School Nurses

High School

To prepare for future work as a school nurse, take as many science classes as possible, such as biology and chemistry. Math, health, psychology, computer science, and English classes are also important. Foreign language courses can also be useful in communicating with students and parents from other countries.

Postsecondary Training

State requirements for school nurses vary. Some states have a certification requirement. Others require that their school nurses have bachelor's degrees while some do not require a bachelor's degree but do have specific educational requirements. Some states require their school nurses to be registered nurses. There are three basic kinds of training programs that you may choose from in order to become a registered nurse: associate's degree, diploma, and bachelor's degree. Your career goals will help you determine which training program to opt for. A bachelor's degree in nursing is the most popular method, however, as such a degree is required for most supervisory or administrative positions, for jobs in public health agencies, and for admission to graduate nursing programs. Diplomas are offered by three-year programs at schools of nursing and hospitals, and an associate's degree is obtained from a two-year college.

There is no special program for school nursing; however, most nursing programs have courses geared to the specialty such as health education, child or adolescent psychology, crisis intervention, community health, and growth and development.

Many school nurses are graduates of practical nursing programs, which involve about one year of classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice, which usually takes place in a hospital.

Other Education or Training

The National Association of School Nurses offers online continuing education (CE) classes on topics such as immunizations, infectious diseases, mental health issues, and dealing with the media. It also offers in-person CE classes on specialized topics such as diabetes management and childhood obesity. Contact the association for more information.