What are the qualifications of a school nurse?

The qualifications of a school nurse are nursing school, passing the NCLEX exam, and getting state licensure. Here is more information on the qualifications of a school nurse:

• Attend nursing school. School nurses are almost always in high demand, and because of this, there are many nursing schools to choose from. Prospective school nurses need to obtain a bachelor's degree in the science of nursing (BSN).

In nursing school, they study and complete classes pertaining to nursing fundamentals, physiology, psychology, microbiology, pharmacology, women and infant health, and leadership management.

Individuals wanting to be school nurses need to be sure that the nursing schools they apply to are accredited institutions. In certain states, registered nurses only need an associate's nursing degree in order to practice.

Most BSN programs not only give you the knowledge you need but also expose you to hands-on experience as a nurse. This is invaluable because the profession of nursing can be stressful and unpredictable at times. Any real-world preparation is going to benefit you greatly.

You might also consider specializing in pediatric nursing if your aim is to become a school nurse.

• Complete and pass the NCLEX exam. After you've obtained your degree, this is the required next step. The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, also known as NCLEX or NCLEX-RN.

This exam is designed to test your knowledge in all the critical areas of the nursing field. To obtain state licensure and become a registered nurse, you must pass this exam. If you do not pass the exam, you then have to wait 45 days before you are eligible to take it again.

Just about every role in nursing requires you to pass this exam, including school nurses. If you haven't, you can still apply to nurse positions; however, the medical employer is almost certain to turn you down.

The one position you may seek without passing the NCLEX is a nursing assistant. However, even with this role, you will have to get certification to be considered. In other words, you need to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

• Get State Licensure. This is another mandatory step. You need to get a nursing license in the state in which you want to be a school nurse.

If you want to become a traveling school nurse, you then need to obtain state licensure in every state you plan to practice in. Certain regions have licenses that can be utilized in multiple states but do your research, as this is the exception, not the rule.

Each state also has its own unique requirements for obtaining a nursing license.

• Clinical nursing experience. This is the last qualification of a school nurse. Most schools don't hire nurses starting out of nursing school, even when they have passed the NCLEX and obtained state licensure.

Clinical nursing experience can be gained by working in hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, physicians' offices, and other medical facilities.