ED nurse to School Nurse

Specialties School

Published

Hi, I am currently working as an ER nurse. I love what I do but with two little ones starting school soon I have thoughts of finding a position where I am more available to my children and where I get to work with children more consistently. I would want to stay on per diem at the hospital. I am wondering if anyone else has made this transition? Was it a huge pay cut? What has been the most difficult about being a school nurse? What do you love about it? There are job postings through staffing agencies and school districts-what is the difference? Any helpful advice making this transition is appreciated!

Specializes in School Nursing.

My pay cut was not significant. I worked 40 hours per week as a surgery nurse. I took about a 5k a year pay cut, but I also cut out my $600 a month daycare bill. I'm making the same money for better hours. I work PRN in surgery still. So, I have MORE money ?

Your ER experience will be great. You practice pretty independently.

2 Votes
Specializes in ED, LTACH, Home care, Urgent Care.

I have no idea how to reply to people specifically as I just started using this forum. I really appreciate all the responses. It sounds like it would be very good for my family once the kids are all in school with no more daycare costs. It seems to just depend on the school and who you are working for. I spoke to a girlfriend of mine who is leaving school nursing after 4 years. She said the politics and liability are just too much-she works just with special education children. She said she makes $80,000 a year but that is because of the reimbursement the school gets for the children. I still think I will get my foot in the door by becoming a sub and seeing how I like it and if I like it enough possibily take a full time position if one opens up once my kids are both in school. Your responses make me excited to imagine doing this ☺

Specializes in kids.
1 hour ago, Tirednurseandmomma14 said:

I have no idea how to reply to people specifically as I just started using this forum. I really appreciate all the responses. It sounds like it would be very good for my family once the kids are all in school with no more daycare costs. It seems to just depend on the school and who you are working for. I spoke to a girlfriend of mine who is leaving school nursing after 4 years. She said the politics and liability are just too much-she works just with special education children. She said she makes $80,000 a year but that is because of the reimbursement the school gets for the children. I still think I will get my foot in the door by becoming a sub and seeing how I like it and if I like it enough possibily take a full time position if one opens up once my kids are both in school. Your responses make me excited to imagine doing this ☺

To reply to a specific post, hit the "Quote" under their post. Then you can delete what you don't want to reply to . Or bold. OF enlarge.

1 Votes
Specializes in ED, LTACH, Home care, Urgent Care.
1 hour ago, NutmeggeRN said:

To reply to a specific post, hit the "Quote" under their post. Then you can delete what you don't want to reply to . Or bold. OF enlarge.

Thank you! ☺

1 Votes
Specializes in ED, LTACH, Home care, Urgent Care.
3 hours ago, SchoolNurse91 said:

My pay cut was not significant. I worked 40 hours per week as a surgery nurse. I took about a 5k a year pay cut, but I also cut out my $600 a month daycare bill. I'm making the same money for better hours. I work PRN in surgery still. So, I have MORE money ?

Your ER experience will be great. You practice pretty independently.

Can I ask what state you work in? That is awesome that you are basically making the same amount with no daycare cost.

On 3/11/2020 at 10:40 AM, Nursesusu said:

I came to school nursing from bedside oncology nursing. The pay cut was significant but the trade off makes up for it. I have decent hours, I adore the littlins that I care for, I have my evenings and weekends free, and a get a bonus 6 weeks off in the Summer. I am paid a year round salary so it's doable. Could I make double the money in the hospital picking up extra shifts, etc.? Sure. But I'd be doing 12 hr shifts also. This nurse is getting up in years, so not for me..

Yeah, I'm not sure my body can keep up with the ER pace for long. I'm wearing compression socks and have orthotics. All good information, thank you!

