Introduction to School Nursing

School Nurse

The school nurse serves in a pivotal role that bridges health care and education. Grounded by standards of practice, services provided by the school nurse include leadership, community/public health, care coordination, and quality improvement (NASN, 2016a).

A student’s health is directly related to his or her ability to learn. The school nurse addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social health needs of students and supports their achievement in the learning process.

Course Descriptions

Introduction to School Nursing
24 OSPI Clock Hours, Offered Summer and Fall

School nursing is a specialized practice that advances the well-being and health of students in the K-12 school-age population. Our blended class combines the best of independent and in-class learning, allowing participants more flexibility without sacrificing quality or content. This course prepares you for the initial Educational Staff Associate Initial Certification as a School Nurse. Content includes the role of the school nurse within the context of the school and society, growth and development, assessment and screening tools, school law, and legal, ethical and professional responsibilities of the role.

This course is approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for meeting the requirements for initial certification as a School Nurse.

Credential/Accreditation Information

PLU is an accredited provider of OSPI clock hours for courses.

Pacific Lutheran University (PA-19#) is an approved provider of continuing nursing education approved by the Montana Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Summer 2023

Location: self-study/online synchronous combo
Student self-study begins Monday, June 5, 2023
Virtual, online class Friday, June 30, 2023
In-person skills lab Saturday, July 1, 2023 PLU Garfield Commons 208 Garfield St. S Tacoma, WA ROOMS 101,103

Registration Opens January 3, 2023

School nursing lab day was a great learning experience