First school nurse at private school

[Andrew CPNP-PC, MSN, APRN, NP]

So I recently earned my MSN and am certified and licensed as a pediatric nurse practitioner in pediatric primary care in Mississippi. However, I have been unable to find work as a peds NP (this was not totally unexpected). A lot of details between here and there, but long story short, I am about to start working at a private school as a school nurse (~750 students total). I will have other responsibilities as well, but I wanted to see if any of you have developed a school nurse role from scratch. 

I was offered the position only a few days ago and have been doing as much research as I could over the weekend on how to go about establishing a school nurse role at a school that previously used the secretary as a nurse. I am working at my 7a-7p job now, but am calling my BON tomorrow and having a meeting with the school headmaster. If anyone has any advice or ideas on how to get a basic setup going, I am all ears! Thank you in advance!

Also, just so no one freaks out too much about the setup: The headmaster and I have discussed developing a health curriculum for students interested in potentially going into healthcare. We will also be looking into finding a collaborating physician so I can function as a peds NP. Plus my wife works there already, my son is going into first grade, and my daughter is starting pre-K there this August. This will also be the first time in 14 years my wife and I have been on the same schedule, and the pay is much better than the urgent care where I am now. So it's a great setup for me that kind of fell from the sky. 

But I need some advice! Thank you all again!

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

Congratulations! Sounds like a great opportunity!

I would look into your states nurse practice act as well as your states educational board and see what it says. I'm in a large public district, but if you Google the schools in your area you can probably get a lot of info from them or even call and speak to one of the nurses. Private is so  much different than public. But you will need to set up policies and procedures for meds, illnesses, forms, immunizations, diabetics, emergencies, field trips...etc.  I am sure the school has some of that in place already, but now that an RN is taking over, it is different. 

NASN is a great resource, please join them and also join your states school nursing association, many of these things have already been developed and you can tweak it for your school. 

Good luck!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Served as volunteer lunch nurse in PA, so based on info gleamed there,  here's Miss. specific info.

Served as volunteer lunch nurse in PA, so based on info gleamed there,  here's Miss. specific info.

Contact info:  https://www.mississippischoolnurse.org/regions

Mississippi School Nurse procedures and standards of care manual

MS Dept. of Health:  School Immunizations    https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/2029.pdf

NSNA: School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 4th Edition

MS Dept of Education  Healthy Schools

Asthma and Anaphylaxis Child Safety ActIEP (Individualized Education Plan), IHP (Individualized HealthcarePlan), and 504 plan Primer for New School Nurses

Contact info:  https://www.mississippischoolnurse.org/regions

Mississippi School Nurse procedures and standards of care manual

MS Dept. of Health:  School Immunizations    https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/2029.pdf

NSNA: School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 4th Edition

MS Dept of Education  Healthy Schools

Asthma and Anaphylaxis Child Safety Act