[UnitRN01]

Hello School Nurses!

I'm considering a school nurse position and was wondering if anyone has worked part-time at the school (3 days/week)? I would like this job, but the pay is so low (18K/yr), that I would like to do it part time, and still work at the hospital PRN. Any ideas on suggesting this to the school corp?

Thanks,
UnitRN01

[luvschoolnursing]

Is the position offered for 3 days/week? If it is I think it's a great opportunity to try out school nursing while keeping your hospital skills up.
School nursing is totally different from hospital nursing. Some of us love it and some can't wait to get away from it. This might be a good chance for you to find out.

[cxg174]

I agree with you, but I doubt if the school will. They want continuity. I have seen lots of "aide" jobs over the years that I would have loved- if I could do it part-time and keep my other job. Schools always want a regular person 5 days a week. You could work as a sub and still keep your other job. I did that for many years and just last year finally committed to a full time position. I still work another job to make ends meet though. You can suggest a job share, especially if you know someone who would share with you. That way they could get away with no benefits and save $$$.

[ClinicCarrie]

In our county a lot of schools allow the "clinic assistants" to coshare a job. I do 2 days a week (no benefits) and my partner does the other 3 with benefits. She gets a salary, I get hourly. I don't know if this occurs in other places, but it's probably worth checking out with the schools in your area.

[bergren]

I did a three day per week in one school setting and 2 days in hospital and loved it - best of both worlds.

[manna1qd]

A school district near us posted a pt position. If you are proposing the part time when only fulltime is available, find out if the contract stipulates that ft may not be converted to pt. If there isn't any stipulation, see if you can present it with someone else as a job share, first to the "head nurse" or who ever is the nurse in charge. The pluses of job share are: no benefits likely to be paid out; two people instead of one to cover extra shifts; possible to schedule you both on the same day if the week's coverage needs it and permits it. One snag in the hospital I worked for was if one person was off or quit, the other had to cover the shifts so the ft position was not left empty. That would be a hardship but maybe worth the extra work if a replacement could be found. Good luck.

[MelissaJaneRN]

Depends on what state laws are. Its worth asking though!