Advice

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Hi- I have been lurking, but new to his board. I have been a NICU nurse for 15 years but have really been thinking about looking into school nursing. Truly I really don't know much about it my main reason for looking into it is the hours would coincide with my kids. Am I crazy to just jump into something I know nothing about except great hours?! I feel like the only way I can figure out if I like it or not is get a job doing it but that seems like such a huge step for something I don't know too much about. But on the other hand maybe it's time to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. I know I'm just rambling! I'm just looking for advice and reasons you went into school nursing and if you just jumped into it or slowly eased in(don't know if that's possible😬) TIA!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

There are worse reason to get into this than the schedule. As long as you don't get into this thinking that it's all band aids, ice packs and sunshine. But then if you've been lurking long enough, i'm sure you know better :)

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

If you work 3 12's now, maybe you could look into being a sub school nurse for awhile to see if you like it? Then if you do, you'd already have your foot in the door.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

NICU for 15 years??? You're only difficulty would be getting used to having a patient that could talk to you!!! Good luck.

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Just make sure you understand the money involved as well, or lack there of. Many people are shocked to find out they will get paid significantly less being a School Nurse. The hours and the time off are amazing! Maybe you could ask at your local school if you could shadow their School Nurse a few days when you're off just to get a feel for what it's like.

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I worked with someone who left hospital nursing for school nursing..she really likes it/the schedule but she makes significantly less an hour.

Teaching jobs, educator jobs, school jobs | SchoolSpring is the site she went to and applied. If you can handle the pay cut try it..just like with the health dept -a t least where I live, it pays much less than the hospital but many nurses like the slower pace/hours...remember.. hospital nursing will always be there if you end up not liking school nursing.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Every now and then I dream of the schedule that being a school nurse brings, but then I talk to my school nurse friends and my dream comes crashing down pretty quick. Look before you leap, especially where pay is concerned. My district doesn't differentiate between RN and LPN, the pay is the same no matter the license and the pay is beyond horrible. It is literally not much above what you could make slinging burgers at a fast food joint. Used to be the benefits made up for it some but thanks to our Governor gutting the budget and busting the unions the benefits are nothing to brag about anymore.

This is why two of my school nurse friends are no longer working for the district. It's a smaller district so the loss of two nurses really hurt.

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