Advice about school nursing

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Specializes in GYN/Med-Surg.

I am a hospital nurse working night shift and I'm looking for a change of pace... Wanting to get out of the hospital environment and have a more normal life! I should mention too - I have a 5 year old starting kindergarten in the fall and a 3 yr old. Kindergarten starts at 8am and I'm not even home until at least 8am! So I had an interview for a school nurse RN position (I have a BSN) and I feel that it went very well. I was told it would be awhile until I heard anything due to school being out and principals being out of office. I was also asked whether I wanted elementary/middle/high school. At the time, I told her I wasn't sure and was open. After thinking about it, I think I would like to avoid high school due to the nature of the issues there - teen pregnancy, drugs, etc. Does anybody have advice about which area of school nursing they like and why? Also, I know the pay is very low.. I'd make $7 less than I do in the hospital with my shift differential. I was told I'd be eligible for a $2 raise in 7 years, lol. I'm afraid that I wouldn't be able to afford to live on such low pay. I'm just wanting some advice and/or perspectives on school nursing from nurses who actually do it :) Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

the virtual hallways here get a little quiet right now because we all are starting our breaks, but perhaps those of us here can give you a little insight.

The pay is lower, but taking it in perspective that it is usually less hours, it often seems to work itself out. Some of us keep a little perdiem work on the side until it evens out. Some of us don't have to, some of us make it up in the summer with summer school or camp or whatever. I work summer school, not really out of necessity, mostly to help out and partly because it's simply easy money for me - but there have been years when i've worked in a hospital, or in an office or have done nothing at all.

As far as grade level - that's personal preference - if you don't think that you'd like all the issues that come with teenagers, then go for the little ones. I have over my career worked with every age range. All age ranges have their pros and cons.

Browse through our posts to get a bit more perspective - granted, there is a bit of venting about parents, teachers and kids - but such is life. No job is Shangri-La.

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Specializes in kids.

Exactly what Flare said! I LOOOOOOVE my HS kids, most days!!!! Been here 23 years,. Lucky to be well compensated where I am but that is not always the norm!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

Welcome! I am finishing my second year as a school nurse on June 26th. I have always done ambulatory care, so have never dealt with shift work. I actually came into this job purely by accident. A mom I knew was recruiting for a new Charter school that was opening and asked me if I knew "any nurses who might be interested in a part time job" :) I had (at the time) a rising second grader and a fourth grader and still wanted to be around for after school time. My hours would be 9am- 1:30 pm which would allow me to do school drop off and pick up. It was perfect. The pay was definitely not up to regular nursing standards, but as far as school nurse pay, it was decent. I have a 15 minute commute and do NOT work in my own school district, which is actually a good thing since I live in a very small community and would rather keep work and home lives separate. I have almost the exact same days off as my kids (give or take a couple days). Quality of life is HUGE for me and there is a great one in this job. All that aside, it can be lonely and isolating (which is why this forum is so great). My first year was scary and hard because I had no one to train me, tell me what I needed to know, etc. There is a LOT of paperwork, administration can be hard to deal with, parents can be annoying, non-compliant and demanding, malingering kids when you have a zillion other things you need to be doing...but I would not trade this for anything right now. Well, maybe winning the lottery...

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

Ditto Flare. The pay is less, but if you figure it out based upon hours worked, it is about the same, minus the differentials and the holiday pay.

I switched from hospital to school nursing when my kids were young as well because I wanted to be on the same schedule as them, which I am for the most part, though I do not work in the town we live in, so there are a few differences. But the schedule is great, as vacations are the same.

In terms of what grade levels to go for, I love elementary, and have mostly done it. It is up to you, but all have their challenges!!

Good luck! Welcome to the jungle!!

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I genuinely loved being a school nurse but working part time with low pay wasn't cutting it. Now I work full time at a pediatric office but I do miss summer off.

