Any LPN school nurses?

[kidzcare]

Since I am leaving, my current school has posted my job and the first applicant is an LPN. The Asst. Superintendent said "Nope, RN only"

I will confess that I don't really know the specifics about the differences. Can anyone shed any light about why an LPN would not be able to do the school nurse position?

[Eleven011]

I think it is a standard set by the state. Our state requires our school nurse be an RN. Some states even require a BSN and school nurse certification.

[Farawyn]

In my state I think LPNs cannot do Diastat. But I may be wrong.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

LPNs can do DiaStat. The issue is independent practice, assessment and delegation. My state RN to sub, RN/BSN with post bacc cert for all school nurses

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

The best way I was told was from my LPN ex-MIL: an LPN knows the what, an RN knows the why.

[mc3, ASN, RN]

Our district uses LPN'S..,

[lvnforschool]

I am an LVN working full-time in the Health Office. The RN is only here for screenings, and IEP meetings. She comes in 1/2 day ONCE a week to just catch up on anything. It's been really challenging for me. I had to try to explain Nurse chain of command to my boss (Principal) and almost got fired for not going out of my scope when I was asked to. :nono:The staff has been more challenging than any other student/parent Ive dealt with.

[jhlpn]

My school district will hire RN's but it's an LPN position.

[OldDude]

According to the Texas Education Agency only a RN can be a school nurse. There are plenty of LVNs, CMAs, EMTs, etc., that are employed to work in Texas public school clinics, and all of them are quite competent and able I'm sure, but none of them can officially hold the title of school nurse; regardless if the district employs RNs or not. School nurses are not required by statute in Texas - most school districts employ them, however. Another twist is that only RNs can bill medicaid for medication and procedures performed through the special ed department. If a LVN administers the medicine the RN has to bill it as a delegated task.

[vikivail26]

My district only hires LPN's for the school clinics. We work under RN's that work for the health dept.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Our district uses LPN'S..,

Do you work under the supervision of an RN?

It depends on what is allowed by state statute.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

I am an LPN and have been doing my school nurse job for 24 years. I am a great school nurse and I feel well qualified to do this job. I am grandfathered in my school system (thank goodness) but the rest of the new hires are all RN's. I have trained several new RN's myself.