Are clinic and school nursing jobs "too easy"

[Jenfred]

Hi everyone, I am hoping some of you experienced nurses can help answer some questions for me. I graduated from nursing school last June and have been working for several months at a skilled nursing facility. I am also going to school full time to receive my BSN. I really dislike my job at the SNF and have started looked for other opportunities. My goal is to eventually be a pediatric nurse at a hospital. Since I am such a new nurse there isn't a ton of jobs I'm currently qualified for, however there are several postings in my area for pediatric clinic and school nursing jobs. I think I would really enjoy this work because I love kids, but my nurse friends keep telling me that these jobs are considered "easy, cushy jobs" and a hospital won't hire me later. I'm sure nurses in these settings do work hard. Would I be "shooting myself in the foot" to consider a clinic or school nursing job? I don't care about the low pay I would have in these settings but I would like to eventually work in a hospital and I don't want to limit that possibility in the future. Thank you for all your advice.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I would do this volunteer if I didn't need it financially. I love it!!!! The kids make it so worth it.

[Farawyn]

I would do this volunteer if I didn't need it financially. I love it!!!! The kids make it so worth it.

I was with you until this. ^

[shelbs]

If you're looking for pediatric experience, you may try applying to home care, private duty nursing. I currently work for a pediatric home care company which is giving me the pediatric experience I need! Good luck!

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I was a teacher before I was a nurse and there is too much other "stuff" that goes with the job. i don't think being a school nurse is trash

I just would be miserable.

[Deredain]

My wife is a school nurse in a high school. It is far from "cushy". They are main streaming more chronically ill children these day so she deals with insulin pumps, administering a wide variety of medications and other things that have not typically been seen in the school settings years ago. Her assessment skills need to be top notch. She's had trauma's that required admittance to a level 1 trauma hospital, the cardiac arrest of a student, heart attacks by staff, sports injuries, drug related issues and more. She also has to do the clearance of sports physicals, go on trips with the band, etc. Oh, and a lot of psych issues regarding the kids. Even in an affluent community there are plenty of stress and problems for kids to deal with, some not so well.

The benefits are that she's on a teachers pay scale (they can have her teach health if needed), she gets summers off as well as the other school vacation weeks. It helped us save a ton on childcare costs when our kids were younger.

[bhouse113]

I have been a school nurse for the past 3 years. I love it. I started my nursing career 26 years ago in the hospital. I decided bedside nursing was not for me. That being said, I believe the hospital experience prepares you for other positions. For the most part, as a school nurse, you are on your own, working independently. This requires wide nursing knowledge and knowledge of the nurse practice act.

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

By the way, as a school nurse I actually dealt with a teacher in an eclamptic crisis.

[AlaBro2010]

I completely agree with the poster who recommended pediatric home health, you can try that PRN status and see if you like it and add onto your resume! I worked in a peds clinic at a health department in the past- we sometimes saw 18 patients in 3 hours. Does that sound easy? Was my least favorite clinic- drawing blood on babies and vaccines. Never want to do it again.

It did build my skill set though.

[Code Caffeine]

How do you like psych nursing? Any tips on how to get recruited? Haha!