How to break into school nursing

ChristineAdrianaRN, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2012

Thought of another question. If we are speaking in terms of "annual salary", that is for the nine months of the school year and not the summer, right? So technically you could work somewhere else during the summer and make some extra money on top of that, right? Something to consider...

mycsm · Apr 10, 2012

I "broke"into school nursing by subbing in the district as much as I could. Fortunately, I was not employed fulltime, which gave me the ability to work 1-5 days a week in 6 different schools. I proved myself very worthy of the position that I knew was opening up and was considered and hired the same hour the previous nurse handed in her paperwork. Make a great name for yourself, make yourself available.

I am paid from Sept until June. I work per diem during the summer.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2012

I found my job (I work 2 days/week at a boarding school in addition to another job) by looking up boarding schools in my state and then going to the individual schools' websites to see if they had positions posted.

You can find school nursing jobs in any number of ways. I'm not sure if all states use this, but schoolspring.com is a good website for school based jobs. I also made a list of the towns in my immediate vicinity that I would consider working in and looked at many of those towns' websites to see if they had any nursing positions posted. Many of them did, but by that time, I had found and accepted another position.

As far as pay goes, I am a per diem employee at my school so I am paid hourly. Full-time school positions are (at least in my state) usually salaried and you can choose if you want your salary spread out over the entire year or just the school year. At least that's what I know my mother has the option to do. You have the whole summer off so yes, you can work another job during the summer. Many school nurses do camp nursing or there are any number of things you can pick up per diem.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Apr 16, 2012

I was lucky to be contacted by someone that thought of me and that I would be a good fit. I was/am many years later I am still there. :yeah: I am very fortunate to be in a district that pays nurses on the the same step scale as teachers.....I would see if there are any sub positions to see if it is a good fit for you. I have had more than one nurse all fired up about being in the school and then find out that it is the last thing they want to do! Good Luck!

KrystinaRN · Apr 30, 2012

I am a school nurse in CA. I have my RN, BSN but I started off in an LVN position as a 1:1 nurse in the district (to get my foot in the door, so to speak!). After one year of that, my school district received a grant for a 0.4 increase in school nursing and I applied for the job and got it. I am working part-time with another school nurse who works full time.

In CA, the best place to find school jobs is Edjoin.org (in my opinion). There are a few on craigslist every once in a while too.

Hope this helps!

Britrn04, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 30, 2012

I think some States it is easier to get into. I moved to SC recently and started as a sub for the district. I just kept checking the district site for jobs until I saw a "subs needed as." I have now got a job 2 days a week and work PRN in the hospital. I love the hours; the pay is a big cut for me, but it is worth the summers with my kids. I could not get into the school nursing in previous states I have lived though, and some states require certification. I think it helps if you have a BSN and experience.