I recently met up with two friends from high school for a girl's night out and my career choice suddenly became the topic of the conversation. I am a 27-yr old school nurse. I graduated nursing school about 3 years ago, and attained my BSN the following year. About 5 months after graduating nursing school, I took a position as a nurse manager of a clinic. It was my first real, full time position as a nurse and it was very challenging. I love challenges! Before this, I worked for about 2 months as a substitute school nurse.
Although I learned a lot from the nurse manager position, I worked 6 days a week sometimes, 1-2 weekends a month, 12 hour days, sometimes longer if we had patients past closing, ordered supplies, managed staff old enough to be my mother, and ran up and down constantly. I did all this while finishing my BSN, and pregnant with my last child.
Needless to say it wasn't fun. I almost hated nursing then. I had a school age child who I didn't really see most days. And forget about helping with his homework. By the time I got home, I was too tired and it was too late. I also had a 2-yr old who I barely played with. I couldn't even understand him sometimes, but daddy always knew what he was saying! I stayed at this position for a little over a year and couldn't bring myself to go back after my daughter was born.
I decided to go back to my school nurse agency per diem. I worked with them about 2-3 days a week, from 9am to 3pm, no weekends, home in time to make dinner, take the kids to the park, and energized enough to actually spend time with them. I was hooked! I applied for a full time school nurse position and was accepted. My school aged child goes to my school, so I can keep an eye on him. We leave together, and for the most part, go home together. My 2-yr old is now 4 and will be attending pre-K at my school. I don't have to worry about childcare or after school care. I get home before 4, help with homework, play with my beautiful daughter, talk to my 4-yr old about his day, feed them, and put them to bed.
So when my friend told me that I am lazy because I am not in bedside nursing and not taking the nursing world by storm, I was slightly offended at first. She felt that I did not have the passion for nursing that I should have. I told her that I did go into nursing to help people and that I do that every day. I told her that my greatest passion is my family. I told her how school nursing allows me to be with my family.
What good is it to work so much and be disconnected from those who I work so hard for? My children should not have to be the sacrifice for my career. I love children and school nursing helps me be a nurse and work with children. While I am not "downing" bedside nursing or any other nursing field out there, I am happy to do what I do. That is the beauty of nursing. I can work in administration, with computers, in a hospital, nursing home, clinic, and yes, in schools as well. Everyone can find their niche in nursing, and I do believe I have found mine!
I think thats the thing about the "school" nurse position I have. Its on the military base at the child care centers therefore, no breaks just weekends and holidays but the pay is more than the community school nurse positions. I take care of children 6wks old to 5 years old.
Don't mind what other people say about your career. Unless you really care about their opinion on things.
I work in the ICU and as much as I enjoy it, I'd give it up in heartbeat if I could swing it financially. My family comes first and right now that means providing income. When that shift happens and I don't need to, I'll be more than happy to stay home or prn work or school nursing.
I'm jealous of school nurses! Don't be insecure about your decision, your Friend seems unkind.
Heck, I'm not a mom yet and I'm a school nurse and wouldn't change a thing! Be proud!
My friends work nights on the med surg floors and I'm done at the same time every day and have dinner with my husband. Kids in the school have real health issues; as someone mentioned above, I know more about diabetes and asthma and how to handle them than any of my friends that work med surg! We don't have a slew of other medical professionals to consult with, so it means we have to be even more on our toes. Sure, a lot of the kids we manage are stable, but the rare second they aren't - they really aren't. (And when they stay stable, it just a measure of how awesome the school nurse is.)
I have also found that being a school nurse had really improved my assessment and listening skills. Kids do not always tell you the whole story and you have to find a way to get it; I feel this has helped me improve not only as a nurse, but as a person. My patience level has grown immensely! Have I had to defend my role in nursing? Not really, but I've had to explain it as most people, including some nurses have no idea what my job entails. They are all jealous of my vacation time, though ).
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Gem0607
308 Posts
I think thats the thing about the "school" nurse position I have. Its on the military base at the child care centers therefore, no breaks just weekends and holidays but the pay is more than the community school nurse positions. I take care of children 6wks old to 5 years old.