Holy pay cut shock!

[Scorchednurse]

I'm sure this has been up here before...but I've never browsed the school nurses as I recently became one. I'm an LPN of 2 Year's, prior medic, and medical assistant. My job I just left at a rehabilitation hospital paid 28/hr...when they offered me the school nurse job she said 15/hr!!!! Minimum wage here is 10! I was kind of, well, offended! I got them up to 17.85/hr plus all breaks paid off, regular benefits, and a pension plan. Just curious...did everyone else experience this incredibly low pay in school nursing? I couldn't believe they could ever fill the position at 5 dollars over minimum wage!?

[Scorchednurse]

" Plus I get paid year round, so drawing that check in summer is sweet." QUOTE

I'm not a school nurse, but I think it is the same as for the teachers. Though paid for basically 9+ months of work, when a teacher is signed on, she has the option of being paid monthly for the 9 months or same amount spread out over 12 months to get some income over the summer months when school is out of session.

Indeed, I have one friend who is a school nurse who doesn't get paid for breaks in her district. In mine though, we are structured exactly the same as teachers so there's about 4 months you are paid for that you don't get up and go to work so that in itself is a huge benefit. Plus there's a 100% salary pay pension after retirement for a certain number of years which is unheard of almost anywhere else anymore.

[Scorchednurse]

Some school nurses do summer camp nursing in the summer. Lots of camps let you bring your children for free.

Enjoy your weekends, holidays, evenings, and nights off.

Cooll! Thanks for the info! I'm feeling out this area of nursing and love the input from those who are more well versed than I!

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I'm not a school nurse but I have friends who are and the basement low pay is the norm in our school district as well. They don't differentiate between RN and LPN, the pay is the same. Starting wage went up last year to a whopping $18 an hour I think. Pathetically low. The benefits used to make up some for that, but they've cut them so much that it's not so much the case anymore.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Often, I've considered school nursing and thought that I would love it.

I've even interviewed for a position, but someone else was chosen.

At this point in my life, there's NO WAY I could afford it. Just

bought a new house, and I'm the breadwinner! Maybe someday.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

My salary working hospice was only a couple thousand more yearly than my salary as a school

nurse. When you factor in the 2 months off during the summer, weekends, holidays, 2 weeks at Christmas, and a week during the spring.. it more that makes up in my favor. If I stayed hourly in the SNF- i'd be about 20k in the hole-- but again, that's not factoring all the time off! None of us go into school nursing for the paycheck!

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Eleven dollar pay cut? Ouch.

I have thought about becoming a school nurse (summers, holidays and weekends off? Plus snow days? YES!). But I couldn't justify low pay at this stage in my life.

But that schedule, though....

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Eleven dollar pay cut? Ouch.

I have thought about becoming a school nurse (summers, holidays and weekends off? Plus snow days? YES!). But I couldn't justify low pay at this stage in my life.

But that schedule, though....

PEN during the breaks to supplement your pay... You still get to pick your time off and get extra pay. Best of both worlds...

[wondern, ASN]

PEN during the breaks to supplement your pay... You still get to pick your time off and get extra pay. Best of both worlds...

Wondering what PEN is?

School nursing sounds kind of fun if you love peds.

It's one of my favorite forums because they mostly seem so laid back in an awesome kind of matter of fact way. That style is really good for kids too!

Rewarding would probably be a more accurate word than fun but hey fun counts too, right?

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

No way I'd work for that. I didn't go to school and gain experience in nursing to make what they do at Wally World. However, everyone has different values. The primary motivation of me going to work is to earn a paycheck and provide support for my family. However, if it's a lifestyle choice well then God bless ya. Just don't be one of those Nurses who knows what they are getting into (school nursing / horrible pay) and then moan & complain about it forever.

[wondern, ASN]

SpankedInPittsburgh said:

No way I'd work for that. I didn't go to school and gain experience in nursing to make what they do at Wally World. However, everyone has different values. The primary motivation of me going to work is to earn a paycheck and provide support for my family. However, if it's a lifestyle choice well then God bless ya. Just don't be one of those Nurses who knows what they are getting into (school nursing / horrible pay) and then moan & complain about it forever.

Your primary motivation is not to help sick people but to make money?

Nothing wrong with supporting your family but so many careers pay better if that's your primary motivation.

I'm beginning to think some people actually like spankings!

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Yep my primary motivation is to earn a paycheck from my job. If not I'd spend all my free time helping the sick like Mother Theresa. I ain't Mother Theresa just Spanked. In fact I'd do it for free. By the way do your spend all your free time helping the sick or working for free?

[wondern, ASN]

As a parent, grandparent, and spouse yes sometimes it feels that way then I'm quickly reminded there are many more types of compensation than just cash that's all.

Same with a career, job selection based on benefits and time off can be more valuable than cash, not to mention the little lives you could affect. Sounds like it's a specialty that deserves more pay like the teachers there, and many other nurses too.