Excellence in school nursing practice: developing a national perspective on school nurse competencies.

Developing a national position on competencies for school nurses can directly influence professional practice, which ultimately affects the well-being and academic success of students. Collaboration between national experts, such as school nurse educators and school nurse consultants, interested in moving this development forward is key. Closely aligning the work done by the Southern Regional Education Board Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing on entry-level competencies with the Standards of Professional School Nursing Practice provides a framework to carry the school nurse competency initiative forward. Continued competency development will provide guidance for the academic programs that design curricula to prepare school nurses and for the practice settings that hire school nurses.