Guiding Clinical Experiences in School Nursing: A Competency-Based Approach for Preceptors and Students

<i>The school health office is often used as a clinical site for prelicensure nursing students in their community/public health or pediatrics clinicals. School nurses who serve as preceptors often find themselves unprepared</i>, <i>in part due to curricular changes focusing on competency-based education, which were updated in 2021</i>. <i>This article provides guidance for the practicing school nurse to provide a clinical experience for nursing students that meets the competency-based education requirements of the undergraduate nursing program and aligns with the NASN</i> School Nursing Practice Framework. <i>A brief explanation of competency-based education is discussed. Utilizing the umbrella of the school nursing standards, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials, along with the</i> School Nursing Framework, <i>a sample model of activities to meet these competencies is provided to support both the student and the precepting school nurse</i>.