NATIONAL BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL NURSES
(NBCSN) EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | NEW
2026/ 2027 UPDATE | GRADED A+| 100% CORRECT (VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS)
Defining Nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems.
RNs represent -
CORRECT|ANSWER
RNs represent the largest group of healthcare providers in the US
-More than 3 million individuals
-2004: 85% actively working in nursing
Race and Ethnicity -
CORRECT|ANSWER
African American 5.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander 5.8%
Hispanic 3.6%
26.8% of nursing students in entry-level BSN programs were from minority backgrounds.
Ages -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Average age in 2013 was 46 years old
50% of the nursing workforce is close to retirement
Increased number of working RNs under age 30, offsets the increasing number of nurses age 60 or
older who continue to work.
Pathways for nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
,(1) 4-year education at a college or university conferring a BSN degree;
(2) 2-year education at a community college or technical school conferring an associate degree in
nursing (ADN); and
(3) a diploma in nursing, awarded after the successful completion of a hospital-based program that
typically takes 3 years to complete, including prerequisite courses that may be taken at another
school.
Nurses working in 2008: 45% have ADN; 35% BSN and higher; 18% diploma
Places of work -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Primary work site for RNs-hospitals 62.2%
7.8% community health/public health settings
10.5% ambulatory care settings
5.3% extended care/nursing home settings
Remaining percentage in schools, government agencies, state boards of nursing, insurance
companies
NPs -
CORRECT|ANSWER
nurse practitioners
CNSs -
CORRECT|ANSWER
clinical nurse specialists
CNMs -
CORRECT|ANSWER
certified nurse-midwives
CRNAs -
CORRECT|ANSWER
certified registered nurse anesthetists
,Clinical ladder -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Multi-step program that begins with entry-level staff nurse positions
With experience, continuing education, pursuance of more education/certification, nurses can move
up the ladder
Salaries and responsibilities increase as one moves up the ladder
Nursing Work -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Hospital-based nursing
Community health nursing
Occupational health nursing
Military nursing
School nursing
Hospice and palliative care nursing
Telehealth nursing
Faith community nursing
Nursing informatics
Travel nursing
Nursing opportunities requiring advanced degrees -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Nurse educators
APNs: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, and certified registered
nurse anesthetis
Hospital-based nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Primary work-site for nurses
Numerous opportunities available (med-surg, ICU, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric)
, Educational requirements range from diploma and associate degrees to doctoral degrees depending
on the position
Community health nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Initially created by Lillian Wald when she established the Henry Street Settlement in NYC
Now a broad field encompassing both public health nursing and home health nursing
Variety of work settings—ambulatory clinics, health departments, hospices, home health care
Occupational health nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Hired by large companies
Provide basic health care services, health education, screenings, and emergency treatment to
employees at the worksite
Recommended that nurses in these positions hold a baccalaureate degree
Have responsibility to identify health risks to the entire work environment
Need a working knowledge of governmental regulations
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Ensure that company is following regulations
Need an understanding of workers' compensation and be able to coordinate care of injured workers
with physicians
Military nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Practice in both peace and wartime
Required to have a BSN for active duty
Enter active duty as officers and must be between ages of 21 and 46 ½ when they begin active duty
Major advantage is opportunity for advanced education
School nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Need to have working knowledge of human growth and development
(NBCSN) EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | NEW
2026/ 2027 UPDATE | GRADED A+| 100% CORRECT (VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS)
Defining Nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems.
RNs represent -
CORRECT|ANSWER
RNs represent the largest group of healthcare providers in the US
-More than 3 million individuals
-2004: 85% actively working in nursing
Race and Ethnicity -
CORRECT|ANSWER
African American 5.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander 5.8%
Hispanic 3.6%
26.8% of nursing students in entry-level BSN programs were from minority backgrounds.
Ages -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Average age in 2013 was 46 years old
50% of the nursing workforce is close to retirement
Increased number of working RNs under age 30, offsets the increasing number of nurses age 60 or
older who continue to work.
Pathways for nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
,(1) 4-year education at a college or university conferring a BSN degree;
(2) 2-year education at a community college or technical school conferring an associate degree in
nursing (ADN); and
(3) a diploma in nursing, awarded after the successful completion of a hospital-based program that
typically takes 3 years to complete, including prerequisite courses that may be taken at another
school.
Nurses working in 2008: 45% have ADN; 35% BSN and higher; 18% diploma
Places of work -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Primary work site for RNs-hospitals 62.2%
7.8% community health/public health settings
10.5% ambulatory care settings
5.3% extended care/nursing home settings
Remaining percentage in schools, government agencies, state boards of nursing, insurance
companies
NPs -
CORRECT|ANSWER
nurse practitioners
CNSs -
CORRECT|ANSWER
clinical nurse specialists
CNMs -
CORRECT|ANSWER
certified nurse-midwives
CRNAs -
CORRECT|ANSWER
certified registered nurse anesthetists
,Clinical ladder -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Multi-step program that begins with entry-level staff nurse positions
With experience, continuing education, pursuance of more education/certification, nurses can move
up the ladder
Salaries and responsibilities increase as one moves up the ladder
Nursing Work -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Hospital-based nursing
Community health nursing
Occupational health nursing
Military nursing
School nursing
Hospice and palliative care nursing
Telehealth nursing
Faith community nursing
Nursing informatics
Travel nursing
Nursing opportunities requiring advanced degrees -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Nurse educators
APNs: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, and certified registered
nurse anesthetis
Hospital-based nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Primary work-site for nurses
Numerous opportunities available (med-surg, ICU, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric)
, Educational requirements range from diploma and associate degrees to doctoral degrees depending
on the position
Community health nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Initially created by Lillian Wald when she established the Henry Street Settlement in NYC
Now a broad field encompassing both public health nursing and home health nursing
Variety of work settings—ambulatory clinics, health departments, hospices, home health care
Occupational health nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Hired by large companies
Provide basic health care services, health education, screenings, and emergency treatment to
employees at the worksite
Recommended that nurses in these positions hold a baccalaureate degree
Have responsibility to identify health risks to the entire work environment
Need a working knowledge of governmental regulations
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Ensure that company is following regulations
Need an understanding of workers' compensation and be able to coordinate care of injured workers
with physicians
Military nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Practice in both peace and wartime
Required to have a BSN for active duty
Enter active duty as officers and must be between ages of 21 and 46 ½ when they begin active duty
Major advantage is opportunity for advanced education
School nursing -
CORRECT|ANSWER
Need to have working knowledge of human growth and development
