[Evelyn381]

School Health Nurse
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I am considering going into School Health Nursing. I have worked in the hospital setting in ICU for four years and worked in the O.R. for two years at a cosmetic surgery center while working in ICU still. I have my Associates Degree in Nursing and Bachelors Degree in Nursing and currently working on my Master's. Even an Associates Degree in Biological Sciences. I want to get away from bedside nursing. And I love working with children, but never pursued it.

If there is anyone on this forum that is a School Health Nurse or know one? How do you like it? How is the pay? (I know it is probably a lot less than hospital pay). What is your day like? Do you prefer elementary, middle, or high school? Why? Anything else you could tell me about it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time!
I look forward to hearing from you all.

[okschoolnurse]

This seems to be the most common question from non school nurses.
This will be the single most challenging job you have EVER had.
As a school nurse, (not a nurse in a school), you are mostly on your own in an educational world. You will need to learn to speak the education language. There are common everyday boo boos, tummy aches, headlice, and frequent flyers, not only from students, but from staff as well. EVERYTHING you have ever used in nursing (except for some technical skills) will be used in the school setting.
You know all the people you care for in the hospital? They live and work in the community 24/7 and their kids go to school 5 days a week.
This year, on the day before the first day of school, 5 of our high school boys were involved in a car wreck. Only 2 lived. I am still dealing with grief issues with the school kids. I had a child who lost from 82 to 69 lbs in 3 weeks (over 15% of her body weight) her physician told her the constant throwing up was just allergies and sent her home on claritin. She came to me the next day and we had to life flight her to Tulsa. She was in diabetic ketoacidosis!!! Never been diagnosed before. I have pregnant teens, abused children, suicidal teens, the list goes on and on. The educational opportunities are endless. From germs and dental hygeine in the lower grades, to puburty and stds in the middle and upper grades. Not only teaching dangers of risky behaviors, but also implementing programs to build self esteem and promote healthy behaviors.
Some schools have more medically fragile kids. Kids with tube feedings, catheterizations, o2, iv's, etc.
School nursing is as much as you make it.
visit our national site www.nasn.org to find out our scope of practice and position statement.
visit http://snp.homestead.com/ for some excellent articles on considering school nursing and the transition from hospital nursing to school nursing.
Good luck

[Evelyn381]

Originally Posted by okschoolnurse

This seems to be the most common question from non school nurses.
This will be the single most challenging job you have EVER had.
As a school nurse, (not a nurse in a school), you are mostly on your own in an educational world. You will need to learn to speak the education language. There are common everyday boo boos, tummy aches, headlice, and frequent flyers, not only from students, but from staff as well. EVERYTHING you have ever used in nursing (except for some technical skills) will be used in the school setting.
You know all the people you care for in the hospital? They live and work in the community 24/7 and their kids go to school 5 days a week.
This year, on the day before the first day of school, 5 of our high school boys were involved in a car wreck. Only 2 lived. I am still dealing with grief issues with the school kids. I had a child who lost from 82 to 69 lbs in 3 weeks (over 15% of her body weight) her physician told her the constant throwing up was just allergies and sent her home on claritin. She came to me the next day and we had to life flight her to Tulsa. She was in diabetic ketoacidosis!!! Never been diagnosed before. I have pregnant teens, abused children, suicidal teens, the list goes on and on. The educational opportunities are endless. From germs and dental hygeine in the lower grades, to puburty and stds in the middle and upper grades. Not only teaching dangers of risky behaviors, but also implementing programs to build self esteem and promote healthy behaviors.
Some schools have more medically fragile kids. Kids with tube feedings, catheterizations, o2, iv's, etc.
School nursing is as much as you make it.
visit our national site www.nasn.org to find out our scope of practice and position statement.
visit http://snp.homestead.com/ for some excellent articles on considering school nursing and the transition from hospital nursing to school nursing.
Good luck

Thanks for the response and the web addresses. I am going to take a look at it. The position I am looking at is an 11 month contract at an Elementary School that is struck with a lot of poverty and is near a military base. I look forward to the challenge if I get offered the position. Again, thanks!
Evelyn