Any schoool nurses out there?

Good morning,

I am going on my 3rd year as school LVN. It was little to no training, and about 2-3 months in, the RN who barely was here quit. The district looked to me to fill her shoes. I had to defend my scope of practice and say sorry, I can't by law do this or that. It put me on bad terms from the start with the staff. Last year we got a new RN and she has been pro-active but still not what I was hoping and praying for.I am here M-F 8am-4pm. So I see and hear most everything. I have a basic outline of my job, but I am still asked alot to do things I am not trained to do. I really thought I was going to stay awhile but after this year, I think im going back to school, or moving onto something else. Good luck with everything!

There is a specialty forum dedicated to school nurses. Consider your self lucky. Only RNs can sub as school nurses in my state. Only RN/BSN with grad credits can work as a full time school nurse.

I am a retired LPN and I now work as a substitute assistant school nurse after working in critical care nursing for nearly 50 years. I'm not the actual school nurse but am an assistant. I mainly work with special needs students who require skilled nursing care that the regular school RN would not have time to take care of and maintain the school nurse's regular duties. Some of the kiddos who attend the handicapped school that I often work at actually live in LTC facilities but are still able to come to school and learn on an adapted curriculum with specially trained teachers. Some of them are on vents, some require tube feedings, some are on TPN, some who need cathed, and some have syndromes or other physical handicaps. As a retired PICU nurse, the skills are not a challenge for me. At the same time, my critical care nursing career in no way prepared me to work as the actual school nurse. The school RN does not simply give out ice packs and bandaids. She/he deals with issues of child abuse and substance abuse, OB issues and students with STDs, gender identification and LGBT issues, bullying, routine health screenings and a LOT of psych issues. Oftentimes, the school RN is the only healthcare professional that our kids see on a regular basis. Some also may teach a section of health and do lesson plans and grading and things I would have no idea how to even approach. Its not as easy as most people think. The regular school nurse must have a BSN and have a certificate from the state department of education to practice as a school nurse. Many of our school RNs have an MSN or MEd degree as well. They are on the same pay scale and benefits as the teachers and have their own bargaining unit within the teachers union. I would not be surprised if the school RNs positions of the future be more of an advanced practice nurse role as we already have three NPs in our district who work out of the central office and on a mobile unit.

The assistant school nurses, however, are RNs and LPNs who do not have this certification. Most of them also have jobs in home care, or work part time at the local Childrens' hospital as the pay isn't great. My pay as a substitute is so low that I consider myself to be a volunteer. I don't do it for the money, I do it because I still enjoy nursing. If I was physically able to work in critical care again, I would do it in a heart beat, but I simply don't run fast enough to do that anymore. School nursing is physically just what I need and I am able to work as much or as little as I want. The old grey mare ain't what she used to be, but she ain't dead yet either!

There are some states that allow LPNs/LVNs to practice as the actual school nurse. I would check with your state BON to see what the requirements are.

Best to you,

Mrs H.