Best career path for entering school nursing

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Specializes in TB nursing/ research.

Hi all,

I am a recent grad (ADN) and one area of nursing that really interests me is school nursing.

I would like to get a years clinical experience first and would like any tips on which speciality to choose? By the way I totally didn't like adult med surg.

Many thanks for any advice:nuke:

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Specializes in ortho/neuro.

I graduated this past May, went to work in ortho/neuro in June, and just landed a school nursing job. I start Dec. 1. I can't tell you how excited I am!

It is a pay cut, but to me it's totally worth it. I'm off when my kids are out of school, I have great benefits/retirement/tuition reimbursement, no 'on call'....it's just a better situation for me all around.

I would suggest pediatrics, but any experience is good experience. On any floor you'll learn prioritization and time management. You'll learn how to stay cool when the patient is going bad. You'll learn how to deal with difficult families. All of this, I believe will help you when you become a school nurse.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

Pediatrics or peds ER. You need to be able to think fast on your feet. Yeah, 90% of your school nurse job is routine, dealing with normal kids with normal headaches, stomach viruses, minor cuts and bruises. It's that 10% of the time when a boo-boo is really child abuse or a PE injury results in a fracture or a special ed kid has a seizure or a teacher has a heart attack that you really need to be able to keep your cool and race to the rescue. Remember, anything that can happen at home, can *and will!* eventually happen at school. To children, to visitors, to staff. You have to be prepared for the worst, even if it only happens four times a year. The thing I like about school nursing is I never have the same day twice! :nurse:

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Specializes in TB nursing/ research.

Thks for the quick replies! yes peds is another area I am interested in, definitely good to gain clinical experience.

curlymom226 congrats on getting the school nurse job! yes, to me the paycut is no problem either.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

Peds floor or peds office!

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