Do you enjoy being a school nurse?

[walkingonsunshine]

I am pondering becoming a school nurse. I think I would like it and it would be a good match for my personality. But I have heard about many nurses doing school nursing and finding it too monotonous and going back to a hospital job. I have subbed (for only one day), and enjoyed it, even though it was extremely busy, almost too much so. I don't think a sub really gets the same picture as the full time school nurse. It is more challenging as a sub when you don't know the school, the kids, or the routines.

In your experience, do most school nurses who came from hospitals enjoy being a school nurse and want to stay? What percentage of new school nurses stay for a year and then leave to do something else?

I just am so tired of weekends, getting home so late during the week, and working holidays. Overall I have watched my family suffer and noticed that I am not as happy anymore. Life is short and I want to be able to visit my out of town family more often and be there for my kids.

I had several school nurse interviews and I am so anxious to see if I got a job. At the same time I worry a little that if I don't like it, I may be shutting the door to where I work (the best hospital in town by far) and may not be able to come back later. I guess it is always hard to make a change, and sometimes we just have to take a chance.

Would you pick school nursing again if you had a choice?

[Amethya]

I am a CMA and medical aide at a public charter school. My goal was to be a school nurse since I was younger, but since I'm not an RN, I didn't think I could get this job.

I only worked at Doctor's offices, and frankly, while I do miss it a bit, I didn't like it much because of my social anxiety. So when I had to look for another job, I found this job online and applied, went in and they hired me on the spot. I am living the dream, no one breathes behind my back about anything, only the children come to visit and at times teachers and everyone respects my opinion. I feel needed and I like it.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

I absolutely LOVE my job. Coming from a hospital working 13 hour shifts, holidays, etc. this is the only place I want to be.

Even though I am at a different school this year (same district) and I miss my last school like crazy, being home by 3:00 is worth it.

When I worked at the hospital I would get home, immediately shower as to not touch my kids with my MRSAness, eat, and then it would be bed time for my babies. I felt like three days a week I wasn't a mom. ***Please do not take offense if you work in a hospital, this was just how I felt.*** Not to mention missing out on family holidays or asking family to change their schedules to accommodate mine.

And don't even get me started on the stress level...Let's just say it went waaaaayyyy down. :)

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

After not being sure that I was really going to like doing this whole School Nurse thing I'm happy to say that I really am starting to love it. I'm getting to know the kids and even the frequent fliers have grown on me. I'm more comfortable in my role and feel like my opinion is respected. When I miss the hospital I just remind myself how my kids use to cry when they saw me putting on my scrubs, missing out on every holiday because I was so low down in seniority at the hospital, being chronically sleep deprived and stressed out, etc.

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

I do enjoy being a school nurse a lot. I love the relationships I build with the kids. It can take a while to build that up when starting out at new school but once you do it's priceless. I get several hugs a day. I get several "hi nurse " walking through the halls. Once in a while I even get a thank you note or drawing. So sweet. Plus I really enjoy working on my own. I enjoy the atmosphere of a school. Just all around a lot less stress and it's a great feeling to know I'm off every holiday and summer and don't have to try and get a good week for vacation before someone else grabs it or miss out on holiday functions. It's still a job and the money isn't great but I don't mind going to work for the first time in my life!

[melis1970]

How do you even get a job as a school nurse? I've been looking for jobs and they all require certification. I looked into being certified and you can't get certified until you have work experience!

I don't care about being "bored". I'm sick of hospitals and acute care. I like the idea of working with kids and being able to possibly have an influence on kids and educating them about healthy lifestyle.

I want to be in a more positive environment than a hospital and have more of myself left over in my personal life.

[melis1970]

Great post! I'm looking to get out of acute care and hospital nursing. I would love to be in a school environment around kids. How did you get started?

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

Nowadays most school nurses get their foot in the door by subbing. That will also give you a look at what it's like to be a school nurse. By subbing you will gain school nurse experience. In our district you need 5 yrs RN experience plus a bachelor's degree with preference given to those who have school nurse experience. Once hired you get a year to complete your actual school nurse certification.

Call your local board office and ask what requirements are needed to sub and go from there. Each district is different. Good luck!

[kidzcare]

In my area it is not at all difficult to get a job as a school nurse. I would guess that is because the pay cut is so extreme. I went from working full time at a skilled nursing facility to full time at a school and it was about a $20,000 pay cut. (Obviously the SNF was year round which plays a part)

It's my understanding that in other parts of the country the school nurses are paid on the teacher scale and I can see how that would make the jobs more difficult to come by. For some reason my area feels like my nursing degree is worth 75% of a teaching degree.

[mag426, ADN, BSN]

I'm not sure about LPN's but I'm an associate degree RN and I just started at a school nurse this month. I'm not nationally certified as a school nurse but I'm finishing up my bachelors degree in nursing with 5 more classes to go. But my now boss didnt ask about it during the interview. I guess every school is different.

[Amethya]

Not really a school nurse, but a medical aide (CMA). My story is this:

I graduated 2 years ago from CMA program. I like the medical field and I honestly wanted a quick job because I had family issues at home where extra income was needed (sister-in-law died 5 years ago and now I was in charge to 2 children and my aging parents).

So I got a job after maybe a month out school and I was studying for my exam for my certification. I eventually got it during my first try and worked for a while in my cardiology job. I wasn't happy though, I loved the clinical job I did, and the patients, but the co-workers were toxic and I wasn't comfortable. So I ended up getting fired/quitting my job after a year there.

I wasn't in the best place after that and even after finding a job in a week, I got fired in a week because I wasn't mentally okay after the last job. I was pretty down on myself and had bad anxiety, so I didn't work a month to clear my mind and feel a bit better.

After that I decided to look for a job, and spent a few weeks in job interviews and such, but I wasn't happy thinking of working with other people in an office setting again, I was too scared of bullying again and that toxicity. So I tried to ask my own questions on the atmosphere and such in the work place, but it didn't seem anything was a good fit for me. Then one day, I thought, what about a school nurse? Of course, I'm not a RN, but medical aide? So I searched online, and tried a public charter school, but I messed up the interview.

So I did that trick I told others that make a script on the most common questions asked in interviews, so I practiced and practiced and did another interview for another public charter school, and after 5 mins of leaving the interview, I was hired.

I didn't know how would be in this type of job, or if I could succeed, but I tried my best, and really opened up to others. I felt better and I was happier here, I really like my job and I honestly found my calling. I decided I want to be a RN to be a school nurse, because I can help more than what I can with my current abilities. I decided to work at a camp this past summer, and I think it was a good experience and test to me that I can work with others.

I am now in my second year here and I'm still in love with this job, sure it can be come a bit stressful, but I really enjoy this and I can see myself doing this long term too. I'm currently finishing up my pre-reqs and as soon as I can, I'll try to apply for nursing programs and see what I can get.

[Farawyn]

Yes, I just wish I got paid more.