ER and home health to school

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Specializes in ER; home health; adults; pediatrics; hospice.

So I've been a nurse for 12 years. The majority of that has been working as an ER nurse, general er then 4 years pediatric ER. The last 3 years I've been doing home health nursing. I made the switch due to my needs for family and flexibility and wanting to be able to be more involved with my kids school functions. My home health job is currently flexible and I do enjoy it. I also love the people I work with.

However, the school where my kids go will have a nurse position come open by the next school year. I know I will take a pay cut. I know I will deal with boredom. But, is it worth it to be in my kids school? To have weekends, holidays, snow days, and summers off?

has anyone here made this switch? If so I would love to hear your honest opinion

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If you don't have a personal aversion to working in this setting in and of itself, and if you can manage the pay-cut, then I think it would be good to consider general wisdom of the ages, so-to-speak: Kids grow up and are gone. We don't get our days of parenting (minor-aged) children back once they're over. You've already made some life/career changes in order to spend more time with your family, so it seems like these are ideas that resonate with you on at least some level.

I don't particularly enjoy OPC's (Other People's Children) but I think there are challenges in the school setting that make a good nurse a huge asset, and I think the setting would involve plenty of stimulation/challenges for the nurse as well. You can always choose to be good at what you do and make whatever good of it that you determine to make of it - for yourself and for the population you serve. Good things.

I like having irons in more than one fire - not sure how that would work with a school job. In my ideal world I would have the job that allowed me to spend as much time with my kids as humanly possible while also showing up in the ED now and then just to get rid of some energy or something. ;) And that is because there comes a point where the "time with my kids" thing becomes way more urgent and their days of being dependent suddenly seem way more numbered than you realized when they were really little, and it's all just more "looming..." No point in avoidable regrets, you know?

Consider asking the mods to help you move this to the School Nursing subforum - you will get lots of excellent perspectives and wisdom and great advice over there, I'm sure!

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

It's worth it to me. My daughter is in my school, my boys are in other schools in the district. I'm on my kids' schedule. I don't currently have a summer gig but that may change as my kids get older...I don't know. Boredom is what gets me the most. I'm fortunate to not have many medical needs at my small-ish school. I'm starting to develop "lessons" that I would like to try to incorporate into classroom teaching if possible (teachers are very protective of their limited time) or I may turn them into newsletters. The pay isn't the best, true. But being available & able to do things with my kids is invaluable. I can see ending my career here.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Welcome to allnurses.com

Thread moved to School Nurses forum for best response.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

. But, is it worth it to be in my kids school? To have weekends, holidays, snow days, and summers off?

This right here is truthfully what keeps me coming back!! I do love the job and it can be very rewarding, but at the end of the day, the schedule is the best perk of the job, IMO!

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Specializes in kids.

You have a great background and the tradeoffs are well worth it IMHO

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100% worth it. I am a single mom and wanted to be there for my kids at every time that I could be. I love having the time in the summer to do things with them, I don't have to find childcare over Xmas break (not as much of an issue now that they're older), LOVE not having to work holidays. I had to work two jobs for a long time to make it work but this is my second school year working only one job and it is great!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

School nursing is my last nursing job. I'm on the elementary level and all my 5 kids have attended my school. The memories I have of them here in these hallways is worth more to me than any amount that money can buy. No nights, weekends, holidays, 12 hour shifts, to work and plenty of time off in the summer and around holidays and spring break.

Obviously you are qualified for the position, and I really doubt you will be bored, so if you can afford it (and there is plenty of time to work prn in the summer if you need or want to)...go for it. I don't think you will regret it.

Good Luck. Keep us informed!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Definitely not boring!!

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YEP! I was in home health and switched over to school nursing. The only time I am bored is the few days I'm in the office that the kids aren't here. The children find a way to keep me on my toes. The hours and schedule are great. I get to enjoy all of my family holidays and the summer is spent enjoying the good weather. I don't have any kids, but my dog loves having me home all over breaks!

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Specializes in ER; home health; adults; pediatrics; hospice.

Thank you all for your input. I think I could handle the pay cut. I would make some adjustments to make it work. I think I would like the day to day work. But I'm concerned more I suppose about leaving a job that I like and coworkers/bosses that are the best. I think the benefits of school nursing would put weigh everything else but just nervous I suppose. It would be an easier decision if I hated my current job or coworkers.

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Specializes in School nursing.

I don't have kids so can't comment there but can say my school nursing job is NEVER boring.

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