Bravo to you school nurses!

Specialties School

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab.

I am a new nurse (8 months) who has worked 6 months in a SNF and 2 months at a hospital (med/surg). Today I was my first day as a sub nurse. It was crazy busy! It was a half day and I saw 6 head bumps (what are these kids doing?), upset tummies, a hemophiliac with a tiny laceration that took aeons to stop bleeding, tube feelings, asthmatics, trach care, meds, etc, etc, etc.

I have a 2 and 4 year old at home and eventually (when I finish my BSN and my kiddos are in school) I'd like to get into school nursing. For now I'm going to try and pick up a few days each month to get some experience while I'm in school and working at the hospital.

But I have to say I am in awe of you guys. I don't know how you even find time to eat. You are the rock stars of nursing.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

As a school nurse I can agree some days are crazy! But overall it's a great job to have : mostly healthy, happy kids, regular hours, lots of rewards, and school vacations! It sounds like you must be pretty crazy busy too, 2 little kids at home, school, and working 2 jobs! Wow, I get tired just thinking about it!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Few people have a real concept of what school nursing is all about. It is very similar to when I worked in a pediatric ER - except in my school clinic I am "IT" with no one to call on for help. Most of the stuff is routine but - you never know what may happen next. If that's for you, school nursing will be a great job since you have kids. You will always be off when they are and most districts will allow your kids to attend the school you are assigned as they pass through the grades. This is my 11 year as a school nurse at the same elementary school, PK thru 4th grade, and all of my kids have attended/attend here. Keep your foot in the door and make it known what you want to do because, here in Texas, school nurse positions don't open up that often. Good Luck!!

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

What a nice post! :)

Being a school nurse is awesome! I have my days where I am frazzled. But in general, it is great. I think that it's probably the most fun nursing job one can get! The pay does stink, though... But it's worth it!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Right on Tina....there are some days I ask myself why I didn't go to truck driving school!! But what job isn't like that - especially in nursing?

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I agree with all that has been said. And, yes, oftentimes I don't get a chance to eat. The other day I worked the whole day without even going to the bathroom.....

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School nursing is great. Most days are wonderful. Yes, there are those days when you want to crawl under a rock and never come back. But, that is true with any nursing job. I worked years in surgery before I came to school nursing, so I was already accustomed to no bathroom or lunch break:-)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I love my school nursing job! Yes, I never know what is going to walk through the door whether it be a wound requiring a band aid, a severe head injury, a broken bone, or just a need to talk. That barely touches what walks through my door on any given day.

I have worked LTC, Hospice and Psych, but this job rocks! Sometimes it gets really hard when I see some of the homes my patients come from and I just cannot help them. But I can pray for them. School nursing is not like it was years ago, because our society has become so much more complicated, which leads to more health complications. I hope to retire from this job, because I could not be happier! Hats off to all you other school nurses out there. We are sisters!!

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yes i agree, school nurses ROCK!!!

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I'll be a nursing student in the Fall. What is the average school nurse rate of pay compared to everything else? I've heard that the average RN pay is $20/hr. before differentials in this area.

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Thanks for sharing.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I'm also a school nurse, and started out subbing while working at the hospital. I subbed for a special ed district which was challenging and busy and I loved it. I now work at a private school with wealthy families and we do not accept children that require 504s/IEPs or have extensive medical needs. Students must be tested to get into the school. This can prove to make things a little boring at times, but the kids are fun! The only negatives I have are that I do get bored a lot and the pay is not good. The schedule is awesome, but I am hourly so I only get paid when the students are in school so I up having to pick up hospital hours on vacations/ summers and no school days anyway. If this could become a full time salaried position, it would be great!

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