Professional School Nursing in
Massachusetts
Collaboration between Northeastern
University School Health Institute and
the Massachusetts Department of
Health School Health Unit
Level 1: Basic Orientation
• Days 1-2: Overview of School Nursing in MA
• Day 3: Screening Training
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Vision
Hearing
BMI
Postural
• Day 4: Medication Administration in MA Schools
based on 105 CMR 210.000
Content of First 2 Days: Level 1
(1)
• History and Overview of School Nursing in
MA
• Communicable Disease and Emergency
Planning
• Mandates and Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education School Nurse
Licensure, National Certification
Content of First 2 Days: Level 1 (2)
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Delegation in the School Setting
Mental Health Issues and Documentation
MASSTART/IHCPs/504s
Mandated Reporting 51As/Sex Trafficking
Homelessness
Current Immunization Regulations and Catch-up
Cultural Competency
Plan for Professional School Nurse
Practice in Massachusetts: Level 2
(2)
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Requirement: Complete Level 1
Four full days
Online programs
Contact hours: A minimum of 28 contact hours
for entire program
Certificate from both DPH and Northeastern
University
One year to complete
Assist in preparing for the national certification
examination
Plan for Professional School Nurse
Practice in Massachusetts: Level 2
(3)
• Day 1: Health Office Management:
physical environment, triage,
confidentiality, sensory/trauma safe space,
electronic health records, staff
presentations, health education,
collaborator, managing medications,
documentation, substitute nurses, IHCPs,
social media, resources, etc.
Plan for Professional School
Nursing in Massachusetts: Level 2
(4)
• Day 2: Management of Commonly Seen
Issues in the Health Office
– Focus on “red flags”
– Assessment and identify level of acuity
– Decisions to refer
– Systems approach
Plan for School Nurse Practice in
Massachusetts: Level 2 (5)
• Day 3: Wellness Prevention Module
– Developing relationships and collaboration
– Health and academics
– Marketing the school nurse role
– Leadership skill identification
– Program implementation (using a wellness
program as an example)
Plan for School Nurse Practice in
Massachusetts: Level 2 (6)
• Day 4: Mental Health
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School nursing role
Prevention, e.g., SBIRT
School climate
Assessment and triage
Frequent flyers
School crisis management
Planning for re-entry after hospitalization
Documentation
Plan for School Nursing Practice in
Massachusetts: Level 3
• Pre-requisites: Level 1 and 2
• Preparation for Supervisor/Director License
• Preparation for Nurse Leader Role
• Competencies in both management and
leadership at the school district level
Northeastern University School
Health Institute
• For programs and additional resources/
handouts:
https://www.neushi.org/