career path either a 1:1 nurse or a school nurse in a nurse office

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Hello Everyone, I am hoping some of you seasoned nurses can give me some advice.

I am a Korean nurse having 7 years working experience back home. (mainly in psychiatric and urology department, but my last clinical experience in Korea was 2010). Unless I receive a visa sponsorship through a staffing company, realistically, it is hard to get a job as a foreign-trained nurse. I am living in Texas for 5 years as my husband is a Ph.D. student here. I got my NY, TX licenses with BSN, and enough English score, applying for a visa screen certification.

Through my friend, I have introduced an agency, offering a school nurse or 1:1 nurse job in NY city. (details of the contract: no fee(I don't need to pay any money to the agency), 3 years-contract, $31 per hour, offering 2 month-rent fees when I first move to NY city, offering education opportunity to get a school nursing certification (If I get the certification, bonus will be provided) )

The agency said that even if I have two options working as a conventional school nurse in a nurse office in one elementary school or a 1:1 nurse. They can not make sure which kind of position will be assigned to me. It depends on a potential employer, in the school's decision.

(Although I didn't directly work in a pediatric unit, for a side job, I used to work in a nurse office in a big department store and a horse racing park in my home country, so I had hands on experience to deal with seizure attack, etc. Besides, I am quite familiar with psychiatric issues which might happen among children as my original back ground is a psychiatric nurse, in this respect, I guess a school nurse position might be a good option for me to start new career here than jumping into a hospital setting)

  1. Is it possible for working as 1:1 nurse for starter and moving on as a school nurse in a nursing office?

(based on online searching, most of the school nurses are American nurses and foreign nurses under staffing companies, in NY city are usually assigned as a 1:1 nurse as they don't have working experience in the USA and a green card in the beginning.

  1. I also heard that once you take either work, related to school nurse position, It will be quite difficult to go back to bedside nursing at a hospital.

  1. I am interested in working as a school nurse. However, I concern if it is not a good choice to take a 1:1 nurse for my nursing career here.

Thank you for all your advice.

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Specializes in NCSN.

If your goal is to get back to bedside or hospital nursing, school nursing my not be the path for you. We fall under the umbrella of public/community health, not acute care.

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Thank you for your reply. yes, I have heard about that. I don't mind even if I can not go back to bedside nursing care. Unfortunately, the year of 2010 was my last clinical experience back home. Several agencies that I have contacted, can not promise hospital nursing for me. As hospitals usually prefer to hire experienced nurses with recent experience. As I don't have a work visa, to get a green card or a work visa, I guess it might the best option for me that I have now. My concern is that It is not clearly so far whether I will be assigned as a one-on-one nurse or a conventional school nurse. As far as I know, 1:1 nurse seems like a unique position in NY. Other states do not have that kind of position. Thus, once I start one-on-one nurse, I am afraid that it will not be helpful for me to apply for the position of the school nurse, at a nurse office later. Living cost in NY city is too expensive and usually, a salary of school nurse work is not high enough for living in metropolitan cities. Thus, Once I get a green card, I would like to move to another place with lower living cost. Do you think starting as a one-on-one nurse may not help me to move into a school nurse position or another one, related to community health?

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No, I think starting as a 1:1 is a good place to start and the salary and benefits is pretty competitive for this type of work. You will probably be able to spend some time in the nurses office during your day and will get a feel if that is a better fit for you and your end goals. If and when you desire to transition from 1:1 to a building nurse any prior school experience will help you. Good Luch

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Hello, Halohg, Thank you for your comment. It is really hepful for me.

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Hey Gloria, Im also a Korean nurse who is providing 1:1 care for a student. I was wondering if you ever took the school nursing job and what your experience has been so far.

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Eventually, I didn't take the offer as 3-years contract seemed too long for me. However, I have known a male Korean nurse, working as a 1:1 nurse in NYC for more than a year and supposed to start a conventional school nurse work at a public school this Sep. If you would like to talk with him in person in Korean, I am willing to ask him out. 아래 메일 주소로 연락 주시면, 이분에게 물어봐서..ì œê°€ 이분 연락처 ì•Œë ¤ë“œë¦¬ê² ìŠµë‹ˆë‹¤. rose1chae 지메일이 ì œ 메일 주소 입니다.

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eventually, I didn't take the offer as 3-years contract seemed too long for me. However, I have known a male Korean nurse, working as a 1:1 nurse in NYC for more than a year and supposed to start a conventional school nurse work at a public school this Sep. If you would like to talk with him in person in Korean, I am willing to ask him out. 아래 메일 주소로 연락 주시면, 이분에게 물어봐서..ì œê°€ 이분 연락처 ì•Œë ¤ë“œë¦¬ê² ìŠµë‹ˆë‹¤. rose1chae 지메일이 ì œ 메일 주소 입니다.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

An aside, you have a compact license, you are licensed in many more states.

Nursing Compact States - NLC | American Traveler

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