Considering a career change to School Nurse

Flare, ASN, BSN · May 28, 2013

I don't think you necessarily lose your med surg skills - sure they get rusty - if you asked me to start an iv right now, it would probably have to be on someone with really good veins, but the mechanics of it don't change. As far as other skills - some of it may simply be things i just haven't really worked with before (like a flex seal) or don't see in a school setting (like a wound vac), but as far as basic dressings and even straight caths - we do more than you probably think we do in a school. I've been a school nurse for 10+ years and still feel confident that I could do many bedside tasks. Granted, I do work per diem in a hospital, but it's administration - so my bedside tasks are still at a minimum in that job.

Also - You'd be amazed how many lunches we miss and bathroom coverages we need to find - you can't just go when you are the lone nurse with an office full of kids.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · May 28, 2013

Agree (again) with Flare!

It is a wonderfully rewarding career choice!

There are many hi tech dependant kids in the school system today. You will probably learn more about diabetes than you ever dreamed. THere is (at least in my HS practice), a huge skill set needed regarding psych issues.

I am in for the long haul!

OldDude · May 28, 2013

Your labor/post partum experience will qualify you as an absolute expert in dealing with parents!!! The kids are the easy part. You'll have plenty of time off for prn work if you start to feel like you are missing something.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 28, 2013

Agree (again) with Flare!
It is a wonderfully rewarding career choice!
There are many hi tech dependant kids in the school system today. You will probably learn more about diabetes than you ever dreamed. THere is (at least in my HS practice), a huge skill set needed regarding psych issues.
I am in for the long haul!

This. I have learned more about diabetes and diabetes management in 4 months of school nursing than I ever learned in a nursing school classroom and several hospital clinical rotations. The same with asthma.

Plus, you have worked OB, so you are used to teaching, which is essential for both diabetic and asthma management. But bathroom breaks...well...

amyjm3 · May 28, 2013

Thank you! I have read that most new school nurses get little orientation.

Would you agree with that? I am curious how much time

It takes to figure it out and feel a little confident in what you're doing. I'm

also curious if school nurses are often pink - slipped or if you know people

that have been. Many friends said to try to juggle both jobs for a bit and then decide

if it is a good fit for me.

That sounds exhausting but possible. Im excited about change and looking forward to it. I interview soon.

OldDude · May 28, 2013

You're right, there is very little to no orientation. You're a L&D nurse so you have critical thinking skills and can work independently without someone telling you when to wipe your nose, so you'll figure out what works for you fast. My experience is schools nurses stay on the job until they die or retire; there are always some exceptions. The nurse I replaced was here 27 years. Our district head nurse retired after 35 years. Don't try to work both jobs. Like I said earlier, you'll have plenty of time to pick up extra shifts on breaks and summer, if you want to.

Nurse ABC · May 29, 2013

That's funny-I'm a school nurse trying to get into L&D! I've done school nursing full-time, part-time, and subbing for a total of 12 yrs. I started subbing and working part-time in a hospital last year because I was getting burned out of school nursing. In our district, they don't usually hire full-time and then pink slip you. I've seen it happen once (to a nurse-teachers more often) and the nurse was told before she accepted the job it was highly likely at the end of the year. You can't usually just walk off the street and get a school nursing position. They don't come open very often so when they do they usually hire from the substitutes. The schedule is great but it can be hard working five days in a row when you aren't used to it. You rarely get time to yourself when you do that, whereas with hospital nursing, you get days off when your kids are in school which is nice. Going to the bathroom when you want is dependent on the school. I've worked in schools where I was lucky to get a bathroom break and when I did I had kids knocking on the door looking for me. I've also had schools where there's plenty of time as long as its not lunch time. Lunch time is crazy and from around 10:30-1:30 you're usually swamped with a combination of kids needing meds, blood sugar checks and coverage, and playground injuries. Then when you're ready to sit down and eat your own lunch, in comes all the kids the teachers send after lunch. In the mornings you have kids first thing needing meds, lice checks, and kids coming off the bus to tell you they are sick and mommy said to go see the nurse. On top of all the kids coming in you have to take care of screenings, Medicaid billing, care plans, immunization records, class lice checks, and a number of other things. It's doable, just busier than you expect. If you're lucky you will get one or two days orientation. It seems scary at first but you will get quickly acclimated.

I forgot how stressful the hospital was until I went back. School nursing is not nearly as stressful. In the hospital you are faced with critical situations every day and in the school it's much more laid back. No one is rushing here and there with a zillion things to do. (Except maybe the nurse occasionally ) Things I enjoy about being back in the hospital is the teamwork (in the schools you're on your own), getting to use lots of nursing skills all day long and feeling challenged, the money, and the respect I get compared to how little respect I get in the schools. I also enjoy not working every single day. In the schools I was always wishing for the weekend, holidays, snow days ( I was worse than the kids), summers, etc to re-charge. Working part-time at the hospital I get lots of regular time off so I'm not counting down days until I'm off. No matter how stressful, I know I just have two days to get through and I'm done. I also love all the new things I'm learning and if i get tired of one area I can change. Things I don't like, the days I work that's all I do. It's SO tiring working 12 hr shifts that turn into 14 hr days! I hate not seeing my kids before and after school the days I work until their bedtime. It's much more stressful and the politics are much worse. One minute administration wants you to work more and the next they're putting you on call. Also, the holidays are no fun but at least you get time and a half and you don't in the schools. In the schools you get no overtime so any after school meetings, open houses, etc you don't get extra. I think all in all I actually like my hospital job better but I like the autonomy and laid back atmosphere of the schools. I'm up for the next full-time school nurse job that opens up but it could be another couple years. If one would come open next week I really don't know what I'd choose. Apply to sub-you can do that on your days off. Get a copy of their salary schedule. Even though you have 13 yrs experience, the school system will most likely start you out on the bottom of the pay scale because they go by experience with them. Good luck! It's a nice change but it can get old like everything else.