From ER RN to School RN...is there anyone out there?

RN4STUDENTS · Jul 25, 2013

I was lucky enough to get a school nurse position right out of school. I love it I have so much time to spend with the kids and most of my other nurse friends complain about one thing or another, I have nothing to complain about.. I think you'll love it much different from where you are now.

Mother-Baby-Nurse · Jul 26, 2013

Autonomy as a School Nurse is really great as long as you have great compassion for the parents wishes and needs... I worked as an elementary school nurse for five years and absolutely loved it, my principals were awesome and the faculty very supportive. Some teachers never send their kids and some send several every day so they don't have to deal with them... Well, that said, I believe you will find this type of job change very rewarding and great if you have school age children yourself.

Just remember you cannot claim social security and federal retirement, you have to chose one or the other; which I have just learned recently... Not quite fair since you earned every penny. So something to investigate and think about for your retirement. Good luck!

ERRNDeans · Jul 26, 2013

Thank you, my husband and I were speaking about that issue last night. I still have to ask some more questions like, do you get paid over the holiday breaks? I am thinking no.

schooldistrictnurse · Jul 26, 2013

Many school systems will allow you to divide your pay over calendar year so that you are paid even when not working. My two week pay is consistent even over the summer, Christmas, etc. I hope you are successful in this search!

Nurse ABC · Jul 28, 2013

I went from a fast-paced L&D unit to school nursing many years ago which is sort of similar. The biggest hurdle for me was the excitement factor. School nursing is so much more laid back and at times I would get bored. (Busy, but not challenged a lot.) I've been back to the hospital a couple times and have decided I do prefer school nursing. I really enjoy working with kids, the autonomy, the environment, the normal schedule, the excitement you feel in the air around holidays, snow days, summer and spring breaks, the start of a new school year, etc. Everything is not all life and death all the time and you have time to concentrate on wellness and prevention. Families can be a pain, lice is always a pain, certain teachers who send you all their kids all the time get annoying but compared to drug seekers, psych patients, all the hospital politics, etc it's not as difficult to deal with (for me anyway) and all jobs have their ups and downs. I think the biggest hurdle is the cut in pay-it's quite a bit but if you can afford it and it doesn't bother you, then it's worth it. We only work 200 days a year so when you factor in you're not working as much it helps and some nurses stay per diem to supplement their salaries and keep skills fresh. I do think it feels more like a social work type job sometimes than a nursing job. If you're really on the fence, keep your foot in the door at the hospital. Every school is different-some are great and some you hate. It's not for everyone but it may be the change your looking for. Good luck!

Nurse ABC · Jul 28, 2013

Oh and you go from hourly to salary and we have the option of spreading ours checks out over the entire year (two checks a month). However, some school districts do it differently than ours so definitely call and ask!!

Wave Watcher · Jul 28, 2013

We get paid once a month and it is spread out over 12 months. I still received a paycheck during our summer break. Good luck!

MassED, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2013

Hello,
I just finished an interview for a school nurse in a nearby district. I think it went very well. I have a feeling they will be calling me back and offering me the job.
Any other ex-ER RN's out there that made this similar transition? I am assuming it will be hard at first but I will adjust.
I know the pay is less, but with school age children, the schedule in my mind makes up for the less pay. No weekends, holidays, or on call is a beautiful thing. Plus I think the ER is becoming a bit to stressful for me. For example, lately I find myself almost in tears when I am talking to a psych patient who I can't help/fix besides giving them sedatives and holding them in the ER until the county comes out to see them. The system is so broken, I hate what it does to people.
The reason why I chose to seek a school nurse position was because I feel like I would have a lot of autonomy, and I think it would be fun, challenging and rewarding. I really like kids and would like to be a positive influence for them.
I have been working in the ER for about 15 years, I have a BSN and I am almost forty and needing a change. I already have CEN, TNCC, ECRN, Anyone out there in a similar boat? Did you make this transition and like/hate it?
Thank you.

I haven't read the other posts yet. I am going to sub as a school nurse in my district. I am a full-time ER nurse for now, night shift, and don't plan on leaving any time soon. I think if I can get myself into the system and set myself up for a job later as a full-time school nurse, I might do it then (post ER world one day). I think it's a tough full-time job to get into where I live. I have a varied schedule right now and it works for me right now. I don't think I want to do nights forever. I don't think everyone can physically last in an ER. I work with so many people with back, knee, hip problems, and I don't want to be that way. I don't think I will, since I am pretty resilient and strong and see no signs of fading so far, but you never know.

I do see the pull of no weekends, no holidays, summers off, etc., as a huge perk. I do love having days off during the week and being away from the rest of the working people. I don't feel the need to have weekends off with the rest of the world.

Are you not working ER anymore?

MassED, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2013

Autonomy as a School Nurse is really great as long as you have great compassion for the parents wishes and needs... I worked as an elementary school nurse for five years and absolutely loved it, my principals were awesome and the faculty very supportive. Some teachers never send their kids and some send several every day so they don't have to deal with them... Well, that said, I believe you will find this type of job change very rewarding and great if you have school age children yourself.
Just remember you cannot claim social security and federal retirement, you have to chose one or the other; which I have just learned recently... Not quite fair since you earned every penny. So something to investigate and think about for your retirement. Good luck!

really?

ERRNDeans · Jul 29, 2013

Thanks for all of the comments, I hear today about the school nurse job. I am pretty sure I got it, I just want to see what my rate is, benefits, etc. We do get paid through the holidays and summer so that's good.

I decided to stay on PRN in the ER. I really do love the ER, it's just that I need a complete change. In our ER, nurses have a lot of autonomy and we basically order everything before the doc comes in. The docs are wonderful and we all work very well together. It's a great gig. But I feel like I work on a conveyor belt, "line,lab,medicate, repeat" And the "exciting patients" like the acute MI/cardiac arrest are not as exciting to me anymore.

I want to be there on the holidays and for school functions/sports games/coaching softball for my kids. I am pretty excited all around to do school nursing!

Thanks, will post an update about wages,etc. I am sure you are all on the edge of your seats :yes:

Marisette, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2013

Thanks for the update. Please keep us posted after your on the job a couple months. I would love to know the perspective of an ER nurse who goes into school nursing.