UIC School Nurse Certificate Program Intern/Preceptor Responsibilities
This list of the School Nurse Intern /Preceptor/ UIC Faculty responsibilities should help guide the school nurse internship. Your intern will discuss these with you and ask for your signature.
School Nurse Intern
Maintain at least weekly contact with the preceptor, either in person or by phone, email, or virtual meeting space.
Secure the UIC School Nurse Intern Placement Agreement from the host district/school and submit by the due date early in the semester.
Complete the School Nurse Self-assessment based on the National Association of School Nurses Scope and Standards of Practice, 3ed (2017) and develop Internship Goals. Review the self-assessment with the preceptor and submit by the due date early in the semester to begin planning a relevant clinical experience.
Complete and review the Intern Site Visit Checklist with faculty and submit at least 48 hours prior to the site visit.
Use the Illinois School Nurse Standards, ANA & NASN School Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, and The NASN Framework for 21st Century Practice to guide and inform your school nurse practice.
Complete all assignments on time.
Document competency in at least 75 (80%) of the Performance Indicators of the Illinois School Nurse Standards for at least 300 hours practicum hours in the school nurse role. At least 40 practicum hours should be “outside” the typical health office setting or school nurse role. Periodically review internship log with the preceptor to assist in identifying needed professional growth experiences.
The internship will enhance but not interfere with job responsibilities of the intern or preceptor.
Communicate to the UIC School Nurse Faculty in the unlikely event that issues arise that cannot be resolved between the intern and preceptor.
Preceptor
Maintain at least weekly contact with student, either in person or by phone, email, or virtual meeting.
Review and sign the intern’s School Nurse Self-assessment and Internship Goals with the intern at the beginning and end of the semester and sign.
Assist in planning relevant clinical experiences in different grade level settings (early childhood through high school) and opportunities to complete clinical assignments as listed in the syllabus.
Support opportunities for the intern to observe the PEL-CSN role outside of the intern’s typical work setting.
Arrange to visit the intern’s workplace and vice versa as able.
Periodically review the intern’s clinical log to assist the intern in identifying needed professional growth experiences. Sign off on log at end of internship.
The preceptor does not grade the intern’s assignments or clinical log.
Assist the intern in learning special education and Section 504 processes.
Help identify a student going through the special education process for whom the intern will complete the evaluation, eligibility, and IEP development steps. Review student’s IEP assignment.
Assist student to identify community health resources and making relevant community contacts.
Communicate to the UIC School Nurse Certificate Program Director if concerns arise regarding the intern’s competence.
Communicate to the UIC School Nurse Certificate Program Director in the unlikely event that issues arise that cannot be resolved between the intern and preceptor.
Clinical Faculty
Maintain open communication with the intern and preceptor.
Initiate or update UIC clinical contract with site and ensure proper placement agreements are in place.
Visit the intern at the host school/district (site visit) either in person or virtually.
Support the learning experiences of both the intern and the preceptor. preceptor.
Monitor intern progress toward successful completion of the school nurse internship requirements as stipulated by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Grade the intern’s assignments and clinical logs.