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:
- 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
- Growth and Development
- 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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