Can LPNs work at schools?

guest2210 · Feb 11, 2011

Yes, LPNs can work in schools. Other areas they can work in is prisons, doctors offices, quality assurance, claims adjusters, EMR implementation and training. Good luck... :smokin:

HazelLPN, LPN · Feb 11, 2011

In the state where I live, only BSN educated RNs can be the "official" school nurse. They have the same salary scale and contract that the teachers do and must also hold a license from the state department of education as well as their RN license. Many also hold either MSN or MEd degrees. I see you are from Canada, and I would guess it depends on the scope of practice of your province.

I am a retired LPN currently working as a "substitute assistant school nurse". The assistant school nurses are mostly LPNs who work directly with special needs students who require skilled nursing care. The actual school nurse works in the office and is responsible for the heath of the entire student body and staff, while the assistant is assigned to a specific population or specific student. The pay is peanuts, and I consider myself a volunteer. I do it to keep active in nursing vs needing the money, although I do very little actual nursing.

My background is critical care nursing from which I retired from in 2009. I used to joke that I wanted an easier job and would be a school nurse. My job as an assistant is cake, but the real school nurse does not have an easy job.You're not titrating drips and pushing meds and dealing with difficult docs....but you do deal with students who do not recieve any regular medical care...and you may be the only medical professional that the kid sees on a regular basis.

My advice to you is if you wish to be an actual school nurse, check with your Province to see if it is possible for an LPN to do this. If its not, go for your BSN.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

mummeesgoin2skool · Feb 12, 2011

thank you emr...i honestly didn't know that lpns can work in prisons as well. thanks for the reply

mummeesgoin2skool · Feb 12, 2011

...my background is critical care nursing from which i retired from in 2009. i used to joke that i wanted an easier job and would be a school nurse. my job as an assistant is cake, but the real school nurse does not have an easy job.you're not titrating drips and pushing meds and dealing with difficult docs....but you do deal with students who do not recieve any regular medical care...and you may be the only medical professional that the kid sees on a regular basis.
my advice to you is if you wish to be an actual school nurse, check with your province to see if it is possible for an lpn to do this. if its not, go for your bsn...

hazel, you studied critical care nursing as an lpn? i thought only rns could study critical care nursing? :uhoh3:

HazelLPN, LPN · Feb 13, 2011

hazel, you studied critical care nursing as an lpn? i thought only rns could study critical care nursing?

here in the us, each state has its own board of nursing and the scope of practice for lpns varies widely from state to state. where i work, the scope of practice is broad and similar to that of an rn. other states, the scope is much more restricted. i don't know about canada, but i would imagine it depends on the province. every question that begins with "can an lpn work as......" or "can an lpn do....", the correct answer is that it depends on the state and facility where the lpn works. if it is outside the scope of an lpn to give iv meds or titrate drips for example, there would be little use for them in the icu. like your question about school nursing.....where i work an lpn must work under the "immediate supervision" of an rn. when i worked in the unit, my charge nurse always covered me on things that were outside my scope of practice...mostly she would have to check blood products with before i gave them....or check certain ivp meds before i gave them. the school nurse is pretty much autonomous in her practice, and therefore must be an rn who has additonal training in school nursing.

i tell all young people these days that its best to get their bsn if possible because it will give them the most options in their career. in my day, lpns could work just about anywhere. there are fewer and fewer places what that is true today. not saying i agree or disagree, it is something that merely is.

best to you,

mrs h

heathert_kc · Feb 15, 2011

My pediatric home health agency once had a few shifts available at a preschool that I picked up. It was kind of fun, but mostly boring and uneventful. The principal had even suggested that I apply for the position as the were looking for a permanent person. It was in a more urban district and the pay wasn't very good, but it is possible. I know in the nicer suburban districts closer to where I live they only hire RNs, most just those with bachelors degrees even.

HazelLPN, LPN · Feb 15, 2011

My pediatric home health agency once had a few shifts available at a preschool that I picked up. It was kind of fun, but mostly boring and uneventful. The principal had even suggested that I apply for the position as the were looking for a permanent person. It was in a more urban district and the pay wasn't very good, but it is possible. I know in the nicer suburban districts closer to where I live they only hire RNs, most just those with bachelors degrees even.

Somedays it is boring and uneventful, but others are not. I do mostly high school...and remember..I'm not the real nurse..I'm just a substitute assistant. Last week the nurse had 3 new pregnant girls in one day. While I was covering for her lunch period.. in walked a type I diabetic who's sugar was so low that she was unable to check it herself and wasn't responding to my request to PO juice from a straw...little cake frosting (the canned kind you buy in the grocery store that is unsuitable for eating and putting on cakes.... but good to raise blood sugar) to the gums did the trick and she started to PO again. This fall, one of our school nurses had a "code"....a grandmother collaped of a heart attack and the the nurse and a teacher used the AED and CPR to revive her before the paramedics arrived.

Besides that, there are regular health screanings...and then the special needs students who may have complex medical needs....G tubes, caths...even kids on vents. After I retired I thought I'd never have to suction the snot out of a trach again....but I was wrong! There is also lots of teaching...to the students and the staff. Its not just bandaids and cuts and scrapes...which is what I thought it was when I was still doing PICU/NICU.

I work in a large urban district where the pay is better than the burbs.....but the nurse (the real nurse...not me,,,I do very little actual nursing) earns every penny.

Mrs H.

heathert_kc · Feb 16, 2011

LPNs are very frequently utilized in jails and prisons at all levels federal, state, county, city. Yes they can work in prisons as well. I did that as well, though it didn't suit me too well either.