Grade Preference...

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Specializes in Certified Pediatric Nurse/Post Partum Nurse.

I was hired in April into a Middle School....an opening at a High School has opened and I'm considering it.

I love the older kids....witty, sarcastic, good conversation. I spent 8 yrs as a floor peds nurse and I always preferred the older ones.

So....for those of you in a HS:

Challenges? Likes? Dislikes? 

Do you have a preference if you've been at different age levels? 

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Specializes in school nurse.

For me, middle school is the worst of both worlds. They're losing the cuteness and gaining the attitude. They also don't have the level of reasoning that high schoolers (may) have.

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Specializes in Certified Pediatric Nurse/Post Partum Nurse.

That's pretty much the impression I get too.

I like that the older kids really do have a general foundation of knowledge and life. General foundation. They just have to figure out the cause n effect, the long term impact of choices, the "fine tuning" of things.
I like those conversations.

They understand their chronic illnesses more, can manage them pretty independently, they can articulate their symptoms......well, that's my beautiful assumption and hope ?

I know they have their challenges too, but I'm not wrestling a grade school kid to remove a spliter or dealing with hormonal tweens.


I dunno....each person has their thing ?

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I like the littles.  1st-5th grade are my favorites.  They are little sponges, and I get to come in at an opportune time to teach them how to manage their chronic conditions and stay healthy.  The biggest challenge is that it takes them a while to warm up to you.  

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.

I've done all grades and ages. I'm burnt out on elementary and all their neediness and hand holding.

I'm going back to middle school. I like that they can tell me what's wrong and they're still young enough to intimidate out of the attitudes and if not off to the principal. Middle school teachers are very strict for the most part and won't put up with too much crap. You can joke with them at this age easier. They are all going through the moodiness and hormones but I won't tolerate disrespect and they know that.

Last year I did high school. We mostly saw those that wanted to go home and they had chronic absences and mostly failing. Then there were the dramatic ones faking seizures and constantly having panic attacks. Or the ones that didn't eat all day and all of a sudden feel super sick and get mad when you suggest a snack. I have no patience for that. It was easier in a lot of ways because they could drive or walk themselves home with parent permission. You could explain something to them and they got it usually. They were easy to joke with. They were independent. It's just I rarely got to interact with the good ones except the diabetics. Also high school has a lot of things like sports physicals you may have to help with, graduation, proms, senior days, etc that they need extra staff help with.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Home Health.

I've only been in HS and I like it. I like being able to call them out on their bluff, and being able to hear them out when they vent (I remember being a teen!). They show appreciation most of the time. AND, they know when they are going to puke so they won't puke on ME. LOL. 

I think the biggest challenge is the violence towards each other, not me. I could have the calmest days, but then you never know when a bad fight is going to break out. 

Then you have those kids you care for and drop out, but I guess that isn't really a challenge, it's just sad. 

 

Good luck!

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