Elementary vs. High School

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I'm currently at a PK-6th grade campus, and while I appreciate my job, I've been considering switching to high school if a position opens up. My clinic aide used to work in a high school clinic, and she believes, knowing what I gripe about every day, that I would enjoy high school much more. Has anyone done both? If so, what are the major differences between the two and which did you prefer? Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

I work in a school that has kids of all ages, k-age 21. We have children with autism ( elem and middle), severely emotionally disturbed children ( all ages), and kids in an alternative jr/sr high. I really don't who I like working with better. Pros and cons for all. The little ones can be so cute but also quite a challenge when they are acting out. The older kids are fun to talk to and joke around with, but when they "go off" they can be become violent. Overall the students are quite needy and it is hard to pick. I think, though , if I worked in a "typical" school I would pick high school. Maybe because my own kids are older and I can identify more with older kids at this point. Maybe because I get tired of the little ones whining and crying. I don't know. Sorry, not much help.

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I prefer working with the younger kids and here's why: less attitude, no teen pregnancy, no (or less anyway) drugs, smoking, sexual bragging, fist fights, complaits of cramps, migraines, etc. I have teenagers so it's not that I can't relate to them-it's just the good ones aren't the ones that frequent the nurse's office as much. Also for some reason I've found that 7-9 graders are extremely whiney and emotional about everything! Give me a crying kindergardener who I can make feel all better with a hug any day!

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.
I prefer working with the younger kids and here's why: less attitude, no teen pregnancy, no (or less anyway) drugs, smoking, sexual bragging, fist fights, complaits of cramps, migraines, etc. I have teenagers so it's not that I can't relate to them-it's just the good ones aren't the ones that frequent the nurse's office as much. Also for some reason I've found that 7-9 graders are extremely whiney and emotional about everything! Give me a crying kindergardener who I can make feel all better with a hug any day!

Ditto! :)

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Specializes in kids.

I love my HS kids and would not work anyplace else!!!!!

They make me laugh!:roflmao:

They can be difficult as all get out but it is soo cool to watch the morph into adults.

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I have JHS and HS kids. I also love the high schoolers. They are funny and fun. I agree with a previous poster, though, junior high aged kids can be tough. They are very needy, very emotional, and just old/smart enough to be a little manipulative if they want to be! I just take a deep breath and try to remind myself that it can be a very tough time to be a kid... lots of transitions for them.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i've worked with regularity from k to 8 and in my last district i worked occasionally in the high school. I can say in all honesty that my favorite population is the high school population. They can be held a bit more personally accountable for their health, you can joke on a bit more on an adult level, and they keep you on your toes. But the flip side of that is that they do keep you on your toes. Drugs, violence, pregnacy, stupid decisions and teenage bravado all make the job difficult. There is also the fact that they are not yet adults, and while we may treat them as young adults, they are not. They sometimes forget that too -they want to be treated like adilts, but aren't really ready to make those types of choices and have those types of thoughts.

The little ones are sometimes a bit easier because sometimes all they need is just 5 seconds of attention and a smear of vaseline across their lips to turn their day around. You can't get away with that with the older kids - once their day starts going down the drain, it's hard to turn it around with a few kind words and a smile.

I made my last move to this k-8 school so i could be in the same school as my daughter, who will be starting k in september. But a part of me is upset that i left my middle school and more upset that i blew my shot of getting into a high school.

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Flare,

How did you blow your shot at getting into a HS? Just curious...

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

my new district is k-8. figure i'll be here as long as my kiddo - the next 9 years at least - add that to the seven years i already have in the pension system and i may just as well stay here. I suppose things could change. I'm not entirely forlorn about it, it was a good career move - more moolah, shorter commute and in district with my kid, but it did involve a lot of soul searching to make the move.

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Okay, going to have to bump this thread to the top again. I just got called for an interview at a high school tomorrow. Can anyone offer any words of wisdom for the interview? For example, things I need to do differently in a high school vs. elementary, any major complaints that I will need to address in high school that I didn't before? I appreciate anything you have to offer. I tend to get tongue tied and go brain dead when put on the spot, so I'm trying to prepare as much as possible. Thanks!

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