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Specializes in school nurse.
Welcome! I am finishing my second year as a school nurse on June 26th. I have always done ambulatory care, so have never dealt with shift work. I actually came into this job purely by accident. A mom I knew was recruiting for a new Charter school that was opening and asked me if I knew "any nurses who might be interested in a part time job" :) I had (at the time) a rising second grader and a fourth grader and still wanted to be around for after school time. My hours would be 9am- 1:30 pm which would allow me to do school drop off and pick up. It was perfect. The pay was definitely not up to regular nursing standards, but as far as school nurse pay, it was decent. I have a 15 minute commute and do NOT work in my own school district, which is actually a good thing since I live in a very small community and would rather keep work and home lives separate. I have almost the exact same days off as my kids (give or take a couple days). Quality of life is HUGE for me and there is a great one in this job. All that aside, it can be lonely and isolating (which is why this forum is so great). My first year was scary and hard because I had no one to train me, tell me what I needed to know, etc. There is a LOT of paperwork, administration can be hard to deal with, parents can be annoying, non-compliant and demanding, malingering kids when you have a zillion other things you need to be doing...but I would not trade this for anything right now. Well, maybe winning the lottery...

I've been curious about "part time" jobs with charter schools. Is the work actually part time, or do they have full time expectations for part time pay? I know some charters are notorious for working the heck out of all the staff for not necessarily the best pay...

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I work with Elementary kids and wouldn't have it any other way! I'm like their mom at school. I work in a very small school so I do a lot of jobs here in addition to being the School Nurse. I am often like a chicken running with my head cut off but at the end of the day I love it. I teach all of the Health classes for my school and really enjoy that time in the classroom. It is one of the highlights to each day but it makes things crazier when I get back to my office and need to go check on students who came to see me while I was in class. The 1st year as a School Nurse is difficult. You are on your own (well except for the people here) and no one else in your building really understands Nursing. It is not a hospital or a Doctor's Office and everybody thinks you should know everything there ever was to know about health, illnesses, injuries, medical terminology, medications, etc. Realizing that's unreasonable and not expecting yourself to be an expert in all areas medical is liberating in this job. Everyone thinks School Nursing is band-aids and ice packs but there is so much more. Creating Health Care Plans, monitoring home situations of at risk students, educating a newly diagnosed asthmatic who was handed an inhaler with no instructions, digging into what's really bothering that 3rd grader who comes to see you not feeling well at least once a day, helping identify potential issues for kids and working through them with parents, helping parents understand their child's illness or diagnosis, these are all the wonderful things I do every week. I love the school I work in and I love my kids, and believe me they are my kids. The hours work for me so I can be home with my own children each summer. I used to get home in time to get my youngest off the bus but since he no longer needs that I often stay late to work on my Health lessons or new programs I want to implement. It's been a good fit for me.

Good luck in your decision!

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I am finishing my first year of school nursing June 26. I have been in the ER for 15 years prior so this was a big learning curve in respect to all of the health care plans, and other paperwork type things. I work in a school of 6-12th grade and absolutely prefer it compared to elementary level. I made the switch knowing I would make way less money but the increase in family time and quality of life is so worth it. I am still per diem in the ER with a plan to pick up just a few shifts this summer. My district will allow me to stretch my pay throughout the summer. There are days that have absolutely made me question my decision...until the clock said 2:35 and I simply turned off my lights and shut the door behind me... it was a wild feeling at first to simply be done and leave work. No late shift call bell, or stat order, or the code who rolls into trauma bay before the next nurse takes report... super rambling answer for, I am so happy I made the jump! Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.
I've been curious about "part time" jobs with charter schools. Is the work actually part time, or do they have full time expectations for part time pay? I know some charters are notorious for working the heck out of all the staff for not necessarily the best pay...

My job really is part time. That said, there are a few evening things they asked me to attend and I have gone if I am able. The nurse at our high school works a full day which is 7:30-4:30. I am not able to work a full day, but as our school expands (we are K and 1 now, expanding to K-2 next Fall and each year growing by one grade until we have k-4) I will need to expand my hours. Next Fall I will be 9-2:30 and by Fall of 2018 I am guessing they will want me FT. I will have a decision to make at that point because I really like being home for my kids after school and being the one to drive them to their activities, etc.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

Are you in Tampa? If so, PM me - my advice is based on whether or not you're located in Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Pasco.

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Specializes in GYN/Med-Surg.

VaccineQueen - Yes, I PM'ed you!

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