Did you become a school nurse because you were burnt out from floor nursing?

Artistyc1 · Apr 6, 2009

I think that my reasons were that I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and was lucky enough to be hired here. I have worked pediatrics, med/surg, hospice, but the majority of the time before I began in the school system, I worked in OB. I think, after almost 30 years of nursing, this is my most enjoyable role, I have been here 5 years now. It is NOT enjoyable because it is "easier", (though this fabulous work schedule DOES have its perks, LOL) but I think the continuity of watching kids grow from Pre-k to 5th grade is wonderful. Getting to know the families very well over the years, and knowing most on a first name basis is awesome. Mentally, and emotionally, though, it can be exhausting. I work at a school with a fairly low socioeconomic population- mostly working poor families. However, I am within a fairly wealthy district, and do have resources I can call upon to assist with many of their needs. Alcoholism, drug use, neglect- all are ever present in my school. Follow through for their children's needs is like pulling teeth with some of the parents. But, seeing the kids smile when I gently tease them, or when I give them the TLC they crave so much is very rewarding. Some days I am going crazy, trying to meet everyone's needs, and having to call CPS for suspicions is heartbreaking, but having to keep in contact with CPS when I worked on OB and peds was at least as bad. The money is "good enough", though I took a significant pay cut from the hospital, I work fewer hours , anyway!

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Apr 6, 2009

although i was burned out from floor nursing, i really just "fell" into this job 18 years ago and here i am ! i do love the hours and schedule. i do love the kids. the parents i can deal with, but some teacher's really get to me ! all in all, it is a good job and very rewarding. i plan on staying here for a long time, lord willing !

praiser :heartbeat

skoolnurse · Apr 6, 2009

I became a High School school nurse because of a Elementary School Secretary that chased me down the hall!

I had been volunteering my services in the Health Room (that was run by moms), when a position was posted because of two brittle diabetic brothers. I really didn't want to apply but the secretary wrote my letter of intent and 'cleaned up my resume'. Then SHE sent it in!

(I was med -surg in the hospital and hated peds! LOL)

I went on the interview, and have been loving my job for 8 years!

Thanks Nancy! :yeah:

bergren · Apr 6, 2009

I went to my undergraduate program in Pennsylvania which has long had a strong certification program. I always knew I wanted to work in Peds, and had already been hired early my senior year to work at an urban Children's Hospital after graduation. At my university, school nursing was an elective clinical which I took my final semester. I was totally hooked. I worked 3 years in Peds and QI before I saw the first school nurse opening. I move often and have worked school health in every other lcoation, actue peds every other location. I feel school nurses have the best opportunity to help kids stay heathy in school nursing.

pugmomrn · Apr 6, 2009

I, too, had a community nursing clinical in school health (a long time ago!)

I've worked inpatient for the last 13 years and really loved my OB/GYN/Peds job! But, I wanted to give school nursing a try-- I looked at school nursing positions for a while, on and off, and this one came up-- a really nice combination of administrative work (love paperwork!!), student care, and health education.

Yes, the perks are great-- I was home for the holidays for the first time in 7 years!! The insurance is unbeatable. Can't wait for spring break. I have a lot of autonomy (took a while to get used to it!!) and can really pick and choose my projects.

However, if the right OB position happens to open up before the next school year, I will probably go back. Babies are in my heart and soul.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Apr 6, 2009

I didn't even know much about school nursing. The jobs are hard to get and I didn't think I could ever have one. I applied to be a sub nurse in my children's school district and was hired for a 4hr/day position as a nurse aid. I loved what I did, even though I was not the "nurse". I was an RN for 17 years then. I went back to school, got my BSN and School Nurse Certification and left the hospital to work as a Nurse aid. I never looked back.

