Department of Public Health

About the Program

The school nurse certification program is a post-baccalaureate non degree program offered jointly by the Departments of Public Health and Nursing. The curriculum content of this program is comparable to graduate level study. The program consists of two tracks, non-instructional and instructional.

Upon completion of the non-instructional track, a standard educational services certificate with school nurse/non-instructional endorsement is granted by the New Jersey Department of Education. This authorizes the holder to perform nursing services in public school grades preschool through 12. This endorsement does not authorize the holder to teach in areas related to health.

Upon completion of the instructional track, a standard educational services certificate with school nurse endorsement is granted by the New Jersey Department of Education. The school nurse endorsement authorizes the holder to perform nursing services and to teach in areas related to health in public schools in grades preschool through 12.

Admission Requirements

1. Professional nurse licensure (RN) in the state of New Jersey.

2. Completed bachelor’s degree in nursing, public health, health education, or a related field.

3. Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or greater.

School Nurse Certification: Non-Instructional Track

The total number of credits required is 26 (12 credits of program requirements and 14 credits of exit requirements). Program requirements must be taken at William Paterson University. Exit requirements may be taken at other institutions or may have been taken previously as part of another academic pro gram. Applications will be evaluated regarding these requirements. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in the program.

Curriculum Requirements for the Non-Instructional Track

Program Requirements (12 credits)
NUR 5500	School Nursing I	3
NUR 5510	School Nursing II	3
EDLP 6170	Legal Issues for School Nurses	3
PBHL 5050	Cultural Dimensions of Health	3
Exit Requirements (14 credits)
NURS 4100	Community Systems	2
PSY 2100	Developmental Psychology	3
or
PSY 3440	The School Years	3
PBHL 2150	Drugs and Health	3
PBHL 4300	Counseling Skills for Health Professionals	3
SPC 5550	Foundations for Education in a Diverse Society	3

 

School Nurse Certification: Instructional Track

The total number of credits required is 35 (21 credits of program requirements and 14 credits of exit requirements). Program requirements must be taken at William Paterson University. Exit requirements may be taken at other institutions or may have been taken as part of another academic program. Applications are evaluated regarding these requirements. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to remain in the program.

Curriculum Requirements for the Instructional Track

Program Requirements (21 credits)
NUR 5500	School Nursing I	3
NUR 5510	School Nursing II	3
EDLP 6170	Legal Issues for School Nurses	3
PBHL 4520	Teaching School Health	3
PBHL 5050	Cultural Dimensions of Health	3
NUR 5520	School Nurse Teaching Practica	6
or
NUR 5530	School Nurse Teaching Inservice A*	3
NUR 5540	School Nurse Teaching Inservice B*	3
	* This is a 2-semester option only for students employed as school nurses under emergency certification.
Exit Requirements (14 credits)
NURS 4100	Community Systems	2
PSY 2100	Developmental Psychology	3
or
PSY 3440	The School Years	3
PBHL 2150	Drugs and Health	3
PBHL 4300	Counseling Skills for Health Professionals	3
SPC 5550	Foundations for Education in a Diverse Society	3

 

Additional Information

School Nurse Certification Handbook

For questions regarding degree requirements, contact Dr. Joanna Hayden, haydenj@wpunj.edu.

Course Descriptions

NUR 4100 Community Systems

Focuses on the role of the community as it relates to the health status of individuals, families, and groups. Community behavior as well as the sociopolitical dynamics of health/illness care are explored.

NUR 5500 School Nursing I

This course presents the organization and administration of school health services. The responsibilities of the nurse regarding assessment and referral of children and adolescents with health problems and concerns will be explored, with an emphasis on primary preventative services. The position and role of the school nurse in the educational system will be identified. A one day observational experience in the school setting and attendance at a County School Nurse Meeting will be required for this course.

