Just wondering if anyone ever went into school nursing then realized it wasn't for them and somehow left to go back to a previous position or new position.
Idk what to do, I kept my old job per diem haven't worked since I put in my 2 week notice last month. But sometimes I have crazy thoughts of just going back and negotiating my full time position there. IDK what to do. Every time I think just hang in there (school nursing) then I come back to work the next day and I'm sad all over again. It's only been a month and I'm so confused on what to do. I've never felt this way about any job I've held in the healthcare field. I worked as a PCA for almost 5 years at a hospital before I left to pursue an RN position somewhere else due to them not having a new grad position available at the time. Part of me would feel silly for asking for my old position back and the other part would feel guilty for attempting to leave this position in such a short time frame which would leave the school without a nurse. I think I'm experiencing job dissatisfaction. Any advice would be much appreciated.
I was so happy when I first started but overtime when I realized it wasn't what I expected, I now dread going to work. Plus the commute to and from work is horrible so that doesn't help matters either. Plus I'm 9 weeks pregnant so that's another factor to consider when switching jobs. This job is perfect for the baby because I would have paid maternity leave and I'm off all the times the kids are off. But that no longer is interesting to me because I'm not happy. I just don't want to do anything hasty without going over all my options. That's why I'm seeking advice.
Thanks! I know that in less than 9 months it will no longer be only about me and the baby comes first. Maybe this is the first test in that journey. Keeping a new job that I'm not exactly thrilled about but that is very beneficial to the baby. I wouldn't do anything hasty and just jump back to my old job. I left it for a reason right. I will try to stick it out for the sake of the baby.
Ultimately it is your decision. But coming from someone who worked in a hospital while having newborns at home, and then having a newborn at home with this job. This is what was best for my FAMILY. The Christmases/Thanksgivings/Easters/weekends I missed with my first two (and hubby), I will never get those back. Being off for them with my last little just cemented the fact that I made the right decision. Not to mention that while pregnant and working at the hospital I was physically and mentally miserable, the mostly sit down of my school nurse job was much needed and welcome with my third babe.
You do you, but I would try to tough it out until baby comes that way you can see just how awesome it is having the extra time off with your precious little one. If then you realize that it just isn't for you, that is perfectly fine, it isn't for everyone. And I agree with Becky, make sure you are taking care of yourself including your mental health.
Thank you! I will try to tough it out until the little nugget gets here so I can weigh out the pros and cons. Seems very family friendly as far as nursing gigs go.
School Nursing is not for everyone but based on all the School Nurses I know (IRL and on AN) I'm guessing you won't be bored for long. Yes in School Nursing it's not always emergency here, problem here type of busy but I never finish what I need to do in a day here. These kids are all my kids. I worry about them like my own as well. Have I prepared little Johnny to be able to self-carry his inhaler as he gets older, is Sam ok or are there troubles at home I need to watch for, how can I help Jenny's family with diabetes education because they are not getting it from their physician, how can I help Julia handle her anxiety and stay in the classroom instead of being a frequent flyer, how can I help these children become their best selves and live happy, healthy lives? The mounds of paperwork and screenings somehow get done before the end of the year BUT that is not my real job in my opinion. My job is to help the chronically ill students be able to attend and function in school and to help all of the students be able to attend school and learn. Sometimes this involves educating the students, sometimes it's educating and encouraging the parents. In the middle of all this are the hockey sticks to the face at recess, the peanut butter and jelly at the lunch table, the student fainting in the auditorium and the diabetic student whose readings range form 38 to 438.
I work in a very small school so I have many other hats I wear in my building (attendance, health teacher, dismissal coordination, etc). I would suggest getting to know the teachers and students in your school. Offer to come into the classroom and read a book or discuss germs and hand washing, or healthy eating or the body systems. Being the Nurse in a school of educators can be isolating, but my advice would be if you have time on your hands try to integrate yourself into the education world at your school. The highs of this job, when I go home and know I made the difference in a child's life, they are huge. I hope you find them where you are as well.
