How do you know if school nursing is in your wheelhouse?

[Kalipso]

My background is:

2.5 yrs telemetry/cardiac step down

1 yr travel nursing

3 years Emergency Room...not a leveled trauma facility but they did have pediatricians not just ER physicians. Stroke and MI facility.

Recently I just quit a job after 3 months in a new ER I was trying because my husband and I moved 70miles away from my old job. Long story short the culture of the facility is no where near the caliber of what my last one was and in the long run I would probably keep telling management so. Thus I decided to get out before I made any enemies. I did, however, befriend a PRN nurse there who works full time for a local school. She informed me that a full time position was open and I should apply if I'm interested. I am interested in the schedule, I'm so very done with working weekends and holidays. I like kids, though parents scare me because they are pretty ruthless....in the ER I have a physician to back me up on my actions. I'm kind of afraid of defending my self even thought I know I have very good assessment skills and a good intuition. If I try it, how long should I give myself to get use to it? Also what do you guys do about the gap in pay?

[OldDude]

Look at a school clinic as a mini ER. Your imagination can't conceive of what you'll deal with, especially with kids. In my clinic I have 3 people I can consult with; ME, MYSELF, and I...so to say you're an independent practitioner is an understatement. Your ER experience will be invaluable to you...yes, kids have parents and they can be a real thorn in one's side - it comes with the job. Just like your friend, if you need to supplement your income you can work prn jobs...."at your convenience" during the 11 or 12 weeks and weekends you don't have to be at school. School nursing is a perfect schedule if you have kids. So...if this sounds like you...go for it. School nursing jobs don't come around very often.

[ohiobobcat]

I became a school nurse last year after 5 years as an ER nurse. I really like the schedule, I really like the kids (well, most of them anyways ) I really became comfortable in this position after about 6 months. I see anywhere from 30-50 kids a day in a high school of approx 700 students. My workday starts at 7 am and I am home by 2:30 every day unless I stay after for a meeting or my kids have something going on (I work at the same school/campus they attend). I have had very few issues with parents that I call. I took a pretty significant pay cut to work here, but no weekends, holidays off and 3 months off during the summer makes up for it. I worked summer school this summer and stayed per diem at my ER job up until just recently (I have a chronically ill child and it was too hard for me to pick up hours).

Your ER experience will help you immensely. The triage skills I still use on a daily basis are invaluable. Your BS meter gets used daily as well (esp with high school kids, but I think you see it in all ages). Maybe try subbing for a bit to see if it school nursing is for you, if you can? I miss the camaraderie with my coworkers since I am all by my lonesome here in my office, but it's not like I am bored.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[peaceful2100, BSN, RN]

Your background experience is really going to benefit you. I am new to school nursing. I have been a RN for nearly 11 years now. 9 out of those 11 years has been working in Pediatrics. I have been in the school nurse role for slightly over a month now. I work in a school that is 8th-12th grades. Yes, it is a pay cut but for me it wasn't too drastic thankfully or else I couldn't do it. I don't feel the need to have a PRN job because that will only defeat the purpose of having more time with my family. If I decide to do something to supplement my income it will be non-nursing related only because I HATE IV's never was good at starting them. The biggest reason (90% of the reason the other 10% was the politics) I haven't done hospital nursing in 9 years now. My last 9 years of nursing have all been outpatient. However, I now loooove working 6:45-2:30 (2:45). I was working 830-5pm. No nights, no weekends, no call, no holidays, winter vacation, spring vacation, summer vacation. Sometimes it can get stressful but nothing has been too unmanageable yet. Yes, their may be parents that can be frustrating but it really seriously is not any different than that difficult patient in the hospital (AT least just my personal opinion). Also, I'm sure you already know this but the same rule applies. Document, Document, Document. You never know how something may be until you try it.