Overview
Who Should Apply?
Courses
Course Delivery
Admission Requirements
Application Process
Contact

“I am very grateful for my school nurse credential education at Sacramento State. During my first class I started to see opportunities for direct application to my daily work, and I widened my circle of advanced practice nurse colleagues. The professors care about your development, and you have ample opportunity to learn from the other nurses in your cohort. I currently have a great job, and I feel that my education, combined with my experience, helped prepare me for the role. My assessment, public speaking, planning, and collaboration skills, to use a few examples, are much better for having participated in this program. I see myself differently now, and believe for the first time that I am a leader in nursing.”

Pam Whipple
School Nurse, Special Education Coordinator and Safety Officer
Yav Pem Suab Academy

Overview

In California school nursing is considered to be a highly specialized area of nursing practice requiring additional education and clinical preparation. The College of Continuing Education, in conjunction with the Sacramento State School of Nursing, is offering the School Nurse Credential (SNC) program. The SNC program began in 1966 and is academically based in the nursing graduate program at Sacramento State.

The program is certified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to issue the required credential, School Nurse Services, which allows a registered nurse to practice within a public school setting. The program is also recognized nationally as a leader in school nurse preparation. Graduates have gone on to become school nurse leaders, president of California School Nurses Organization (CSNO) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), as well as nurse educators, Directors of Health Services, and recipients of the CSNO’s School Nurse of the Year awards.

Who Should Apply?

The one-year credential program is designed for registered nurses who have completed a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related field and are interested in becoming effective health practitioners in the California school system. This program greatly enhances school nurses’ skills by providing comprehensive coursework, which will enable them to support and advance student success, learning and lifelong achievement.

Courses

Students are required to take the courses listed at the bottom of this page PLUS an audiology certificate course (available at several universities in California).

Course Delivery

Courses are offered in a hybrid format (a blend of face-to-face instruction with online learning) including video streaming and blackboard teaching technologies. Course delivery, assignments and meetings are designed to meet the needs of the professional full-time school nurse. Courses will meet in-class at the Sacramento State campus twice per term (2 meetings in the spring, 2 meetings in the summer and 2 meetings in the fall). In-class meetings are mandatory.

 Students will complete the credential program in one calendar year.  Two mandatory face-to-face weekend meetings are required to attend each semester (Spring, Summer, and Fall).

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the SNC program, applicants must:

1. Hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related field from an accredited institution
2. Possess a current registered nursing (RN) license in California
3. Have an overall GPA of 3.0 for the bachelor’s degree (strongly recommended)

Application Process

Applying to the School Nurse Credential program for Spring 2014 entails a two part process:

1. Apply to CCE by submitting the following materials as a complete admission packet. The application period will be open Monday, July 15th with a deadline to submit by Friday, August 30th.
   1. SNC application (Click here.)
   2. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State
   3. A brief statement of interest [typed, single-spaced and maximum of one (1) page]
   4. Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic record and professional capabilities sent directly to CCE
   5. Proof of RN licensure
   6. $50 non-refundable application-processing fee (check or money order payable to Sacramento State)
      Submit application materials together to:
      Sacramento State College of Continuing Education
      Attn: SNC program
      3000 State University Drive East
      Sacramento, CA  95819-6103
2. Once the committee has determined your eligibility for enrollment, you will be contacted by the program coordinator and asked to apply to Sacramento State by filing the following materials:
   1. Online CSU Graduate application through www.csumentor.edu
   2. $55 non-refundable application-processing fee
   3. Program coordinator will forward official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Studies

3. Master of Science in Nursing Option

4. Qualified matriculated students who complete the School Nurse Credential Program have the option to continue towards a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Students will need to be classified as a Master's student and successfully complete additional coursework consisting of the following 4 courses: 
5. NURS 209 Advanced Role Development in Nursing
6. NURS 210 Research Methods and Techniques in Nursing
7. NURS 212 Concept and Theory Development in Nursing
8. NURS 500 Culminating Experience

The MSN program courses are offered in a hybrid format, including 2 mandatory in-class meetings per term with synchronous and asynchronous online meetings. Students will complete the MSN program in one calendar year.

Questions?:

For more information, please contact the College of Continuing Education at ccenursing@csus.edu