Probably leaving school nursing...

Specialties School

Published

Specializes in Peds, Neuro, Orthopedics.

Hey all!

I'm finishing my first year of school nursing in 2.5 weeks, and I love the job. The kids are great, I love the variety, the independence and being the one and only medical expert in the building (of course there's a few teachers who think they know more than I do... they don't know what they don't know) but I'm not happy with my school assignment, and there's currently no schools to change to in my city.

I've looked around my state and am now branching out to other states, but the pay is just so god-awful everywhere else. I'm also concerned about moving to one of these states where state workers don't pay into SS, as I've been paying into SS for years now and have been told it can really hurt you in the long-run if you stop paying in, so that cuts out a chunk of the country. And I won't touch a fly-by-night charter school with a 10-foot pole.

Any advice for where I can move to and stay a school nurse?

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Specializes in School nursing.

Well, I work at an established charter school and really enjoy it. But my state have very high standards for charter schools and I do realize that may vary. But my school is also one where I don't pay into social security. But I do get a pension, so not a bad trade off for me! However, while the pay is better in MA, the cost of living is very high. But I love living here.

(PS: if you have paid into SS for 10 years, you will still get to draw on SS when you retire. The amount may vary.)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

I also work in a Charter School (also in MA) and LOVE it!! I am sure they can vary by state, but I wouldn't totally write them off without lookinf into them seriously, you might be surprised.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I thought I'd be leaving at the end of this school year as well. I'm switching districts next year to see if that helps the situation. I will also be working in the same school my kids attend which will be a huge bonus. If I still don't like it after one more year then I'll probably plan on going back to the NICU but I might have to wait until my youngest is out of elementary school which won't be for 5 more years. She's so excited for Mommy to work at her school I wouldn't have the heart to disappoint her. Although maybe in a year or two she'll be too cool to acknowledge that she even knows me. LOL

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
I'm also concerned about moving to one of these states where state workers don't pay into SS, as I've been paying into SS for years now and have been told it can really hurt you in the long-run if you stop paying in, so that cuts out a chunk of the country.

I work in state government in one of those states. A coworker who recently retired said that the hit isn't as much as you would think, and the reason that states do this in the first place is that you will get more from your state retirement than you would have gotten from Social Security. I am within 5-7 years of finding out for myself.

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

I am also leaving school nursing at the end of this year. My fiance got a new job and we are moving back to the Tomato part of my username next month. You need a certification or masters credits to work as a school nurse, neither of which I have yet, so it's back to the hospital for me. I am going to miss this schedule! I will not, however, miss the pay.

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Specializes in kids.
I am also leaving school nursing at the end of this year. My fiance got a new job and we are moving back to the Tomato part of my username next month. You need a certification or masters credits to work as a school nurse, neither of which I have yet, so it's back to the hospital for me. I am going to miss this schedule! I will not, however, miss the pay.

Best of luck to you! Hang around and check in on us!!

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
Best of luck to you! Hang around and check in on us!!

Of course! And Pink Wednesdays forever!

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Specializes in school/military/OR/home health.

Are you in Minnesota? Because I'm on the east coast and have no less than 6 nurses retiring this year. I'm not sure it's a popular job here because they had to run the ad for my job for a month before I saw it. They literally only interviewed one person (me) and of course they hired me (they had no choice lol). Our state law is one RN per school, no matter how small the school.

If you don't mind the extreme change from Minnesota Nice it may be worth a look (my brother has lived in MN for 15 years and is still amazed at how nice people are compared to here).

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Specializes in Peds, Neuro, Orthopedics.
Are you in Minnesota? Because I'm on the east coast and have no less than 6 nurses retiring this year. I'm not sure it's a popular job here because they had to run the ad for my job for a month before I saw it. They literally only interviewed one person (me) and of course they hired me (they had no choice lol). Our state law is one RN per school, no matter how small the school.

If you don't mind the extreme change from Minnesota Nice it may be worth a look (my brother has lived in MN for 15 years and is still amazed at how nice people are compared to here).

I've PM'ed you.

I am continuing to look if anyone has more suggestions. :yes:

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