I feel like I can really make a difference where I am. I did not feel like that at the hospital. I also have an autonomy I did not have at the hospital. I can run my health office the way I see fit (within reason)Everything else like weekends/holidays/summers off are great as well as the health benefits but even before I got my Certified position and was working as an aid with lousy pay and no benefits and no summer pay, I still loved what I did. I really like the long term relationships I make with the kids and their families.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

I also kind of fell into it. My first job out of school was a disaster with a poor orientation and scary staffing ratios, but I was going to stick it out for at least a year. I have always been interested in health promotion, so school nursing was always in my head as something I would like to do at some point in my career. I heard about the need and the opening at my district, and was told that they would consider me without a lot of hospital experience, so I went out on a limb and applied. I got the job and have never looked back! The hospital setting is just not for me, I never really felt like a nurse on the floor, just a task master. Now I feel more like a nurse, and I love being THE nurse!

SchoolNurseBSN · Apr 7, 2009

I also kind of fell into it. My first job out of school was a disaster with a poor orientation and scary staffing ratios, but I was going to stick it out for at least a year. I have always been interested in health promotion, so school nursing was always in my head as something I would like to do at some point in my career. I heard about the need and the opening at my district, and was told that they would consider me without a lot of hospital experience, so I went out on a limb and applied. I got the job and have never looked back! The hospital setting is just not for me, I never really felt like a nurse on the floor, just a task master. Now I feel more like a nurse, and I love being THE nurse!

Wow Purple Scrubs - when I read your post, I thought it was a post I made and forgot about!!!

I sort of got burned out on floor nursing before I finished nursing school. I was going to try for a year also....made it 3 months. I could never see going back to the hospital setting!

ThanksForAllTheFish! · Apr 9, 2009

I also kind of fell into it. My first job out of school was a disaster with a poor orientation and scary staffing ratios, but I was going to stick it out for at least a year. I have always been interested in health promotion, so school nursing was always in my head as something I would like to do at some point in my career. I heard about the need and the opening at my district, and was told that they would consider me without a lot of hospital experience, so I went out on a limb and applied. I got the job and have never looked back! The hospital setting is just not for me, I never really felt like a nurse on the floor, just a task master. Now I feel more like a nurse, and I love being THE nurse!

I am new grad (Aug 08) that has been working in the ICU since Sept. There are many things about the ICU I like, but I don't think this is the place for me (personal issues, people are trying to push me out, new grad insecurities, the general workings of hospital nursing etc). I just don't think floor/hospital nursing fits my personality type. My previous degree/career was in research, so I've been looking into clinical trials. However, I've also been looking into other non-bedside careers. My main concern is that I only have 7 months experience right now and its looking like I'm not going to make it to the 1 year mark. How much experience did you have when you left floor nursing? Obviously it worked out well for you, yay! Any advice for this new grad suffering a mini-crisis? Thanks in advance!

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

I was under the 6 month mark. The thing about school nursing is that you really do most of the learning on the job (like hospital nursing, but without the extensive preceptorship). I don't think extra hospital experience would have really helped me that much (peds would be an exception, that would help). Knowing how to start IVs doesn't help when you need to stop a nosebleed, or determine if a wrist is fractured or not. Heck, I did not even know how to run a nebulizer when I started, and now I do it daily!

I will say you need really good assessment skills, because you are alone out there, even if you have good support from your health services department (I do). I also got a text book from NASN which has helped me a lot. But, if you are confident in your assessment skills, I say go for it! You can always try subbing first and see if you like it. For me, school nursing is the only way to go!

bergren · Apr 10, 2009

I had 6 years experience before starting school nursing the first time. I have many years of acute on and off throughout my career. If you are in a school with 2 nurses, lack of experience would not be as critical. In a school, you typically are alone. There is no one to ask questions and no resident down the hall. You need excellent pediatric assessment skills. Since you are working ER, you realize that kids sometime cannot be articulate about where and how much it hurts, or even know what dizzy means. So you really need to be able to use every tool in your assessment kit to figure out what is wrong. The high school would be less of an issue.

I would suggest trying another less intense acute area first, informatics, or public health, ambulatory health just to name a few? There are many nursing careers that are not acute clincial. In the interim, you can sub in a school and see if it is your cup of tea.