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Strengthening Your Leadership Presence and Management Practices
School nurses play a vital role in ensuring the health and wellness of their entire school community. As a participant in the SHIELD Strengthening Your Leadership Presence and Management Practices course, you will develop competencies and strategies to expand your personal leadership and management skills, ensure equitable care, and advance student achievement and health.
SHIELD's Strengthening Your Leadership Presence and Management Practices is a 3-month cohort-based learning experience for experienced, new, and aspiring school nurse leaders.
Key Features
Curriculum Highlights
| COURSE TIMELINEEnrollment Cap at 30 Participants March 4 - May 13, 2025 (Detailed dates in FAQ) Online | $520 Other questions? Check our FAQs! | |
 | eLearning | |
 | Other Self-Paced Activities | |
 | Live Webinars | |
 | Peer Networking | |
Email shieldlm@bu.edu with any questions. | ||
►Who should attend? (Select "Who should attend?" to open)
Experienced, new, or aspiring school nurse leaders.
►Program Faculty & Experts
Beverly Heinze-Lacey, MPH, BSN, RN
Program Director, BU SHIELD
Susan Franchi, DNP, FNP-C, RN
SHIELD Course Development and Nurse Training Specialist
This program is also supported by School Nurse Leadership Experts. Learn More (new window).
►Advisory Board
Our advisory board was led by Boston University School of Public Health's DrPH student, Pennie Theodorou, DrPH, MPH.
View our advisory board (new window) that was active in 2021 to provide SHIELD with guidance for the design, development, and implementation of a school nurse leadership program that enhances the ability of school nurses to act as leaders and change agents for advancing the health of communities and school-aged children.
►Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the program suitable for new school nurse leaders?
Yes, the program is suitable for new or aspiring school nurse leaders.
I am a school nurse outside of Massachusetts. Can I participate in this program?
Yes, you can participate if you work as a school nurse outside of Massachusetts. While the program was originally designed with Massachusetts school nurses in mind, enrollment is now open to all school nurses.
Do I need to travel to Boston for any of these sessions?
No, the program is conducted online. There are live webinars each month.
When will the live webinars take place?
The cohort course will take place twice a year; in the fall and in the spring.
The live webinars will occur virtually via Zoom for both sessions. The spring 2025 cohort course dates are below.
Webinar Dates:
- Tuesday, March 4th, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET
- Tuesday, March 18th, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET
- Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET
- Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET
- Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET
Stay tuned for fall 2025 dates!
What is the time commitment for participation in the program?
We estimate 20.5 hours over the course of three months.
Do I need to participate in the live webinars?
Yes. Full attendance of the program (including all of the live webinars) is required to receive your credits and certificate.
Are there any prerequisites for this cohort course?
Yes. Enrollment in The Essentials of School Nurse Leadership (eLearning) is required to be able to register for this cohort course (additional fee).
- If you already completed the eLearning, you do not need to complete it again and may register for this cohort.
- If you haven't enrolled in the eLearning, you can complete it prior to the start of the cohort course or concurrently with it.
What payment methods are accepted?
We accept credit cards and purchase orders. Purchase orders can be requested at registration; select "shield invoice."
Are there scholarships available?
Yes. If you are unable to afford the fee, please email us at shieldlm@bu.edu. The inability to pay the fee will not automatically bar you from joining the course. Requests for waivers will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
What does my enrollment give me access to?
Enrollment includes not only the course materials but also access to a curated learning library, The Nuts and Bolts of Nursing Leadership: Your Toolkit for Success by Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Gallup's CliftonStrengths, and networking opportunities with other school nurses and mentors in the program.
Does the program offer any education credits?
Yes. The program offers continuing nursing education (CNE) and Professional Development Point (PDP) credits.
Other questions?
Email us at shieldlm@bu.edu.
►Accreditation Information
In support of improving patient care, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Nursing Contact Hours: 20.50 contact hours, of which 0 are eligible for pharmacology credit.
SHIELD is a DESE-approved provider for PDPs. PDP certificates are issued for programs/series lasting 10 or more hours on a topic. CNE certificates are also issued for eligible courses. Learners may use CNE certificates toward PDPs.