Full time school nurse or part time rn

BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2015

Do you think it's better to work 5 days week with summers off or part time all year round . I have two school age children but hate the 5 day week. Feeling like PT all year may be better then school nurse. My hubby thinks I'm nuts to give up summers! Advice

I can honestly say if I was able to swing the pay, I would do the 5 day work week to have summers off. I would love not having to worry about child care on snow days or through the summer. Unfortunately our local school system hires minimal RNs and puts "health aides" in the schools for a ridiculously small amount of money. Of course you need to do what's best for you. What about PT nursing as weekend option only? Then you would still be home during the week through the summer and to help with school routine. Just a thought. Good luck!

Eleven011 · Aug 6, 2015

I have done both, and my preference is the school schedule. Many reasons, but the main few being summers off to be with the kids, attend all their activities, family vacations, etc. and then here in SD we have tough winters, so if you work at school and it blizzards, you stay home. If you are working elsewhere and it blizzards, you risk your life getting to work!

nyy2 · Aug 6, 2015

I have done both and I prefer the school schedule. Although sometimes it is rough getting through the 5 day weeks during the school year, there are so many breaks that make it worth it. At my school we have 1-2 weeks off in Dec/Jan, a week off in Feb, and then a week off during Spring break, on top of the 8 or so weeks off during the summer. Add into that all the other holidays, such as Columbus Day, Veterans Day, etc with Superintendents days or half days and you hardly work a whole month without at least one day off. Plus as the previous posters said, then you have the same days off as your kids, which is great for both child care and getting to spend time with your kids. :up:

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2015

I have also done both and agree with everyone else. I don't love 5 days a week so I decided to do the part time. The problems were part time quickly turned into full time because they were always calling me in or asking me to cover extra days. Also, my kids started getting very verbal about how unhappy they were not getting to see me until their bedtime 2-3 days a week. I thought only 2-3 days a week wouldn't be bad but they hated it esp when it was 3 days in a row. Also, every other holiday I had to work I hated knowing I wasn't at home to enjoy it with them. Same with the summers. So even though I myself enjoyed the 2-3 long days a week, it works so much better for my family to do the 5 shorter days a week. The job is less stressful. I'm off every single holiday. I'm home every eve in time to fix supper, help with homework, get them to sports practice, make it to all programs, etc. There are pros and cons to each but I have a much better work-life balance working as a school nurse.

Rubor · Aug 10, 2015

I have done both and i love the schedule of being a school nurse!

sippee · Aug 16, 2015

Blue moon,

Do you love what you are doing part time? You have to be happy with what you do everyday also. Are you going to go back to school nursing?

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2015

Sorry I wasn't very clear. I enjoyed what I did part time but I liked school nursing better. I just like the feel of the environment better. I did go back to school nursing full time. It's such a relief not worrying about holidays, summers, evenings, etc.