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 partnership 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.
Benefits
This 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.
Audience
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.
Structure
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).
The California State University, Sacramento School
Nurse Program has offered the Special Teaching Authorization
in Health (STAH) courses in the fall when in demand. More
information about STAH courses can be found here.
Course Delivery
Students will complete the credential program in one calendar
year. Courses are offered in a hybrid format (a blend
of face-to-face instruction with online learning) including live
Zoom classes, typically one evening per week. Courses will meet
in class at the Sacramento State campus one weekend per term
(once each in the spring, summer, and fall). In-class meetings
are mandatory except for those with a health exemption.
Course content is organized and delivered via an online learning
management system called Canvas. Course delivery, assignments,
and meetings are designed to meet the needs of the professional
full-time school nurse.
To view the Student Handbook for this program, click the link
below.
SNC-MSN Handbook
STAH
The California State University, Sacramento School
Nurse Program has offered the Special Teaching Authorization
in Health (STAH) courses in the fall when in demand. The STAH
credential allows a school nurse to independently teach
health classes or a full course in a variety of school
settings (preschool, elementary, middle, secondary, and adult).
Only credentialed school nurses or currently enrolled credential
students at CSUS are eligible to take the STAH courses.
For the STAH program, you will build on the concepts from NURS
214 - Educational Program Development in Nursing. In the
STAH program, you will plan and implement a five-day unit of
teaching on a health-related topic using the California Health
Education Content Standards. There will be no F2F classes, only
online (synchronous) classes.
Fall - NURS 214C: Educational Program Development in
Nursing II, 3 units. Meeting requirements: Three to five
online classes. Course description: Introduction to
curriculum development and instructional design concepts in
preparation for the role of educator in an academic institution
or health care setting. Continues emphasis on instructional
design, related to curriculum development and implementation,
instructional and learning theory, and educational assessment.
Course requirements: You will be responsible for finding a mentor
teacher who will help you develop the teaching topic and
curriculum. Please note that your mentor teacher must be
different than your mentor teacher from NURS 214. For example, if
your NURS 214 mentor teacher was an elementary teacher, your
NURS 214C mentor teacher needs to be a middle or secondary
teacher.
Course assignments: You will interview a director of curriculum
and submit a paper describing the interview. You will do a
classroom observation and submit your analysis of the
observation. You will also work on and submit an outline of your
teaching plan.
Spring - NURS 294: Practicum Educational Program Development
in Nursing, 3 units. Meeting requirements: You must meet
with your faculty advisor at least four times, either in person
or virtually. You must also meet with the mentor teacher at least
three times to develop a curriculum. You are also responsible for
coordinating with your faculty advisor so they can observe your
teaching session, either in person or virtually.
Course description: Learning experiences in this course are
designed to provide an opportunity for application and analysis
of the theories and concepts of instruction, learning,
curriculum, assessment and evaluation while practicing in the
role of an educator in an educational setting. The
practicum focuses on the application of concepts and theories
from the 214C and 214 courses in Educational Program
Development in Nursing. The Special Teaching Authorization
in Health (STAH) candidate functions in the role of the educator
under the guidance of a mentor teacher in a selected practicum
setting.
Course requirements: You will work with your mentor teacher to
plan and deliver a five-day unit of teaching in a health-related
topic.
Course assignments: You will do a classroom observation and
submit your analysis of the observation. You will work on and
submit a completed lesson plan. Your mentor teacher and faculty
advisor must also complete evaluations.
For questions on course content or format, please contact Dr.
Kirsten Munk at kirsten.munk@csus.edu
Please contact Emily Mendoza for registration information at
ccenursing@csus.edu.
Cost
The current cost of the program is $495 per unit. Cost is subject
to change. There are 22 units in the credential portion of
the program.
Licensure/Credentialing
Please note: Candidates may be disqualified to complete the
program for a variety of reasons. Those candidates who are
disqualified may receive an application refund.
Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing
does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or
credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by
agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU
and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure
or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right
to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or tax
payer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal
background check.
Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet
licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund
tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine
subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or
credentialing requirements.
Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements
are available from Dr. Kirsten Munk, Coordinator, School Nurse
Program: kirsten.munk@csus.edu.
In addition, please see the California
Commission on Teacher Credentialing for specific school nurse
credential requirements.
Applicants who determine that they may not be able to meet
licensure or credentialing qualifications and no longer wish to
be admitted into these programs may have their application fees
refunded.
