Finding your nich outside the hospital

[AHJRN]

Some days I love my job. It is flexible, I have a great manager and co workers, which means alot! Other days I regret my decison to major in nursing rather than education. This has been one of those weeks! I currently work in a pain management office that is part of the hospital. It is really all about making money for the hospital and the docs!

I have worked for the local "non for profit" hospital for eight years in various areas (floor, ICU, and L&D) I am extremely disheartened by my employer. The hospital continue to grow and advertise, but at who's expense? Our insurance premiums continue to skyrocket anytime we get a raise, our insurance goes up. I work for a large employer with over 5,000 nurses, we should be able to have excellent benefits at areasonable price. I realize they are in it to make a profit, but that is not why I became a nurse, not at the expense of the patients. I digress......

I am considering exploring life outside the hospital, but am unsure where to start. I would love to do something more community oriented. I have volunteered at the free clinic, which I enjoyed. I love people obviously, most of us (nurses) do. I love children also, but have never wanted to work in pediatrics at the hospital. I am considering school nursing. Some of the reason I think it would be a good fit......working with kids of course. My husband is a small business owner; therefore, benefits are much more important to us than salary. I come from a long line of teachers and know the benefits are hard to compete with. It may be the best of both worlds...nursing and education. My main concern is this....do you feel all alone the schools being the only nurse? or do you collaborate with the teachers to care for the students? I enjoy working as part of a team. Just looking for any feedback, insights, or suggestions.

Thanks!

trapped in the hosptial vortex

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Well, i won't lie - sometimes the life of a school nurse can be a very lonely one. Unlike a hospital where you have a team of fellow nurses to work with or bounce ideas off of or get opinions on whether or not you made the right type of call, you are typically on your own to make decisions about what type of intervention is going to be performed. Granted - there are some fortunate nurses that have 2 or even 3 nurses working in the same office. This obviously would lend itself to more of a team atmosphere, of course, but by and large it's you against many, many needy students and their even needier parents. It's your call on whether you think that pink tinged eye is a simple allergy or conjunctivitis. It's on you whether or not the kid complaining of the stomach ache should be sent home or wait it out until after lunch (as he probably didn't eat breakfast). I am not trying to talk you out of persuing school nursing by any means, I just want you to have the full understanding that as the school nurse, you are calling the shots.

My suggestion is that you contact a few local school districts to inquire about serving as a substitute school nurse so that you can experience it hands on. Then you will be better able to judge for yourself.

[bergren]

I agree. Arrange to volunteer or sub.

The community aspect and the health promotion aspect of school nursing are great. There is some peds involved. There are many kids with acute needs in schools.

Another avenue besides school nursing is public health nursing. Check out your local health department or community agencies.

[TXNurseBSN]

You may see me complaining frequently on these boards. However, my wost day at my school beats any day working med-surg.

pros

1. no nights / weekends / holidays

2. lots of time off

3. autonomy (you run your clinic the way you want)

4. The kids will sometimes drive you nuts - but can give you so much joy when you know you have helped them

cons

1. you are usually the only nurse in the building - can be very lonely

2. autonomy (nobody to lean on or pick up the slack)

3. The plethora of non-nursing duties you seem to get stuck with. Do you need a nursing license to give safety pins and clean clothes???

4. no shif diffs, etc

It really depends on you - school nursing is not for everyone - just as hospital nursing was not for me!!

[sChOOLRN48]

SUB! I think that is a great way to get a taste of it and get out fast or get the dirt on where the next opening will be.

I am lonely sometimes, but I can wander the building, help with class experiments, go to recess (with a cooler of ice packs and walkie talkie), I get to play and do all the cool things. My office is isolated, but across from the gym so I hang with the PE teachers a lot...they are funny. I think the longer you are some place the more the staff and teachers respect and seek out your help. I am artsy and am often enlisted to help with posters and propaganda. I have also felt more respected and trusted by the end of this year and several of my teachers have come to me to explain Mom's procedure or to interpret Dr mumbojumbo or explain the action of a med.

Good Luck! I think happiness is the most important thing and for me at this time in my life I need time, not adreniline (former/recovering ED nurse). That is not to say I don't miss the "fun"