Do you enjoy being a school nurse?

SchoolNurseBSN · Nov 22, 2010

School nursing is the only specialty that I can think of that you can be doing CPR one minute and combing gum out of hair the next. You hear me complain (ok a lot lately) but only here among my colleagues so that I can release the stress and move on to the business of supporting children during the most important time of their lives......their education!

smily nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

this job is NEVER boring..... I was a nurse for > 35 yrs before I went into school nursing. I need all the assessment skills that I have honed over the years. My biggest issue is diagnosing, which I legally cannot do. I have done 7 - 12 2000 students and PK - 2 250 kids. There is something new everyday. The opportunities for teaching are endless.

mycsm · Jan 11, 2011

If a child comes in wheezing, I first check to see if we have an asthma action plan, if so I give inhaler/meds. If I don't and depending on just how SEVERE the child is will determine if I call 911 or not. Once I make that judgement call, and I never second guess my first choice, I will then notify the parent. I would rather the child go bad in the ambulance than in the parents car.

Hope it helps and in response to your first post...love love love my job. Love the age group (middle school). Gave up alot of $$ to do this, but Im on same scheduke as my own kids and no weekends!! :nurse:

uthscsa2011 · Nov 6, 2012

I started as a school nurse after I graduated nursing school with my BSN. I had applied at every hospital in my town, went to interviews, no call backs. I was so sad. I interviewed for a school nurse job just for the hell of it, and to my surprise they called me back. I had to take the job because I needed a job ASAP. I took it, and I have been here for 8 months. I have to say, it is pretty boring. You have days that you are "busy", with giving pills, inhalers, putting on bandaids, ice packs. But i don't feel like i am putting my 4 yr degree to good use...not much critical thinking. Not to mention, the staff here treat me like crap. I am not respected at all. Teachers are before the nurse in any and every circumstance. Since ths is my first nursing job, I have no hospital experience and I'm finding it hard to find another job. I keep asking why has God put me HERE, of all places....still waiting to see why.

dfs1961 · Nov 6, 2012

I worked on a CRAZY medsurg telemetry floor for 5 years, fresh out of an associates/RN program. I loved the job, although I have to tell you, I felt like my license was at risk a lot of the time. I was doing med passes, insulin, wound vacs, trachs, basic nursing assessments, ICU stepdown patients (who really belonged in the ICU but they needed beds), ETOH withdrawal, drug seekers (classic abdominal pain), frequent flyers, COPD, pneumonia, IV meds, hanging blood on multiple patients during one shift, admissions, discharges, falls, incident reports, good and bad RNs to work with, etc. I worked only two 12's a week, but I have to tell you, I could not emotionally or physically work more than that. Those two days a week killed my body, my mind, and my homelife. My children missed me, I missed out on weekend events/parties, holidays, I missed summer lessons, games, etc. It was NO life for a mom, even though I only worked two days a week, the RN staff nurse/med surg job is a killer. Even though I loved the job, it took 100% of my energy while there. I am happy to report, though, that during that 5 years, the hospital I worked for paid for most of my graduate degree - I got my MSN while there.

I just started a school nurse job this past September at a large elementary, 500+ kids. The job is an 8 minute drive from my house and I work from 8am to 3pm. NO overtime, NO report to give, NO mandation, NO nothing. I walk out and am home with my beautiful kids by 3:08pm. I have every weekend off, snow days, holidays (no more working Christmas!!!!!), and I can't wait for my 1st summer off :)

The school I work at is busy, which is good, because coming from where I was, I don't think I would like being bored. I am hopping from about 10am to 1:45pm. And I mean like I don't sit down that entire time - I eat at my desk and don't take any breaks. I can get one small paper project done in the morning but then the tube feeds start at 10, then recess, med passes, etc....I spend the last hour following up with phone calls and/or wrapping up the project I was working on in the morning. I am NEVER bored, there is always something to do. I love that 99% of what I do is NOT an emergency - so unlike the hospital I was at where everyday there was a rapid response or a code. I have had to call 911 twice since September (both valid calls) so the potential for emergencies is there and I am SO glad I have my critical care experience to help me when I am the one who has to make the decision to call 911.

It helps that I have 4 kids of my own and have had personal experience with headlice, strep, fevers, cuts, bruises, broken bones, etc. I actually enjoy headlice and the challenge of it.

Parents can suck sometimes, but as long as you have your medical knowledge and the policies to back you up, they can pound sand. My Principal is great and trusts me 100%.

The paperwork can be daunting, but I just put my radio on and my spaceheater to keep me warm and I plug away at it. I guess I have 5 years of perspective knowing first hand how crappy it can be working as a staff nurse. Paperwork is easy and although a burden, I get through it with no problem. It beats running out like a chicken with your head cut off on a hospital floor, crying in the bathroom because some patient's family just screamed at you, never getting a break, no time to pee, potentially killing someone by pushing the wrong IV med, working with lazy staff who don't turn patients or clean them properly and now you own the stage III bedsore. NO THANKS.

