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How Do I Get The Type 73 Certificate That Is Required By Most Schools?


Question:

Dear Donna,

I would like to become a school nurse. I have only worked ambulatory nursing since becoming an RN eight years ago. I would like to get the type 73 certificate that is required by most schools. How do I go about getting the certificate?

Maria



Dear Donna replies:

Dear Maria,

Before pursuing school nurse certification, you should try it out if possible to be sure it’s what you want to do. You can do this as a substitute school nurse or by working through an agency as a school nurse. Also, you can often get hired in this specialty even without the certification initially, as long as you plan to pursue it once hired.

Do some informational interviewing with other school nurses, too, before moving forward. Get out to local chapter meetings of the National Association of School Nurses (www.nasn.org). When there’s something you want to do, it makes sense to rub elbows with those already doing that thing. Read “How to Change Specialties” at http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/changespecial.html.

You have so many options in nursing — even within community/ambulatory health. There is also occupational health, hospice, telephone triage, and advice, and more. Consider attending my upcoming Career Alternatives for Nurses® seminar in Atlantic City, N.J., on February 23 to fully explore your options. Seminar details are available at http://events.nursingspectrum.com/event.cfm?EID=673&type=Seminar . The program is also available in CD <http://www.nurse.com/ce/CD6> and DVD <http://www.nurse.com/ce/DVD1> versions.

Be sure to get out to Nusing Spectrum/NurseWeek Career Fairs and speak to all nontraditional employers, including agencies that offer alternatives for nurses. See what’s coming up in your area at http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Expo. I also recommend that you read The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses (http://www.nurse.com/ce/7250) to help you decide where to go from here.

Good luck!
Donna



Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional and The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career. Information about the books is available at www.nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.nurse.com/asktheexperts/deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call (800) 866-0919 or visit http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.