How "intense" is it?

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Looking at a school nurse position for a small-town elementary school (430 students). My previous experience is 1.5 years at a residential treatment facility for mentally ill children and most recently 4.5 years at a family practice/sports medicine clinic (ages 13+).

How "intense" does it get? From working at the children's home, I understand being called on to look at injuries and passing meds. I only called 911 twice: once for a "cutter" who got very deep and the other for a kid who had a vaso-vagal episode after eating 4 packets of tobasco sauce (no joke). At the clinic, I triaged many illness/injury phone calls as well as the usual clinic stuff. We had a few emergencies there - a seizure in the office, two CVAs, an MI with the ER right across the street, not to mention other nurses and doctors for assistance.

How frequently are there "emergencies"? I'm thinking fractures, seizures, asthma attacks, anaphylaxis, etc. You know, the stuff that gets your adrenaline going. The thought of a compound fracture with ME being the only medical professional on site makes me shudder. What's your stress level at the end of the day? How long do school nurses usually stay school nurses?

I understand the pay is significantly less - $15/hr at a nearby school for a position that could be filled by an LPN (I made $15/hr as a secretary when I was in nursing school - not enough to pay for daycare!) But it seems that most school nurses love their jobs and don't do it for the money.

Also - I'm a very organized person. I was the one at my last job who made new forms, figured out better ways to do things, who kept up on changes in vaccine recommendations, ordered supplies, etc. Lots of the office-side of things as well as the nurse stuff. Would this type of mind be beneficial for a school nurse?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

First and foremost, as you've probably gathered from other posts on this forum, school nursing is definitely not something you do for the money. The pay isn't great, but I adore my job.

It can get pretty stressful somedays, when you have kid after kid after kid in the office. Some are "faking", some are serious, and they all need you. You'll run into parents who won't pick their kids up, parents who don't treat their kids right, and then you'll have parents who are absolutely great.

I very rarely have a serious situation here...(KNOCK ON WOOD!!!)--I also cover the high school across the street (I'm at an elementary school primarily) and I sent a sophomore to the hospital by ambulance on Tuesday and that's the first time I've called 911 for a student. I called once last year for a teacher but that was it.

My stress level at the end of the day varies, but it's because I have a LOT on my plate, between my job and my personal life. I cover two schools, I'm yearbook editor for the elementary school, I teach 3 after school classes a week at the elementary, plus one on Wednesday nights at church, I have a 21 month old daughter and a husband who works long hours....I just have a lot going on right now. But overall, my job isn't terribly stressful.

The times that I have gotten stressed at work is because I wasn't managing time very well and I got behind. As long as I get on track and get everything done in the time frame I need it done, I'm good.

This is a job I see myself at for a long time....I absolutely love it here. I told my principal shortly after I started that the only way he was getting rid of me was to fire me and pull me out of the building. He laughed and said good...because I was the 4th nurse hired here in 2 years...it was ridiculous, but no one would stay because of the pay.

I've had a couple of kids who I've had parents come get and take for an xray and they had fractures.

The thing I love most about my position is that (at both schools) I work with wonderful staff and administration. They trust my abilities completely and I pretty much do things my own way. My office is set up the way I want it, I handle visits and charting the way I think is best, and I do all my own forms and such (notes home, nurse passes, etc).

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I agree this is not something to get into for the money, but I feel that I am compensated fairly (I am on the teacher's scale). Your organizational skills will be a great asset to you, because a good portion of school nursing is office-type work and organization is key. As far as emergencies and adrenaline pumping situations, they are rare (again, KNOCK ON WOOD), and generally have a happy ending. I usually average one or two fractures per year (usually radius/ulna). I average maybe one 911 call per year (one was an elderly sub teacher who fell, one was a pregnant parent who fell, and one was a simple arm fracture that the parent was panicked and requested the transport by ambulance).

I have had a few asthma attacks that get scary when the parent has not provided me the meds and permits to have an inhaler at school. Those really get my adrenaline pumping because they can go bad so quickly. I actually had one of those this week. Audibly wheezing, family is at homeless shelter and student was previously diagnosed with asthma but they did not get another script for an inhaler when the first one ran out. I was poised and ready for a 911 call but he stayed stable til mom came and I sent her straight to the MD or ER.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I work as the only nurse in the district, so I cover 5 schools. Our elementary sounds about the same size as the one you are considering working for. I have only worked for a year now, but have had very few emergencies. The teachers and staff are wonderful to help, especially when I am not always in the building. My biggest fear is having some terrible emergency and not know what to do, but I am amazed how that adrenaline and common sense kick in, in times of need. You will do great with your background. It is a very demanding job, but very very rewarding!

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

I'm in a small elementary school, about 400 students. My day is not usually very intense at all. Lots of boo-boos, ADHD meds, vomiting, loose teeth, and benign stomachaches, with the occasional minor head injury or hypoglycemia. I have 2 students with diabetes, one who is almost independent and one who is all over the place. So, she scares me sometimes, but not too badly. I'd say the most dramatic thing I deal with is child abuse, about once a month or so, and have to make a CPS report. That's always fun--NOT. Otherwise, most of my days are steady and mostly predictable. I always get my 30 minute lunch and I rarely have to stay late. My admins are wonderful, as is my front office staff. I always feel appreciated.

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I was offered $15/hr. Is that a usual salary for school nurses? I made $15/hr when I was a secretary during nursing school.

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$15 an hour is not a good salary for a school nurse.

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.
$15 an hour is not a good salary for a school nurse.

According to our district's salary table, a school nurse with 0 years of previous experience makes $14.87 per hour. A nurse with 15 years of previous experience makes $18.59 per hour. I work 7.5 hours a day, 200 days a year, for a total of 1450 hours a year. I have 5 years experience, so I probably make somewhere around $16 an hour.

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