NUR 5510 School Nursing II

This course discusses the implementation of the nursing pro cess when caring for children and adolescents with acute and chronic illnesses. Tertiary interventions are defined. The legal aspects, dynamics of the family system and financial situations are integrated into the plan of care for the student in the school setting. Factors that impede the educational progress of student, specifically, mental health issues, and current social issues such as: substance abuse and violence will be addressed. A one day observational experience in the school setting will be required for this course

NUR 5520 School Nurse Student Teaching Practica

This course is a one semester (16 week) 288 hour field experience required for a standard educational services certificate with school nurse endorsement. Half of the hours to be completed in the nurses office with a cooperating certified school nurse, and half in the classroom with a cooperating certified health educator under the supervision of WPU faculty.  This experience provides the student an opportunity to implement school health services and to teach in the classroom.  Students meet in seminar sessions with faculty throughout the semester.

NUR 5530 School Nurse Student Teaching Inservice - A

This is one semester (16 week, 144 hour) of a two semester (32 week) 288 hour field experience required for a standard educational services certificate with school nurse endorsement. Half of the hours to be completed in the nurses office with a cooperating certified school nurse, and half in the classroom with a cooperating certified health educator under the supervision of WPU faculty.  This experience provides the student an opportunity to implement school health services and to teach in the classroom.  Students meet in seminar sessions with faculty throughout the semester.  (Only open to students employed as non-instructional school nurses with emergency non-instructional school nurse certification.)

NUR 5540 School Nurse Student Teaching Inservice - B

This is one semester (16 week, 144 hour) of a two semester (32 week) 288 hour field experience required for a standard educational services certificate with school nurse endorsement. Half of the hours to be completed in the nurses office with a cooperating certified school nurse, and half in the classroom with a cooperating certified health educator under the supervision of WPU faculty.  This experience provides the student an opportunity to implement school health services and to teach in the classroom.  Students meet in seminar sessions with faculty throughout the semester.  (Only open to students employed as non-instructional school nurses with emergency non-instructional school nurse certification.)

PSY 2100 Developmental Psychology

Covering the development of the individual through the lifespan, this course gives special attention to early childhood. Theories of such seminal workers as Erikson and Piaget are considered along with their practical applications.

PSY 3440 The School Years

This course focuses on normal human development from six to twelve years of age. An in-depth analysis of the main areas of development, including the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional, is conducted. The course also discusses the applied implications of these developments for parenting, education, and therapeutic work for children of this age period.

PBHL 2150 Drugs and Health

This course presents an overview of the field of substance abuse and addiction from a bio-psycho-social perspective. Students examine the dynamics of dependency, co-dependency, pharmacology, intervention and treatment modalities, prevention strategies, and community services. Skills will be developed for assessment, counseling, program development, and referral.

PBHL 4300 Counseling Skills for Health Professionals

This course is designed to provide students with the information and skills necessary to conduct one-on-one health education interventions in a variety of settings.

PBHL 4520 Teaching School Health

This course is designed to provide the student with the skills, knowledge, and philosophy necessary to become a successful school health educator. Principles and procedures used in teaching, planning and evaluating the school health program are emphasized.

PBHL 5050 Cultural Dimensions of Health

This course explores the relationship between culture and health behavior as a means of increasing cultural sensitivity and competence. The impact of cultural and religious beliefs and corresponding health practices on health promotion and disease prevention will be the focus.

SPC 5550 Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society

Provides an educational knowledge base consisting of philosophical, historical, and legal foundations to educate citizens in a democratic society. National and state standards are used to define current practice and the expectations held for individuals who enter the teaching profession. The diversity of abilities, race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomics, and other factors that influence society’s perceptions of the continuum from normalcy to deviance are examined, and learner characteristics in physical, psychological, academic, and socio-behavioral domains are stressed. Particular attention is given to ways in which learner characteristics facilitate or impede the learning process. A 20-hour unsupervised field experience, engaging with students in an urban classroom setting, is required as part of this course. This is an introductory course to earn dual certification in the special education and general education teacher certification programs.

EDLP 6170 Problems in Practice: Legal Issues for School Nurses

This graduate course is designed to examine the challenges confronting school nurses within and without the framework of federal and state laws relating to education. The course will examine legal concepts relating to students, staff, the board of education, and the community in the context of the role and responsibilities of school nurses. Specific attention is given to issues such as students and special needs; compulsory education; records; safety; employee rights and benefits; child abuse reporting procedures; and HIPPA. These issues are examined from the perspective of school nurses.