School Nurse Certificate/ M.S.N. School Health Services (SNC-U)

SCHOOL NURSE CERTIFICATE/M.S.N. SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

School nursing, as defined by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), is a specialized practice of public health nursing that protects and promotes student health, facilitates normal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are leaders that bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential (NASN, June 2016).

The overarching aim of the graduate-level School Nurse Certificate Program is to educate nurses to become change agents and health thought leaders in diverse school populations and communities. The program is grounded in theory that prepares students to advocate for their schools and communities, and provides evidenced-based, student-centered care. By utilizing the NASN framework for 21st-Century School Nursing Practice and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDCs) Whole School Whole Child Whole Community Model, students incorporate a model for nursing practice and care coordination that infuses a core set of values reflecting integrity, accountability, and responsibility for ethical practice.

The student teaching and school health office clinical practicum experience enable students to learn in a school setting with careful mentoring and guidance from a certified school nurse preceptor. Through engaged civic learning, students explore how social determinants and health inequities impact overall health and well-being, and the pivotal role of school nursing in building and sustaining healthy communities.

Requirements

Admission

Information about the application process, deadlines, and admissions requirements can be found on the Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden website.

Plans of Study

School Nurse Certificate

The Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden graduate-level School Nurse Certificate Program prepares professional registered nurses to fill the important role of school nurse in K-12 educational institutions across New Jersey and become vital partners who advance academic success of students and contribute to the well-being of families and communities. Specifically, students who complete this program are eligible for the standard educational services certificate with a school nurse endorsement (New Jersey Administrative Code: N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-14.3). Students completing this 21-credit program (6 courses) have the option of continuing their education toward an M.S.N. specializing in school health services.

M.S.N. School Health Services

Professional registered nurses may obtain an M.S.N. specializing in school health services, which includes the school nurse certificate as part of the M.S.N. degree. Students who already have a graduate-level school nurse certificate from Rutgers or another university program can continue their studies to complete the M.S.N. Students who are post-B.S.N. certified school nurses can obtain their M.S.N. as well.

To learn more about these tracks and the courses included in each, please visit the Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden website.