Original Message:
Sent: 6/3/2025 9:26:00 AM
From: Hannah Mueller, RN, B.S.N
Subject: RE: Welcome to Week #1 of the Summer 2025 NCSN Exam Study Group!
Here is what Chat GPT came up with!
Eriksons:
"Trust the Auto to Initiate Industry, so you can find your Identity, build Intimacy, show Generativity, and gain Integrity."
Piagets:
"Some People Can Fly."
Each word represents a stage:
- Sensorimotor (Birth–2 years) → Some
- Preoperational (2–7 years) → People
- Concrete Operational (7–11 years) → Can
- Formal Operational (12+ years) → Fly
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Hannah Mueller RN, BSN
WI, United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-02-2025 07:35
From: Denise Kozer
Subject: Welcome to Week #1 of the Summer 2025 NCSN Exam Study Group!
Good Morning,
Does anyone have a pnemonic or a better way to remember Erickson and Piagets various stages of development?
Thank you
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[Denise] [K]
[School Nurse]
[NC]
Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2025 17:18
From: Mary Jue
Subject: Welcome to Week #1 of the Summer 2025 NCSN Exam Study Group!
Wow, what a resource! Thank you, Sarah P, for supporting candidates for NBCSN certification and moderating this study group! I'm a bit late to the forum but will try to catch up.
In response to Week 1's prompt: I have been a registered nurse in California since 1992 and a school nurse since 2005. Becoming a school nurse was the best career decision I've ever made! I absolutely fell in love with the role of the school nurse in supporting students, families, staff, and the school in meeting their goals in academics and health. After a while, I found myself thinking about how school nurses could be more effective so I got my administrative credential and worked as the Director of Nursing Services in my district for 11 years. Still in love with the profession, I decided to start a credential program at SF State University to provide a local option for school nurses in the Bay Area to get their clear credential. We are only completing the 2nd full year of the program and have had candidates from all over the state! This has been such an enriching opportunity to not only help newer school nurses clear their credential but to engage in rich discussion about our scope of practice, addressing health inequities, and ways we can demonstrate leadership.
Though I feel absolutely fulfilled in my current role as a lecturer and program coordinator in the credential program, I believe I can be more deeply grounded by testing my understanding of the national landscape for school nurses. Along the way, I trust I will fill some gaps in my knowledge which will make me an even more valuable resource for my students.
Mary Jue, RN, MSN, CSN
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Mary Jue MSN, RN, PHN
Lecturer
San Francisco State University
Oakland, CA United States
Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 13:33
From: Sarah Portle, MEd., BSN, RN, NCSN
Subject: Welcome to Week #1 of the Summer 2025 NCSN Exam Study Group!
NCSN Online Study Group – Week 1: Welcome & Summer 2025 Exam Updates
Welcome, Candidates!
My name is Sarah Portle, and I am thrilled to welcome you to our online NCSN study group. I have been a School Nurse since 2008 and proudly earned my National Certification in School Nursing (NCSN) in 2019. Currently, I serve as the Lead Nurse for Arizona State University College Preparatory Academy, and I'm also working on my PhD in Nursing.
Over the years, I've worked in Illinois, Florida, and Arizona, and most recently served as the Program Manager for the Arizona School Nurse Access Program (ASAP), which helped increase NCSN certification in Arizona by 300%!
I am so honored to walk alongside you during this certification journey-let's get started!
Summer 2025 Exam Information
Thinking of testing this summer? Be sure to review the key dates:
- Summer Testing Window: July 7 – August 10, 2025
- Application Window: April 1 – June 7, 2025
Visit www.nbcsn.org to begin your application and download the Summer 2025 Candidate Handbook.
Updated Exam Content Outline – Summer 2025 and Beyond
As a result of the 2023 Job Task Analysis (JTA), the NBCSN streamlined and reorganized the Exam Content Outline (ECO) beginning with the Summer 2025 exam. The exam still covers the same essential content-just better organized into four updated domains:
New Exam Content Domains & Number of Questions
New Domain | # of Questions |
Health Appraisal & Nursing Practice | 52 |
Health Promotion/Disease Prevention | 41 |
School Health Practice Considerations | 32 |
Professional Responsibility | 50 |
** These changes are effective for exams starting July 2025. **
Comparison of Old vs. New Content Domains
Old Domains | New Domains |
Health Appraisal | Health Appraisal & Nursing Practice |
Health Problems & Nursing Management | Now integrated across all domains |
Health Promotion & Disease Prevention | Health Promotion/Disease Prevention |
Special Health Issues | School Health Practice Considerations |
Professional Issues | Professional Responsibility |
Reading Assignments – Week 1
School Nursing Certification Review Book – Selekman & Cogan, 2020
- Chapter 1: National Certification – The Why and How
- Chapter 2: Foundations of Pediatric Nursing: Understanding Children and Their Families
- Complete the self-assessment at the end of Chapter 2
NEW BOOK, COMING SUMMER 2025: School Nursing Certification Review Book – Selekman & Cogan, 2025
- Chapter 1: National Certification and the Foundations of School Nursing Practice
- Chapter 2: Children and Their Families
- Complete the self-assessment at the end of Chapter 2
School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text (Shannon, & Yonkaitis), Third Edition
- Chapters 1–4: Foundations of school nursing and pediatric development
- Chapters 11–13: Chronic conditions and practice considerations
NEW BOOK, COMING SUMMER 2025: School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text (Selekman, Shannon, & Yonkaitis), Fourth Edition
Study Resources Overview
Highly Recommended – No Cost
Purchase Through NBCSN
This Week's Assignment - Reflection Prompt
Why are you pursuing national certification?
Please share your response on this week's discussion thread. Reflecting on your "why" helps ground your motivation and builds community.
I pursued certification to ensure I had the most current knowledge and skills to support student well-being. Becoming nationally certified helped me grow both professionally and personally and gave me a network of school nurses equally committed to excellence. It's one of the best decisions I've made in my career.
Let's Collaborate
Have a question about the content? Post it in the discussion! Refer to questions by chapter, number, and letter (e.g., Chapter 2, Question 4, Answer C).
Please do not copy questions or answers verbatim due to copyright.
Final Thoughts – You've Got This!
As we begin this journey together, remember: you're not alone. Whether this is your first time preparing for a certification exam or a return to formal study, know that this process is a powerful step forward in your professional growth.
This isn't just about passing a test-it's about strengthening your ability to support your students, advocate for health equity, and shine in your role as a leader in school nursing.
You've already taken a big step by showing up. Stay curious, stay committed, and lean on each other throughout this journey. I'm here to support you every step of the way.
You are more than capable. Let's do this-together.
💙 - Sarah Portle, M.Ed., R.N., N.C.S.N. (she/her)
Lead Nurse, ASU Preparatory Academy
PhD Student, Nursing
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Sarah T. Portle M.Ed., BSN RN, NCSN
Lead Nurse - Arizona State University Preparatory Academy
PhD Student - Arizona State University, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
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