Accepted School Nurse position...Any tips/advice will greatly be appreciated.

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I just accepted a School Nurse position for Elementary/Jr High ( PK-6,7-9) over about a 1000 kids. I was a Elementary Life Skills Nurse several years back. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice for starting a School Nurse position. My previous experience was for 25 Life Skills kids and assisting the School Nurse with overflow...so in a way this is totally a new position for me. Luckily the Nurse that is leaving is willing to come back and show me the ropes...but it's always nice to hear others advice.

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Just read through all the school nursing boards here-you will find lots of info!

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Contact NASN (National Association of School Nurses). Lots of great info on their site. Plus, there should be a state branch of the organization.

NASN - National Association of School Nurses - NASN.org

Good luck! There isn't much on-the-job training done and there are numerous government mandates for nurses to do. Plus learning all about IEP's and 504's, etc.

I was very lucky in that a local recently retired school nurse decided to do a 6 week orientation to school nursing class for the new nurses in our district. I've been a school nurse for 2.5 years now and have a lot to learn still. Good to have resources though.

In CA, we have to go back to school to get our School Nurse Credential. The state grants you a temporary one and you have 5 years to get a real one. I'm in the process of applying to a school right now.

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Thanks...I let my NASN membership lapse when I left the other job...I am going to join back up with them.

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Thanks...I let my NASN membership lapse when I left the other job...I am going to join back up with them.

You don't have to be a member to have access to info there though. ;)

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Specializes in kids.

New York school nurse association has a great website.....

remember this- you know more than you think and never enough!

Network with other school nurses or local peds offices you are likely to be in touch with

You see the tip of the iceberg often.....never forget there is much more underneath

School nursing is 10 % nursing and 90 % nurturing..and some times completely the opposite!

Good luck! I am heading into my 20th year!

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