I have two years of psych experience in Louisiana and I would LOVE to become a school nurse. Any ideas/recommendations?? How did you become a school nurse??

I have two years of psych experience in Louisiana and I would LOVE to become a school nurse. Any ideas/recommendations?? How did you become a school nurse??

I'm not a school nurse, but I inquired about it during my school nursing clinicals, and was told that every state is different. In my state, for example, you need a Teaching certification, in addition to the nursing license. This would mean that i have to take an additional 2 full time semesters or so, of education courses, and then a teaching internship for about 1yr. So it's not that easy or quick. But there are alternate route programs in some states, where if you have a Bachelors in any field, you can get your teaching certification faster, but you have to work for the school as a teacher, under the supervision of certified teacher, and at the same time take some courses. I would do this, but it also means that I wouldn't be able to work full time in nursing.

Maybe your state is different. You need to check with the Board of nursing website for your State. There is also the National Assoc. of School Nurses which can provide info: http://www.nasn.org/

Thanks a bunch!! I didn't realize it entailed so much!!

In my state you don't have to have any formal qualifications, but even if you are an RN you get paid as an unqualified aid.