The Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN) has adopted four resolutions which address the issues of professional school nursing, school nurse certification, and educational preparation for school nursing.

Professional School Nursing (adopted October 24, 1998)

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 has been enacted by the State of Illinois in December 1997; and

• WHEREAS, certification for school nurses (Type 73) under Section 21-25 of the Act has been maintained; and

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 requires that any school nurse "whose duties require teaching or the exercise of instructional judgment or educational evaluation of pupils, must be certificated under Section 21-25 of the Act"; and

• WHEREAS, the duties of teaching, instructional judgment, and educational evaluation are an inherent part of the comprehensive health and educational services required by every child; and

• WHEREAS, the school nurse is the only health professional resource available in the school setting who is prepared in both education and health specialties, and is thereby able to administer a comprehensive school health program;

• THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses maintains that the certificated school nurse (Type 73) is optimally prepared to manage a safe and appropriate comprehensive school health program;

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses believes that any nurse practicing independently in a school setting and responsible for the overall health program should be appropriately prepared through an Illinois State Board of Education approved certification program; and

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses maintains that the delivery of school health services to children in Illinois is most appropriately provided by the certificated school nurse; and

• BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses believes that every school-aged child in Illinois has a right to access the services of a certificated school nurse.

Registered Professional Nurses who Provide School Health Services (adopted October 24, 1998)

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 has been enacted by the State of Illinois in December 1997; and

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 allows that "school districts may employ non-certificated registered professional nurses to perform professional nursing services" in schools; and

• WHEREAS, basic nursing education intended to prepare a nurse generalist does not necessarily include curriculum addressing school public health mandates, special education evaluation or nursing practice in school as a non-traditional setting; and

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 provides that "duties which require teaching or the exercise of instructional judgement or educational evaluation of pupils, must be done by a school nurse who is certificated (Type 73) under Section 21-25 of the Act"; and

• WHEREAS, preparation of a certificated school nurse specialist (Type 73) is defined by the State Board of Education rules and regulations and requires the completion of a state approved school nurse certification program; and

• WHEREAS, there are increasing numbers of children who are chronically ill or medically fragile in Illinois schools and require daily and/or specialized nursing care in order to access a free and appropriate public education; and

• WHEREAS, some of these nursing services can be safely performed by a non-certificated nurse;

• THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses acknowledges the legislative mandate which allows a tiered system of nursing services in Illinois schools; and

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses recognizes that some of the broad range of nursing services required by children in schools today can be provided by the non-certificated nurse in collaboration with the certificated school nurse specialist; and

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses believes that the non-certificated school nurse employed by a school should have a formal orientation specific to the responsibilities required by the school setting; and

• BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of school Nurses believes that the non-certificated nurse should practice under the direction of a certificated school nurse specialist who is prepared to administer the comprehensive school health program.

Registered Professional Nurse Preparation for School Practice (adopted October 24, 1998)

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 has been enacted by the State of Illinois in December 1997; and

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 allows that "school districts may employ non-certificated registered professional nurses to perform professional nursing services in schools; and

• WHEREAS, basic nursing education intended to prepare a nursing generalist does not necessarily include curriculum addressing school public health mandates, special education evaluation or nursing practice in schools as a non-traditional setting; and

• WHEREAS, the Illinois Association of School Nurses believes that the non-certificated nurse employed by a school should have a formal orientation specific to the responsibilities required by the school setting; and

• WHEREAS, the certificated school nurse specialist, by virtue of Type 73 certification through a state approved program and experience in school nursing is knowledgeable about nursing practice in the school setting; and

• WHEREAS, the Illinois Association of School Nurses believes that every school-aged child in Illinois has a right to safe and comprehensive health care provided by appropriately prepared professionals;

• THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses will pursue involvement with the Illinois State Board of Education in defining the rules and regulations for the implementation of P.A. 90-548; and

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses will pursue defining the appropriate roles and responsibilities of the certificated school nurse specialist and the non-certificated nurse who practices in the school setting; and

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses will encourage the non-certificated nurse who practices nursing in the school to seek continuing professional education specific to the school setting; and

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses will actively participate in the development and implementation of orientation programs for the non-certificated nurse who practices in the school setting,; and

• BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses will support collaboration between the certificated school nurse specialist and the non-certificated nurse, to enhance the safe delivery of comprehensive school health services to school children.

School Nurse Credentials (adopted October 1998)

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 has been enacted by the State of Illinois in December 1997; and

• WHEREAS, certification for school nurses under Section 21-25 of the Act has been maintainted; and

• WHEREAS, P.A. 90-548 allows a certificated school nurse specialist (Type 73) and/or a non-certificated nurse to work in the school setting; and

• WHEREAS, the public has the right to know the qualifications of the nurse providing services in their school;

• THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses believes that professionals delivering health care need to appropriately identify their educational preparation and professional credentials; and

• BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Nurses encourages all certificated school nurse specialists (Type 73) to use their complete educational credentials, including Illinois Certificated School Nurse (IL CSN) consistently in their practice.