Struggling with poor pay and a love for School Nursing

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In my area of the state school nurses are extremely under paid. My particular school district is the worst of all the surrounding districts by thousands of dollars a year. We are $15,000-20,000 below the bottom of the pay scale for other Registered Nurses in the area, not working in the school setting. The nurses in my district have been advocating for better pay. I personally, fully support this effort. Lately though, I have been struggling with what I am going to do if the increase to the nursing pay scale is not approved by our school board. It has been turned down before.

In my state nurses are not mandatory in schools, so districts have no incentive to make pay competitive or even on the same playing field. I am feeling very taken advantage of, in light of all that I have learned lately in preparation for advocating for better pay. I truly love my job. I have been a nurse for ten years and this has been my favorite place to work. Any advice on how to proceed?

Specializes in School Nursing.

At the district I am in the pay scale is the same as teachers. It is less than nurses salary, but I work in a school so I'm okay with a teachers salary (since we have similar educational requirements (min bachelor's degree, professional licensure or certification, etc.) It sounds to me that in your district, pay isn't on a firm scale. It may be time to discuss this with your admin or HR.

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Specializes in NCSN.
If this remains true today it is more valuable than words can illustrate. Your kids are only on loan from God and will be little only once; no do-overs. I know it's difficult to swallow the bitter pill of other nurses doing the same thing making more money than you, but really, it's not relevant to YOUR reality. The unhappiness you are experiencing is a product of your imagination. Your day to day life and environment would remain the same if other nurses in the area made more than you, were paid the same as you, or made less than you.

I was born at night, but I wasn't born last night...so, I'm simply trying to offer you another perspective.

I agree with olddude. It does stink that others in your district are making more than you, but that does not impact the job you do.

I also took a big pay cut when I switched to school nursing, but the extra time I have with my daughter makes it all worth it for me. Focus on the positives while you are fighting for better pay.

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I would have an issue with being paid less than others doing the same job as I do also. I'd be interested to know the reason for the discrepancy.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry, Skilled, School Nursing.
Why are you paid so much less? I would try to figure that out. Maybe you are entitled to a raise.

This is part of what I have been looking into and although I feel there is an issue I have not been able to find grounds for an increase in my pay or that they legally owe me any additonal compensation. I haven't taken it to Human Resources yet, because I am trying to educate myself on the issue and also I am afraid of stirring up a hornets nest before the school board votes on possible pay increases.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry, Skilled, School Nursing.
If this remains true today it is more valuable than words can illustrate. Your kids are only on loan from God and will be little only once; no do-overs. I know it's difficult to swallow the bitter pill of other nurses doing the same thing making more money than you, but really, it's not relevant to YOUR reality. The unhappiness you are experiencing is a product of your imagination. Your day to day life and environment would remain the same if other nurses in the area made more than you, were paid the same as you, or made less than you.

I was born at night, but I wasn't born last night...so, I'm simply trying to offer you another perspective.

I love this OldDude. Thank you for your kind and uplifting words. I think this is where my personal struggle begins. I took this position for a list of reasons. Some of those have changed. I want to advocate for all the nurses in my district. We all deserve better. The question for me personally, is how long do I fight this battle before it becomes invaluable to my family, leading me to move on and how do I move forward with this battle in a way that is smart, ethical, and sheds light on the injustices occurring?

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Are nurses in your district given raises based on years of service. A nurse in my district with many years of employment are paid more than a first year nurse. And years of service are based on being employed by a school district, not years of nursing experience.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I love this OldDude. Thank you for your kind and uplifting words. I think this is where my personal struggle begins. I took this position for a list of reasons. Some of those have changed. I want to advocate for all the nurses in my district. We all deserve better. The question for me personally, is how long do I fight this battle before it becomes invaluable to my family, leading me to move on and how do I move forward with this battle in a way that is smart, ethical, and sheds light on the injustices occurring?

I believe you have a real grasp of fact versus fantasy. I don't know you but God knows you and He knows who I've sent the prayer for. Don't be a stranger...we all are hopeful and wishing you the best!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry, Skilled, School Nursing.
Are nurses in your district given raises based on years of service. A nurse in my district with many years of employment are paid more than a first year nurse. And years of service are based on being employed by a school district, not years of nursing experience.

The pay scale is based on experience. The type of experience is part of our current debate. My education level is the reason for the pay gap between myself and my peers. Although this issue will be resolved soon, as I am finishing a BSN.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry, Skilled, School Nursing.
I believe you have a real grasp of fact versus fantasy. I don't know you but God knows you and He knows who I've sent the prayer for. Don't be a stranger...we all are hopeful and wishing you the best!

I really appreciate this. I certainly need the prayers and I came to this forum looking for guidance and support from my peers, so I value everyone's uplifting remarks and encouragement.

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Specializes in Emergency / Disaster.
The question for me personally, is how long do I fight this battle before it becomes invaluable to my family, leading me to move on and how do I move forward with this battle in a way that is smart, ethical, and sheds light on the injustices occurring?

I am not a nurse yet - but I am a mom. I gave up my career as a database programmer to be a mom. I struggled as a single mom for years. I homeschooled my daughter once she reached 6th grade. When she was a Jr. in HS - I went back to college to finish my first degree. The flexibility I had to be with her daily and to home school her was worth every sacrifice I made. Now that she's in college - I'm going to Nursing School. Even at this point - I'm choosing not to use my degree in Homeland Security because I don't want to move away from my aging mother and grandmother. I don't want to say that you can attach an actual dollar amount to items but you can attach a value of some sort - mental stability, marital stability, availability to be home if you have a sick child.... all these items change in value and worth as your children age (and as your parents age if you are lucky enough to still have them). If you leave your position because it is the best choice for you, it doesn't mean that you have to walk away from the injustices to those that remain - you will just have to fight from a different position (and sometimes its more beneficial because you don't have anything to lose). Best of luck in your choices.

Oh - for me I found it was most helpful to write down my options, my thoughts surrounding them, my final choice and why I chose it. Re-reading my choices helped me remember what I was fighting for on the tough days when I was convinced I made a mistake. Money is not always the answer and sometimes this is hard to remember.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

hurricanekat...being a mom...enough said. Your post makes me smile. Only mom's can relate:happy:

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

I don't have any advice, but I just want to add a few comments. I'm underpaid in my LTC/Rehab facility, and I haven't stayed there as long as I have on purpose... health worries and not feeling very well too often kept me there for quite a while - it was easier to stick with the tried n' true rather than do some new, potentially harder/more stressful thing since I wasn't feeling very well in the first place.

But even though I DO need to leave there now, and am slowly working on it, I'll add that intangibles help sometimes. I haven't only lately gotten compliments from residents and family members, but it seems to be happening more often lately. I still should be paid more, but that does help a bit. That and a dr. telling me on my shift today that I probably saved someone's life.

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