Do you need a BSN to be a school nurse?

[nurse1109]

Hi everyone. I am currently an associates degree RN thinking about going back to school for my BSN. In nursing school my best clinical days were school nursing, I loved it! These jobs are hard to come by though. Do most schools want BSN nurses? The pay does not seem that great. Just curious what some of your salaries are and do you get the same benefits as the teachers? (I am learning money is not everything though as I am always tired and stressed from my hospital bedside staff nurse job!)

[Freedom42]

Some states do legally require that school nurses have bachelor's degrees.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Yes, it will vary from state to state and even district to district. Try contacting the districts close to you that you are interested in working for eventually and see what their requirements are. Good luck!

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

Tennessee doesn't require a BSN, or even an RN. I'm a LPN and I'm qualified to be a school nurse as long as I'm under an RN (our county nurse supervisor is an RN and oversees all of the LPNs in our district). Like the PP said, it varies from state to state.

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

To be a "School Nurse" in most states, but not all, require a BSN and a school nurse exam. But to be a nurse that works at a school, you only need to be an LVN/LPN or an RN.

Clear as mud, LOL?

[bergren]

The Journal of School Nursing published an article December 2009 about the education requirements in each state: Sign In — The Journal of School Nursing

Praeger, S., & Zimmerman, B. (2009). State regulations for school nursing practice , Journal of School Nursing, 25: 466-477.

"A baccalaureate degree for the RN was specified in 25 states; 9 of those states

stipulate the baccalaureate degree needs to be in nursing (BSN) or its equivalent"

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Not only a BSN here in CA . . .but you have to have your school nurse certification which means more college classes.

You can get a temporary permit and take 5 years to get your schooling completed.

The pay is not that great but you do get medical/dental/vision/life insurance. And you get to spend more time with your own children. It works for now.

Plus - I did ER, L&D, med-surg for almost 10 years. 12 hours shift. Worked weekends and holidays. I would never want to go back to that.