I feel incredibly lucky to have my job. I am compensated well for the hours I work and what I do. I feel like a normal person. I get off work at 3 and then have the rest of the day to live, do what I want, be a part of the land of the living, rather than carrying myself home after a 12+ hour shift, or, never feeling rested because I had to work 3 overnights in a row.

misty_dawn · Nov 7, 2012

I feel incredibly lucky to have my job. I am compensated well for the hours I work and what I do. I feel like a normal person. I get off work at 3 and then have the rest of the day to live, do what I want, be a part of the land of the living, rather than carrying myself home after a 12+ hour shift, or, never feeling rested because I had to work 3 overnights in a row.

Exactly how I feel....very well said. I love my job and have only gone home 1 day exhausted this school year. I feel that I have made the best choice for me and my family!

kegreat · Dec 5, 2012

I subbed as a school nurse for about 2 years on and off (mostly on) before finding a permanent position. I have never worked in a hospital but I do have my BSN. I do like shcool nursing. Is it boring sometimes? Yes. But I listen to music and find something to do to occupy my time. It isn't always boring. Also I like the hours, as most people say. I like being home to help my kids with hw, instead of getting home at 9PM and my kids are in bed. I worked in an ambulatory clinic and I was always running around doing x,y and z. I didn't think I could uphold that for years. The pay isn't the best, but you can always work during the summer per diem, or get an evening job a couple of nights a week. The only reason I would leave is if I find a position that pays WAY more, but the days off are definately a keeper!!!

Also, you can go back to school while doing school nursing. The hours are great for that !!!

100kids, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2012

For me this job is perfect. I am never bored. I work in a very small school but there is always someone who needs me, a project that needs to be worked on, a plan to come up with, a policy to research, etc. I love the days I go home and know I made a difference to a child that day. I comforted them when their mom wasn't there, I caught that they need glasses, I educated them about their disease and how to manage it, I helped a parent figure something out. Being both a nurse and a mom myself has prepared me well for this job. I love getting my own kid off the bus at 3:30 and the summers off and vacation weeks can't be beat.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Dec 5, 2012

Hardest job I have ever loved!

jk82 · Dec 11, 2012

I know this is an old post...however I would like to share my input.

I worked as a sub nurse for a special education program which at times was quite busy and other times quite boring. School nurse jobs in my area are hard to find so when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it!!

Here I am a school nurse and now I'm Bored out of my mind!! Some days I want to pull my hair out I'm so bored!! I do work at a private school with overall healthy children. An occasional nebulizer treatment is as exciting as it gets around here!

I also have an infant at home and it's really hard to leave everyday. THe pay isn't good and there are no benefits. Only get paid when you work. The perks are the schedule!! But too bad I'm picking up shifts at the hospital when school is not is session...I need to for the money since I'm not getting paid from school on those days! So much for that great schedule!

I try to tell myself this will be great when my kids are in school, and I really did take this job for the schedule...but can I handle the boredom? Not so sure especially after working as a peds nurse in a level 1 trauma children's hospital!!

Also they say this job is great for a mom...but what about when my kids are in school and I want to volunteer in their classrooms or go on field trips? Not going to happen if I have to be in school all day too! It seems it would work out better working my 2-3 12 hour shifts.

I'm thinking about returning to the hospital.

Hope my thoughts help those considering school nursing positions.

jk82 · Dec 11, 2012

I started as a school nurse after I graduated nursing school with my BSN. I had applied at every hospital in my town, went to interviews, no call backs. I was so sad. I interviewed for a school nurse job just for the hell of it, and to my surprise they called me back. I had to take the job because I needed a job ASAP. I took it, and I have been here for 8 months. I have to say, it is pretty boring. You have days that you are "busy", with giving pills, inhalers, putting on bandaids, ice packs. But i don't feel like i am putting my 4 yr degree to good use...not much critical thinking. Not to mention, the staff here treat me like crap. I am not respected at all. Teachers are before the nurse in any and every circumstance. Since ths is my first nursing job, I have no hospital experience and I'm finding it hard to find another job. I keep asking why has God put me HERE, of all places....still waiting to see why.

Agreed here!! Think it depends on what kind of school you're at!

Kafergie · Dec 11, 2012

Also they say this job is great for a mom...but what about when my kids are in school and I want to volunteer in their classrooms or go on field trips? Not going to happen if I have to be in school all day too! It seems it would work out better working my 2-3 12 hour shifts.

I am also in a private school and my kids actually attend here. I can't go to a school program or anything without kids (and parents!) coming up to me to say they have a headache, etc. Seems like common sense would say that maybe I am at my kids program also and am off the clock for 30 minutes? Very frustrating!