics. My school nursing experience was at an elementary charter school. Recently, I started as the State School Nurse Consultant, and I believe it is important to obtain the credential of national certification.

    In my role, I assist Utah school nurses by answering their questions, which often involves researching to ensure I provide accurate, law-backed information. While I am deeply familiar with Utah's specific requirements, I am excited to broaden my perspective and gain a more comprehensive understanding of school nursing on a national level.

    This role has been a tremendous learning opportunity, and I look forward to continuing to grow as I prepare for certification. I'm grateful to be part of this group and for the chance to connect with others in the field!



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    Sami Bushnell
    Utah School Nurse Consultant
    Utah Department of Health
    Salt Lake City, UT United States
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  • 22.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-17-2025 12:28 PM

    Hello! My name is Katherine. I am an elementary school nurse in Western Massachusetts. I began working as a school nurse in September of 2020 , during the Covid pandemic. Prior to that I worked as an outpatient oncology nurse for 6 years. I am eager to strengthen my knowledge and foundation as a school nurse by hopefully becoming nationally certified this March !



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    Katherine Longo
    Southwick, MA United States
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  • 23.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-22-2025 01:26 PM

    Good afternoon! I'm a bit late to join, but I'm excited to be here. :)

    My name is Angela, and I'm currently a School Nurse in Massachusetts. This is my fourth year in school nursing, and before this, I worked in acute care and critical care settings. In our district, it's just me and one other nurse. She's been an incredible mentor, and I'm grateful to work alongside her. However, she will be retiring next year, and I see this as the perfect opportunity to pursue my certification. I'm eager to deepen my knowledge and be as prepared as possible for the changes ahead.



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    Angela Lesure MSN, RN
    Plainville, MA United States
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  • 24.  RE: NCSN Review Spring 2025 Week #1

    Posted 01-22-2025 04:12 PM

    Hello everyone!  

    My name is Amy and I'm a Child Find nurse through Aurora Public Schools.  Previous to that I have worked as a School Nurse P-12 through Denver Public Schools as well as local Head Start programming.  I also do Child Health Care Consulting as a supplemental job.  :)  You can probably tell I gravitate towards the little ones :)   I passed this certification test in 2015 and let my certification lapse as I was working for Head Start at the time of expiration (felt didn't need it but regret it).  Full disclosure: I took this test again last November and just missed the passing score.  I looked at the stats of the year I originally took it and it had a 83% passing rate.  This last year I saw it was in the 70's so that translates to me that this exam has increased in difficulty.  I figured this was a great opportunity to work with others towards success.  :)   



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    Amy Mitchell
    Aurora, CO United States
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