Any NPs out there work as school nurse?

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

Hi, I posted a similar question on the school nursing boards. Are there any NPs out there that work in a school setting? I am considering going back for my Family NP. However, part of me has always wanted to go into school nursing later on. Anyone do both?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I believe there are school-based NP's and PA's. I recently received an email from the Mid-Level recruiter where I work (sent to all NPP's, of course) and this is an edited version of her email:

Hello Everyone,

We have an immediate need for a 2 School Based NP's or PA's. One of the positions is located at ______High School and the other is located at ______ High School, both in the Detroit area. The School Based Health program is grant funded, we have been trying to find the best candidates for this position. If this position is not filled we will be at stake of losing this grant. Our hospital system currently extends services into 13 schools and one community based site, averagining some 15,000 patients visits a year. These positions are in underserved areas (possibly qualify for forgiveness gov loans).

What we are looking for:

NP that is certified as Family Medicine or Peds.

Or

A PA that has Peds background

Please talk with your friends, peers or even your family. If you know anyone that maybe interested please have them to contact me. If you have any ideas please let me know.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

That would be a great job. I have seen a few openings for school based NP's.

However, to be a school nurse - in this area - you're an LPN. They won't even hire RN's (which I think is a liability, personally) because they are "too expensive". And we have NO school based NP's.

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Specializes in ICU.

There are schools in Chicago that have school based NPs.

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How funny--I am a school nurse for 800 second and third graders....RN--have been in my position almost 4 years....I am in the FNP program. My ORIGINAL plan was to write a grant and write myself into a NP for the school system....even though I wouldn't make as much as a Family practice NP--I would maintain my children's hours...with summers off.

As I get into further into it--my district is fairly new to nurses (required RN in my area)...and I don't know that with a tight budget that position is in their future. There are many NP's in schools in other parts of my state. I went back and got my National Certification for school nurses...that ups my pay an additional $500 a month...

Best of luck...I think even just a year of family practice NP full time--and you'd be ready to do school nursing. The most prominant areas for those are socioeconomically challenged areas. I see about 50 kids on a daily basis--today had a diabetic and asthmatic--saw each of them with problems 4 times today, head lice, bronchitis/resp, emotional issues, sat in on an IHP, etc....It's an interesting position.

If I could write an RX, I could have saved 3 kids today going to the doctor--or ER (for the noninsured)...thats my frustrating part. Who knows what the future will bring!! I also work at a camp (residential) on Lake Michigan in the summer as a camp nurse...they hire FNP's to come in on a weekly basis (and your kids come for free--normally 5000 per month per child)....so that is a great option for a nurse....Email me personally if you have any more questions!!

The best part is the 40 hugs per day--and you walk into the cafeteria...and it's as though you are a superstar!!! LOL

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Specializes in PNP, CDE, Integrative Pain Management.

In the school district where I live, all 31 schools have nurses, all are RNs. Not all of them are full-time. Our county was advertising a brand new NP position for a school based clinic. They had a grant for a prototype to see how it would work in our area having an NP full-time. Sounds like a great idea to me, but likely expensive for most districts.

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A nearby school district has an amazing school based clinic system. They do not function "as the school nurse" (whole different job description) but function in a school based clinic seeing scheduled patients who are students and their families. I believe they charge $5.00 a visit but the clinic is grant funded and also funded by the local public health system so the NPs make good money AND receive state benefits. My clinical instructor is a school based NP and she says the $$ is good, the benefits are amazing (100% free healthcare and 6 paid weeks of vacation per year) + a lot of the NPs job share.

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