A little help from the school nurses??

[PICNICRN]

Ok, I applied for a district school nurse position in my home town. The job description states salary, schedule, and benefits "to be determined by the school board".

My question to you is.... what kind of pay should I be expecting? I am assuming it would be less than the hospital.... but is it significantly less?

Do you receive the same benefits as the teachers?

Do you work only during the school year? Or do you have things to keep you busy over the breaks?

Please forgive me if these are silly questions, I have only worked Peds critical care. I mean, I don't even know if I am the least bit qualified. I just thought this might be a good change and a new challenge.

Any advise would be appreciated.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I am in Texas and we are paid with the teacher schedule. In my case, I was a fairly new grad when I came into school nursing, so I did not take a huge paycut. I had been working nights, so the shift diff was awesome, but I did the math and I am not making THAT much less that I would have if I had gone to days, and I am tons happier!!!

At my school we have the option of working summer school for 6 weeks which is nice because it is 8-12 and you might see 20 kids all summer, whereas I usually see 20+ per day during the year. So it is an easy extra $2,000! This year I am going to try and do summer school and try to get on somewhere as a camp nurse for a 4 week session, so that will be another $1-3k depending where I go. So, with my salary and extra summer work, I will make over $50,000. Not what the experienced hospital nurses pull in, but not bad for a relatively new grad, and I am pretty much guaranteed a raise with each year of experience. Good luck!

[blueiwahine]

Enjoyed everyone's input...I too am thinking about becoming a school nurse and was curious about pay and time off. I've worked Med-surg for the last couple of years and am ready to pursue what I have wanted to do since nursing school.

[bergren]

School nursing varies greatly due to state laws. I think you will get the best advice form your state school nurse association. NASN has a link for all the states' associations: http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=60

[Laura C. RN]

I am getting ready to start as a new school nurse & have a quick question about your post. I would be at an hourly rate, but paid over 12 months....are the pays reduced during the school year to make up for the off months, or are you just paid your regular wage over the summer as part of the job benefits?

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

That is a question we cannot answer. You can see from the above posts that everything varies by state and even by district. I am paid a salary that is divided over 12 months. Our "assistant" nurses that are RN's but considered aids are paid hourly. They do not get paid over the summer or holiday time off. You will need to check with your administrator or school board to determine just how you will be paid.

Enjoy your new job and welcome to the school nurse group!!!

[noreenl]

You are definitely qualified! School nursing is not just boo-boo kissing and hugs and bandaids anymore!!! When I interview new school nurse applicants, some of them think mthat school nursing is a place to "slow down before retiring" ARE YOU KIDDING!! Kids have complex medical needs in both Special education and in regular education with special accomodation. I recommend you look at a book called Children and Youth Assisted by Medical Technology in Educational Settings 2nd edition. (Stephanie Porter is one of the Authors and she is currently working on an updated edition!) This book will give you a fair idea of the potential conditions, physical and mental that kids are dealing with today while trying to go to school Just like every other kid! Welcome to the most caring and frustrating area of nursing I have ever loved!!!:redbeathe

[SchoolNurseBSN]

I am in Texas. My district only hires BSN's.

1. We receive the exact pay and benefits package as teachers.

2. I actually make more money per hour than at the hospital if I break it down because I only work 185 days/ school year.

3. No overtime. I have only stayed late maybe 3 times in 3 years because I was waiting on a parent. Occasionally, you have a kid you just don't want to put on the bus.

4. My schedule is pretty much the same as my kids. I just have to go back one week earlier. 8:00-3:30 (great hours).

5. See kids with all kinds of conditions.

5. Last summer, I picked up extra money working as a camp nurse (plus, daughter go to attend for free). This summer, I just relaxed and went to Disneyworld!

6. Always at my daughter's games / activities. Never have to worry about working holidays or weekends.

7. Love the long-term realtionships I establish with my students.

8. Never bored. No 2 days in school nursing are ever the same.