A California school nurse credential survey

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health Nursing
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• School nursing is a specialized field requiring specific competencies for effective practice.
• Assessing the adequacy of basic preparation is crucial for ensuring competent school nurses.
• California's requirements for school nursing credentials provide a framework for competency evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine which required school nursing competencies are perceived as adequately covered by basic preparation among current California school nurses.
• To identify specific areas where preservice training may be lacking for entry-level school nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• A survey questionnaire was distributed to 2,861 practicing school nurses in California.
• 1,534 (54%) questionnaires were returned, with 1,227 used for analysis.
• The survey assessed 24 competencies mandated by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and collected demographic data.

Main Results:

• A majority of responding nurses (1,227) indicated that 11 out of the 24 required competencies were adequately addressed in their bachelor's degree programs.
• A significant number of nurses reported that their preservice training was not adequate for several other essential competencies.
• Demographic data provided a profile of the surveyed school nurse population.

Conclusions:

• While some competencies are well-covered, there are identified gaps in preservice preparation for school nursing in California.
• These findings can inform curriculum development for university programs and certificate programs in school nursing.
• Enhancing preservice training in specific areas is recommended to better equip new school nurses for their roles.