From what I learned in the Nurse Builders course number one cause of death in all ages is death. Number 2 and 3 in school age are Suicide and Cancer and in adolescents Number 2 and 3 are homicide and suicide. Also firearms are the leading cause of death in children age 1 to 19 years of age.
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2025 11:50
From: Joel Siapno
Subject: Welcome to Week #5 of the Summer 2025 NCSN Study Group!
Students with chronic health conditions can qualify for special education if their condition significantly affects their learning. When they qualify, schools must provide necessary health services at no cost to families to ensure they receive a Free & Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrict Environment possible. This includes interventions like medication administration, staffing personnel, and training protocols.
The School Nurse's role includes hearing & vision screenings to see if the student's eyes and ears contribute to their decreased academic performance. We assess how medical conditions impact student education through observation, parent interviews, and doctor's orders. We participate in IEP meetings and help develop health-related goals and services. Another key role we play is translating medical needs into practical school solutions. We provide direct care, train school staff on the student's needs, coordinate with families and doctors, and monitor how well their health plan is working.
Students who don't need special education but still require health accommodations can get a Section 504 plan instead. School nurses help identify what accommodations are needed-like medication schedules or rest breaks-and ensure they're implemented consistently. The easiest way for me to understand and explain the difference between an IEP and a 504 is modifications and accommodations. IEPs: add modifications to the education plan. 504s: add accommodations to the education plan.
I could use clarification on Chapter 5, #13 (page 192) in the School Nursing Certification Review Book. It states that the cancer is the most common cause of mortality in 5-9 year olds but I remember hearing that accidents are the leading cause of death in all age groups and that firearms make up for a large part of these deaths. Would anyone be able to help me understand this more correctly?
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Yours in education,
Joel Siapno, BSN, RN, PHN, SNSC
School Nursing Solutions
Founder
Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2025 14:33
From: Sarah Portle, MEd., BSN, RN, NCSN
Subject: Welcome to Week #5 of the Summer 2025 NCSN Study Group!
NCSN Online Study Group – Week 5: Special Health Issues
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 |
Reading Assignments – Week 5
Hopefully, this feels familiar to the members of this group. Successfully passing the exam is experience, preparation, and test-taking strategies. These weeks have flown by! We have one more week to go.
School Nursing Certification Review Book – Selekman & Cogan, 2020
- Chapter 6: Special Health Issues
- Complete the self-assessment at the end of Chapter 6
NEW BOOK, AVAILABLE NOW: School Nursing Certification Review Book – Selekman & Cogan, 2025
- Chapter 6: Special Health Issues
- Complete the self-assessment at the end of Chapter 6
School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text (Selekman, Shannon, & Yonkaitis), Third Edition
· Chapters 7, 8 – 10, 21 – 30, 31 – 35
NEW BOOK, COMING SUMMER 2025: School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text (Selekman, Shannon, & Yonkaitis), Fourth Edition
This Week's Assignment - Reflection Prompt
How does the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensure that students with chronic health conditions receive appropriate health services at school, and what is the school nurse's role in developing and implementing the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan?
I continue my quest to find multiple-choice study questions that are specific to school nursing. Here is a link to an online sample test through the generous State of Illinois! This is helpful because it is an online version and is similar to the NBCSN test experience. Some of the questions are specific to Illinois regulations, but others are more global questions for practice.
*Don't forget the NBCSN Practice Tests available singly or in a bundle of two. Each computerized test has 75 multiple-choice questions with a rationale for the answers. You can access them through your application page or go to www.nbcsn.org and click on the orange Login button on the top right.*
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Have you taken advantage of the Free Test Taking Strategies on NurseBuilders?
Test-taking strategies continued.....Nurselabs 11 Test-taking strategies
- Be Alert to Relevant Information From Earlier Questions
Occasionally, remembering information from one question may provide you with a clue for answering a later question. For example:
A client has an intestinal tube inserted for the treatment of intestinal obstruction. Intestinal suction can result in excessive loss of:
1. Protein enzymes
2. Energy carbohydrates
3. Water and electrolytes
4. Vitamins and minerals
You determined that the correct answer to this question was option 3, it may help you to answer a later question. For example:
Critical assessment of a client with intestinal suction should include observation for:
- Edema
- Nausea
- Belching
- Dehydration
The correct answer is option 4. If you knew that excessive loss of water and electrolytes may lead to dehydration, you could have used the clue provided in the earlier question to assist you in answering the latter question.
- Make Educated Guesses
When you are unsure about the correct answer to a question, it is better to make an educated guess than not to answer the question. You generally can eliminate one or more of the distractors by using partial knowledge and the methods just listed. The elimination process increases your chances of selecting the correct option from those remaining. Elimination of two distractors on a four-option multiple-choice item increases your probability of selecting the correct answer from 25% to 50%.
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Here are 10 clear multiple-choice test-taking strategies including a link to the full document to download if you would like to read further:
A basic 10-step test-taking strategy
1. Know the rules and follow instructions.
2. Read each question carefully and thoroughly. Don't rush and assume you "get it" before you read the whole thing; you could miss a keyword or important detail.
3. For particularly long questions first read the last sentence of the stem (i.e., the actual question) so you know where the question is going and can more effectively evaluate the information provided.
4. Try to predict the correct answer before looking at the options.
5. Match your predicted answer to the options provided.
6. If your response is there, read each of the other options before making your final selection to make sure there isn't a better response, then mark your answer and move to the next question.
7. If your response is not there, re-read the question and proceed to ruling-out incorrect options (distractors).
8. If you're stuck, re-read the question; don't just keep reading the options. The correct answer follows from the information in the question stem, so always go back to the question.
9. If you're still stuck, take your best guess, mark the question, and move on.
10. Double-check your answer selections.
Click the link below for a guide to multiple-choice exam questions:
UNC - The Learning Center/ Tips and Tools for Multiple Choice Exams
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.
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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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