Q about vacations/days off

[adpiRN]

I'm thinking about applying for a part-time school nurse position in my public school district but one thing holding me back is the schedule.

Having all those breaks and summers off is awesome, but I like to take my son out of school while he's young for trips to Disney etc (when crowds are lower...)

I'm used to having that flexibility.

As a school nurse are you allowed any time off outside of the school vacations?

[JessePacificNW]

Though I suppose you would probably be allowed some sick days or time off for bereavement I wouldn't think as a part time school nurse you would get a lot. Also why would you need to pull your child out of school and interrupt his education to go to dizzy-land when you would have all school holidays (including a long Thanksgiving, long Christmas/New Years and long spring break as well as all summers off? Plus you'd also have lots of parent teacher conference days here and there off making for quite a few three day weekends as well.

[adpiRN]

Because school breaks are when everyone goes so prices and crowds are at their peak!

And I'm not too worried about interrupting his education for the next few years. (He's 2 :) )

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

typically your schedule is the student's schedule. Some districts may grant personal days with or without reasons that you can arrange around weekends for a getaway - but for the most part - we don't get a week's worth of vacation time to just take when we please. And if you're working part time, depending on your contract, your personal days may be very limited.

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

In our district full time employees get 3 personal days a year they can take for any reason only if they can find coverage for them. Not sure how many part timers get but it's less. We're given enough time off with holiday breaks and summers they don't really want you using school time for vacation. However, I have known some who save up their days and take a week at a time occasionally.

[100kids, BSN, RN]

I can take a day here or there (I get 3 personal days for each year) but no I couldn't take a week while school is in session.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

The only school nurses that I know who took a week or more time off were for personal medical issues (medical leave) FMLA (personal health (cancer) or critically ill family member) or death of a primary family member (bereavement). I have a lot of educators in my family, no one has been successful taking time off during the academic year for personal vacation. There is considered sufficient time on breaks & school vacations. Some alternate summers worked, one year work next year take dream vacation with extra funds from year prior.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Ha. My mother has worked in the same school district for 20 years and gets 3 personal days. Can't take 2 in a row either. She took one and came with me on a long weekend to Florida this spring. She flew home on Sunday mid-day while I stayed until Tuesday night. She has never been allowed to take a vacation outside of the school's designated vacations.

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

Just my personal opinion but I really think if you are looking to take time off when there are not any breaks then you really should not do school nurse even just part-time.

Schools really depend on the nurse if they hire them to begin with and many times they are unable to get someone to fill the spot of a nurse who is away.

Maybe, you can look into sub nursing if you are in a larger city and sign up with a few districts or agency if you really want to do school nursing.

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

Plus you'd also have lots of parent teacher conference days here and there off making for quite a few three day weekends as well.

That's not true in all districts. In my district nurses are required to work all parent/teacher conference days unless an emergency.