How do you even get a job as a school nurse?

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How do you even get a job as a school nurse? I've been looking for jobs and they all require certification. I looked into being certified and you can't get certified until you have work experience!

I don't care about being "bored". I'm sick of hospitals and acute care. I like the idea of working with kids and being able to possibly have an influence on kids and educating them about healthy lifestyle.

I want to be in a more positive environment than a hospital and have more of myself left over in my personal life.

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There are schools who don't require a certification, just experience. Do you have peds exp?

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

apply, apply, apply

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Depends on the state. Many get credentialed as a substitute school nurse and move from there

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It never hurts to apply. START AS A SUB. Find a job in pediatrics. I am still trying to get on full time at my local district. I work part time and sub....and I have another full time job so I'm a bit oversaturated right now. :sleep: I am now at the top of the list for a position, that's per HR! It's because I have made connections in the district, volunteered at several schools, subbed, and worked this part time gig that NO ONE else wanted. I also bring a background as a former school teacher to the table, so I've just done everything I can think of doing. And I haven't been bored as a school nurse yet!

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Oh, and my state is just now starting certification and they haven't really...um....figured out what they're doing....yet. So I'm pretty much sliding in while the sliding is good. :yes:

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Specializes in school nursing.

Private schools usually do not require certification; but do require a BSN degree and pediatric experience.

Schools are always looking for substitute nurses, especially for field trips. They usually do not require you to have a certification, and if they hire you as a substitute and after some time deem you competent, they can hire you for a part time or full time position under terms that you are working towards your certification.

Also, a lot of schools try to hire nurses for 1-to-1 care for some of their medically complex students. This type of position usually does not require a school nurse certification but gives you the school and pediatric experience you need to get your cert.

Are you looking at the jobs posted on Teaching jobs, educator jobs, school jobs | SchoolSpring ? That's where I found both my substitute position (which ended up offering me a full time position) and my current position now.

Oh! And if you are looking for boring........school nursing is not it. I only work 8 hours a day, and it's barely even Mon-Fri due to vacations/holidays, but I feel like I'm coming off a 12 hour overnight some days.

If I were you I'd also look into pediatric private duty (do you have peds experience?) It seems to have a more comfortable schedule for some, and a lot of these kids are looking for nurses to accompany them to school! :)

Good luck in your job search

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Specializes in School nursing.

Sub, sub, sub like other folks have said. I started as a sub in one district and used that experience to get my current full time gig. School Spring is an awesome place for job postings. Not all will require certification (may depend on your state), but may require you are working towards certification within a certain time frame.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Like everyone else said - inquire in different schools around you into being a sub. If they are anything like my district they will welcome you with open arms. Then while waiting for opportunities to use your new sub position, research your state's requirement's to be a school nurse. Many require RN with BSN and certification in school nurse. Some don't require the certification or the degree and i believe that some may employ lpns based on some of the posters here.

Once you're in the mix so to speak, you'll be amazed how quickly you find that a job becomes available. I usually hear of about 3-4 openings in my county per year. And i am positive there are openings i don't hear about.

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I got lucky and got into a small charter school. Less exposure = less competition. :)

I agree with the sub advice though. Where I am, certification isn't required to get the job, but within 18-24 months. You can get certified before if you want, but it's no guarantee that you'll get a job, and it's expensive.

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Teaching jobs, educator jobs, school jobs | SchoolSpring This site lists nursing school jobs..it's not user friendly but the jobs are posted
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Specializes in School Nurse.

Also, try going directly to the district websites to search for jobs. Districts around me don't use any job boards. Good Luck!!!

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