ER and home health to school

[stacnmac]

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

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

I just want to address the "pay cut" issue - I am actually making more per hour than I was as a manager of a busy public health clinic. I am making less than I was in the hospital with a weekend shift differential and overnight bonus, though. The issue is your money is spread over 12 months instead of the 10 months you work. Good luck!

[kidzcare]

I just want to address the "pay cut" issue - I am actually making more per hour than I was as a manager of a busy public health clinic. I am making less than I was in the hospital with a weekend shift differential and overnight bonus, though. The issue is your money is spread over 12 months instead of the 10 months you work. Good luck!

I'm sure this varies by region/district. Some SNs are on the teacher pay scale to start (which may still be a pay cut, depending on area) and some start way lower (like an hourly in the teens).

When I started as a school nurse, it was a $20,000 pay cut. I stayed on at my previous job for every other weekend and picked up extra shifts so I made around $10,000-12,000 there per year. So I still took a hit of 8-10K. My SN hourly was $4 less per hour than my previous gig. Plus being spread out over 12 months.

Now I have a supervising position and work on the special ed team and make enough that I don't need to work a weekend job.