Hours days and pay

[heygurlhey007]

So I about to interview for a school nurse position next week. I was told by a teacher that I would only be working most of the school days. The position was posted as part time and pay so low that the teacher's statement made sense. The person that called me today said it was 7.75 hours/day, 5 days/week. Pay is $6K less than what a first year teacher would make!!!

I know I can find out at the interview but what kind of hours do yall work? Are y'all only there when students are present or do you have to be there for inservice as well?

Ill spare you my situation of what I'm trying to decide between as its a long story...

Why did you guys choose to be a school nurse?

[palli]

I chose because I wanted weekends, holidays and summers off to be with my children after taking care of everyone else's children.

I chose because the Health benefits package was unbeatable

I chose because the my school nurse's office was a safe haven, I wanted to be THAT person to someone

[dosharn, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

We have mandatory in-service training and meetings on "student off" days, but they are actually relaxing compared to the days with 1500 kids under the roof.

[SN43]

I did not choose school nursing because of the salary. ? Yes, my salary is going to be less than the teachers. Quite frankly I am making less annually than I did 18 years ago in a hospital! But It works with having a family. You never have to figure out if you can get Thanksgiving off. You get to really know your students and families over the course of many years. The impact you can have on a student's health and well being is meaningful.

[tining, BSN, RN]

Depends on school district.

My district nurses are paid same scale as teacher + years as a nurse (me 25 years).

That can take you from base pay to . . . way more than base pay!

Last school district only counted teaching hospital service and not other nursing experience.

I also factored in less car millage, wear/tear, no more day care, husband had health insurance. This made it less of a sticker shock.

7.5 hours are the typical day, more holidays and more family time.

Good luck.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

On 6/21/2019 at 8:26 AM, palli said:

I chose because the my school nurse's office was a safe haven, I wanted to be THAT person to someone

All the feels, right there...

[magnoliablush, BSN, RN]

I’m 6 hours a day. 184 school days. Yes, I make less than most nurses...but like one of the above posters, I want to be there for these kids. A safe place to talk, get a hug, or of course, to take care of them. I’m in the high school I went to. The county I grew up in. It’s worth it. The holidays with my little, and summer break...these are my perks. The notes the Senior high school kids wrote in English class to someone that made a difference this year...I got 4! It was sweet. Here’s your why. ☺️

[guest464345]

I work same schedule as the teachers (187 duty days I think), 7:30-3:30 with a 40 minute paid lunch. We start a week before the kids, off all the school breaks, and stay a couple days after they finish. There are options for a couple-three weeks of summer work, which I declined.

Pay varies a LOT by district, even within my metro area. I am on the teacher salary schedule, and for the first time in my nursing career I received pay scale credit for my previous master's degree in social work, so the salary is reasonable. If I worked for a different public school down the road, I'd take a 30% pay cut....it makes no sense.

I tried school nursing as an experiment, honestly. And my school is tough (school for kids with emotional and behavioral disorders, 95% in poverty, many kids who are homeless or unstably housed, many kids cycling between hospitals, detention, and foster homes).

I decided to stick around because the schedule's great and the kids are just....delightful. They make me smile every day, even when they're driving me nuts. The things they ask sometimes! Nothing in nursing school or hospital shifts could prepare you ? I'm so glad to know them, and occasionally help out a bit.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

In my district, nurses are on the same schedule and pay as teachers. Some districts, nurses are lumped in with paraprofessional, and are paid much less.

I took a slight pay cut when I started as a school nurse, but it's so worth it for all the time off.

[heygurlhey007]

Thanks y'all. My predicament is that I have a almost 3 year old and 7 month old. The cost of full time day care would have taken half of my salary. Even with my husbands salary this would have been quite a stretch. I was honest about this during the interview. I was turned down and Im hoping this was the only reason!! Im gonna look for something in pediatrics and try again in a few years!!

[HPofBC]

The upcoming school year will be my 4th. I work 8:15 to 3:45. On the teacher schedule, some of the days are in-service days. We are paid waaaaaaaaaaaay less than the teachers even if we have a BSN. A Bachelors level new teacher starts in the high 30s in our district....we start mid 20's and get an extra TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS for an advanced degree. Our insurance goes up every year, we pay the same as everyone else. We're considered civil service but in the teachers union. Our pension and whatnot is a perk. We do not have rep on the union bargaining unit and have been REPEATEDLY refused one and don't get some of the benefits the teachers do. They also get two additional breaks during the day.