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Last year, I was very down on myself and there was times I kept thinking I wasn't meant for this, I can't do this.
You can ask some of them here and see a lot of my posts on how much low self confidence I had on myself. My last job very traumatized me, and it made me doubt myself a lot. When I came here, I was so panicked on everything I did, anxiety and such, because I was afraid if I did anything small wrong, I could be fired.
But after a year, and I got a therapist, I understood that it's okay to make mistakes and that I just gotta try my best. I don't freak out as much as before when I mess up, but I do get a bit anxious. I'm working on it, but I'm glad that my co-workers and others are understanding and are very good on communicating when something I did is wrong and try to help me on it.
It took me a while, but now I know what I want to do in my life and it's to be an RN and work as a school nurse, because I absolutely love it! Sure there's ups and down in a job, always, but I love it.
Awww, you're job sounds awesome coming from your perspective. I will give this place a try and create a better connection with the teachers. I think it's because I'm new so I feel a bit like how do things work around here. So it's only fair to give it good try before quitting. I'm no quitter but thank you for your post it was nice.
Glad to hear that you're doing much better hun! I plan on giving this place a chance because initially I read tons of forums while applying to school nurse positions and this sounded like the dream nursing job so I have to be fair and give it some time to see if it really is for me. Thank you!
As a person working at a charter school like you, I had to find my role at my school. The first year was busy, but folks were getting to know me. I was the first full time nurse they had ever had. They didn't know what they could throw my way. So I just started asking what else I could do. I run our uniform closet, I teach health classes. When it came to teaching health, they only taught it in a couple of grades. I created a 9-12 curriculum - I was shocked when they let me, but my school was very supportive about it. I run a girls' group and even spend one afternoon a week helping kids after school with homework completion - helps me get to know kids outside of my office, which helps me when I do see them in my office.
I also worked all year to get standing orders for Epi at my school. To overall our OTC standing orders. And to secure a new school physician. But my first year, I started with immunization compliance. There were so many students missing paperwork for compliance. So many.
This is just my opinion based on my experience and personal situation so take it for what it's worth.
I left the hospital (NICU) because I was burned out, tired of working nights, weekends and holidays, tired of feeling chronically sleep deprived and stressed out by the literal life and death of my job and all of that was spilling over into my personal life and affecting my family and my marriage. I decided to give school nursing a try. I hated it for nearly the first whole school year BUT I told myself when I started the whole thing that I would give it 2 full school years before I threw in the towel. I am now 6 weeks into my second year as a school nurse.
I don't think that you can really know if the job is for you in such a short amount of time. Maybe you can but I can't. I hated the NICU for a while too but grew to love it before I burned out on the schedule and stress. All of that said I changed districts at the end of my first year of school nursing and this year has been MUCH better. School nursing has the steepest learning curve of any nursing job I've ever experienced including pediatric home care. There are some awesome parts of this job and there are some that are really terrible. But that is true of any job. I honestly don't believe that any job is perfect. That said school nursing isn't for everyone and may not be for you. That's ok. But I don't know if you can really know that in only a month of being on the job. I'd hate for you to give up on something that could be really wonderful. I'm really glad I didn't give up and believe me I wanted to! Ask anyone on this board! But they and the other nurses I work with got me through and now I can't imagine going back to the hospital schedule full time.
Good luck no matter what you decide. And congratulations on your bundle of joy! :)
mag426, ADN, BSN
193 Posts
@OldDude, RN
Thanks! I know that in less than 9 months it will no longer be only about me and the baby comes first. Maybe this is the first test in that journey. Keeping a new job that I'm not exactly thrilled about but that is very beneficial to the baby. I wouldn't do anything hasty and just jump back to my old job. I left it for a reason right. I will try to stick it out for the sake of the baby.