On 3/11/2020 at 12:32 PM, Tirednurseandmomma14 said:

Thank you everyone for your insight-I really appreciate it. I think it might be a good idea to either shadow a school nurse or become a sub. I've noticed while looking at positions that the most I have seen for pay is $26/hour (I'm in Minnesota). I currently make $42/hour so that is quite a difference. I'm appalled by how little the pay is for all you are accountable for. I also notice that 1:1 school nurses for special needs students is $33/hour. I'm not quite sure why such a different pay? The perks definitely are what I am looking for as the weekends/odd hours, long hours, and physical/mental exhaustion is real right now. Do you guys have health aides at your school? What do your retirement benefits look like? Thank you!

I'm frequently appalled by how little school nurses are paid.

Don't forget to factor in that it's $26/hour for less hours per year also.

52 weeks a year, 40 hours a week at $42/hour= $87,360

36 weeks a year, 40 hours a week at $26/hour= $37,440

Specializes in kids.
22 hours ago, Tirednurseandmomma14 said:

Thank you! ☺

Look at you go!

1 Votes

I'm a former ED nurse too! I'm on the teacher pay scale and also have a master's in a different field (which counts for extra pay), so I actually make more per hour in school nursing than I did in my last hospital job. But of course I work fewer hours since we have so much time off, and so in the end my yearly income is maybe $5k less. Totally worth it for the summers and all holidays off. It's hard to imagine going back to a year-round job, honestly. Plus, government pension and good health insurance.

1 Votes
On 3/11/2020 at 12:32 PM, Tirednurseandmomma14 said:

Thank you everyone for your insight-I really appreciate it. I think it might be a good idea to either shadow a school nurse or become a sub. I've noticed while looking at positions that the most I have seen for pay is $26/hour (I'm in Minnesota). I currently make $42/hour so that is quite a difference. I'm appalled by how little the pay is for all you are accountable for. I also notice that 1:1 school nurses for special needs students is $33/hour. I'm not quite sure why such a different pay? The perks definitely are what I am looking for as the weekends/odd hours, long hours, and physical/mental exhaustion is real right now. Do you guys have health aides at your school? What do your retirement benefits look like? Thank you!

Once I became certified, I was placed on the teacher's retirement. Prior to that, I was on the retirement plan for state municipal workers.

I do have a health aid that I'm in charge of in another building.
With regards to health aids, all schools are completely different, at least in my area they are. Some districts have a nurse in every building, some have a nurse that covers multiple buildings that have health aids that sit in the health offices, some have nurse that cover multiple buildings without anyone specifically designated for the health office, other districts have no nurse at all.

You friend brings up a great point with regards to liability and politics as well. If you're the in 1 school, the liability isn't as great of a factor vs if you are delegating to unlicensed personnel (my aid has zero medial training). In my opinion, the politics within the school system are far greater than in the hospital, but that may be district dependent as well.

1 Votes
Specializes in ED, LTACH, Home care, Urgent Care.
On 3/15/2020 at 5:22 PM, laflaca said:

I'm a former ED nurse too! I'm on the teacher pay scale and also have a master's in a different field (which counts for extra pay), so I actually make more per hour in school nursing than I did in my last hospital job. But of course I work fewer hours since we have so much time off, and so in the end my yearly income is maybe $5k less. Totally worth it for the summers and all holidays off. It's hard to imagine going back to a year-round job, honestly. Plus, government pension and good health insurance.

Thats awesome! Do you still work in the ED? How did the transition go?

Specializes in ED, LTACH, Home care, Urgent Care.
8 hours ago, ihavealltheice said:

Once I became certified, I was placed on the teacher's retirement. Prior to that, I was on the retirement plan for state municipal workers.

I do have a health aid that I'm in charge of in another building.
With regards to health aids, all schools are completely different, at least in my area they are. Some districts have a nurse in every building, some have a nurse that covers multiple buildings that have health aids that sit in the health offices, some have nurse that cover multiple buildings without anyone specifically designated for the health office, other districts have no nurse at all.

You friend brings up a great point with regards to liability and politics as well. If you're the in 1 school, the liability isn't as great of a factor vs if you are delegating to unlicensed personnel (my aid has zero medial training). In my opinion, the politics within the school system are far greater than in the hospital, but that may be district dependent as well.

Thanks so much for your experience and take on the job. Good stuff to consider ?

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