Considering school nurse position

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Hey everybody! I'm considering trying for a school nurse position in my local district, so what's the good and bad of the job? I know the pay sucks ($14000--$21000 annual salary) but the hours would be MUCH better than where I'm at now. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks!

Oh, I've been an LPN for 7 years and have only worked in clinic/office settings but do have experience in asthma/allergy/ENT.

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T-Bird78,

I worked pretty much all internal medicine and family practice before I changed to a high school ( 9-12). The first month, I had 1600 students to myself. They did finally hire a second nurse, but we are in separate offices 2 buildings apart.

Pros:

Watching these students grow and change into more mature adults.

Getting to know my frequent fliers and helping them change to NOT frequent fliers

Hearing my name and HI!! in the halls and cafeteria

SCHEDULE!!!

No more PA/insurance authorizations

Hardly any phone time

Cons:

Salary

Some parents/some teachers

Nursing and education setting can be hard to mix---if you're lucky you will get a faculty that listens to what you have to say ( by the way, I HAVE AWESOME, SUPPORTIVE ADMINISTRATION!! that has made things MUCH better!)

EVERYTHING is an emergency to the kids.

Paperwork ( we are not yet electronic)

Not knowing everything changing in the medical world. I had a student come in on a new medication and I did not know what it was. When I was in internal medicine, I was able to know these things with all the drug reps. Although I read medical journals and such, I still feel like my brain is getting smaller!

It's a rewarding, yet tiring job. You have to trust your judgment and don't let the teachers walk all over you.

I'm not sure if I will be staying. I believe you have to try everything once.

Although, a bad day in the school is not worse than a bad day in my old clinic!!! Did I say that right? I'd rather have a bad day here than at the clinic---yall know what I mean :)

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Really really REALLY be sure you can handle the salary cut. if I leave, this will be the reason.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Don't let the salary mislead you. I work as a full time school nurse - 37 weeks a year; 185 days. You'd probably make near, or the same salary, if you worked only 37 weeks a year on a hospital floor. School Nurses in my district are on the same pay scale as teachers. If I make this same comparison regarding our district pay scale I would actually make more per hour working as a school nurse versus a hospital floor nurse. People don't believe me when I tell them teachers make more than nurses until I break it down. The difference is school nursing gives you the flexibility to work as much during the 15 weeks you're away from school or as little as you want to work. Or if you want to pick up prn shifts throughout the year school nursing opens you up every weekend for that. I generated 15k last year working pool at a local pediatric urgent care clinic. I picked when I wanted to work; when it was convenient for me. One thing for sure - if you don't give it a shot you already know what your options will be.

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Don't let the salary mislead you. I work as a full time school nurse - 37 weeks a year; 185 days. You'd probably make near, or the same salary, if you worked only 37 weeks a year on a hospital floor. School Nurses in my district are on the same pay scale as teachers. If I make this same comparison regarding our district pay scale I would actually make more per hour working as a school nurse versus a hospital floor nurse. People don't believe me when I tell them teachers make more than nurses until I break it down. The difference is school nursing gives you the flexibility to work as much during the 15 weeks you're away from school or as little as you want to work. Or if you want to pick up prn shifts throughout the year school nursing opens you up every weekend for that. I generated 15k last year working pool at a local pediatric urgent care clinic. I picked when I wanted to work; when it was convenient for me. One thing for sure - if you don't give it a shot you already know what your options will be.

This is good advice is you're in a state or district that pays on the teacher scale.

I am not salaried, I am hourly for 8 hours a day, 180 days a year. My hourly wage at the school is $5 less an hour than it is at my second job. If I was on the teacher pay scale, broken down hourly I would be making $6 more per hour than I currently do or an additional $8,640/year.

I'm not trying to be a downer here... I'm feeling extra salty on my payscale right now since I've recently been talking with the other nurse's about our contract negotiations.

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Right now I make $18.30/hour working about 38 hours a week, so even the top end of the pay scale for the school nurse job would be a cut of $12,000 annually. My husband makes very good money, and I know I couldn't go out to lunch (my bad habit here--too close to certain restaurants!) and I could try PRN during the summer. I'm going to go for it and hope it works out! All my jobs have had ped and adult pts so I'm familiar with the ped mindset (in addition to my own two kids). I'm just worried that I'm going to second-guess myself since so much of school nursing seems to be triage, knowing when to call parents (or 911) and when they're bluffing. Wish me luck!

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Right now I make $18.30/hour working about 38 hours a week, so even the top end of the pay scale for the school nurse job would be a cut of $12,000 annually. My husband makes very good money, and I know I couldn't go out to lunch (my bad habit here--too close to certain restaurants!) and I could try PRN during the summer. I'm going to go for it and hope it works out! All my jobs have had ped and adult pts so I'm familiar with the ped mindset (in addition to my own two kids). I'm just worried that I'm going to second-guess myself since so much of school nursing seems to be triage, knowing when to call parents (or 911) and when they're bluffing. Wish me luck!

Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Well, you'd certainly second guess yourself if you didn't try it. Good luck. Keep us informed.

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Yep! We all have to try something once. I learn something new everyday!

And you will KNOW when to call 911! Trust your instincts!

Let us know how it goes! Good luck!!!!

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I make much, much less than I did when I worked in the hospital. Much less. But I work much less and I went from having 24-hr accountability for my departments to going home at 315 and having the summer off. I get fall break, Xmas break, spring break, snow days, fog delays...I have time. At this point in my life I value time much more than money. So it's all good. Not to say I don't miss my old lifestyle but overall I am much, much happier.

Most days the job is enjoyable. The kids are fun. I love the independence, although it's a little isolating. It's hard not having other medical people to bounce things off of, but overall I trust my skills and judgement so that's not as bad as you might think.

Parents can be a pain. Some want calls every time junior comes in to the clinic, some won't answer the phone. Some are respectful, some are horrible.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Supervisory, HEDIS, IT.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Working in a school can be a very rewarding job - It is definitely something I want to do in my nursing career at some point.

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Has anyone worked as a nurse for BOCES? Did you like it?

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