I got the job!

[cjl_RN]

Finally after over two long weeks of waiting and applying back in March I was notified today I got the job as a full-time school nurse at a middle school 7&8 grade with out 850 students! I accepted!I've never been a school nurse. I've only subbed at all the different schools in the district for a short amount of time. Any tips and advice would be extremely welcomed! I haven't signed the contract yet, but I will start August 6, but there is also a few days in the summer I have to be present for staff training, diabetes class, and immunization clinics. I know somewhat to expect, I know our district does vision and hearing on new students that come from different district and then vision for 7th grade students. In addition they make sure students are compliant with immunizations. Take care of kids with acute and chronic conditions. They handle staff situations along with things for our work insurance. Anything else I'm missing? But please give me tips about anything even if you think it's minute. Thanks guys! I'm so glad to be joining all y'all!

[cowboysandangels, BSN]

Congrats!!!! I love my job as a school nurse and would not want to trade it for the world! It is a new challenge every day and I sure do not get bored. So happy for you!

[Glitternurse, LVN]

I'm finishing up my first year. there is quite a learning curve, but so far I love it. The RN-PHN and I rotate around 5 sites, very rarely spending a full day at any one location. I have found the secretaries to be excellent resources, and can often get ahold of parents when I can't. They know the students and families far better than I do, I recently had a student that clearly wasn't ill, he just kept telling me his stomach was hurting, (no fever, no vomiting, holding down water and crackers) but after speaking to the secretary I learned his brother had just been killed in a car accident, so I was able to speak to the parents to get advice on how to best help him. I also trust if a teacher tells me the student isn't acting like him or herself, I have no problem taking a closer look and/or contacting the family. This board is also a great resource. I have learned that there are things I didn't know I didn't know just by reading questions and responses.

Good Luck, I hope you enjoy it.

[capecodnurse3]

Congratulations! I was just hired as well the FT nurse for our junior high (7th and 8th grade). I have been subbing in our district for the last couple of years and worked as the FT nurse in a middle school in a different state. Fun age group but they're definitely a handful! Good luck with everything!

[Qing]

Congratulations!!!

[dosharn, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Congrats! I'm finishing my first year as a school nurse. You'll get the hang of it. For me, the biggest adjustments (going from hospital to school setting):

1) school/parent politics

2) figuring out which kids are frequent flyers, and how to get them out of the office and back into class (I also work at a building with 7th and 8th graders).

The actual nursing part of it? You'll be good. Don't ever second-guess yourself for calling a parent, better to have them get their kids checked out when not needed than the other way around.

you'll love the schedule!

This is EXCELLENT advice! I'm convinced there are politics involved in any nursing job. Always remember that you can and will never keep everybody happy. That being said, any decision made on the side of child (patient) safety is the best decision, regardless whose feathers get ruffled.

Funny as it may sound, #2 above can quite possibly end up being one of the most challenging and frustrating parts of the job......and on a daily basis. Many of these young ones are very shrewd and are already in tune to the proper terminology (i.e. "dizzy", "struck in head", etc. etc.). This, along with the fact that we should never blow anything off, may end up in phone calls and/or send-homes that some faculty members may deem unnecessary, but always remember- it's YOUR license on the line, not those who may try to tell you how to do your job!

[dosharn, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Yes. The student hours are from 8:20-3:20. I think the nurse before me got there at 7:45 and left at 3:45. I haven't signed my contract for the position so

I'm sure I'll know my hours then!

Congrats on the job!! That's the student hours at my school as well. My required hours are 8:00-3:30. I usually arrive at 7:50 and leave at 3:40 or so.