I think I want to be a school nurse!!

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0Hello! I have been a stay at home mom for the past 6 years and my youngest just started kindergarten. So this mom is ready to join the working world! I love kids and the idea of nursing, but was always concerned with the hours and missing out on time with my

kids. I really love the idea of school nursing, but I am kind of a vomit-phobe. Other then that, i think it actually sounds like a great job! And having the summers/breaks off with the kids would be a major plus. Also Monday-Friday, no weekends and off early. Any advice ?? I would love to have the relationship with the kids too. Thanks so much!! la9MFCKoIaKIlaHjVuttgx238A8l+oISTPknrAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

Do you have a nursing degree? If not I would start there. If so, maybe try subbing first, that way you get your feet wet and see what it is like without the commitment. Not only that, but in some places school nursing jobs are hard to come by, so subbing gets your foot in the door for when a full-time position comes open.

The vomit-phobe part...We deal with a lot of vomit. A. LOT. Puke on their pants, in their hair, on their shoes. Guess who has to help clean the littles up. You. I don't know anyone that particularly likes vomit, but if it is something that you can't get past, this probably isn't the specialty for you. I've eaten lunch with a puker four feet away. (Hey, the lunch had already been nibbled on for over an hour!)

We do have a nice schedule, but there is a lot more to it that that. We do a lot paperwork. I am in charge of keeping 500 students complaint on immunizations, vision, dental, physical paperwork. There are screenings. And there's the unknown. You never know what will walk through your door. One day you might've only done ice packs, band-aids, and saltines all day then the next day you epi-penned a kid, sent out an asthma attack, helped a glucose of 29, and called a parent to pick up their child with an obvious ankle break. And you are the only medical professional in the school, no one else to consult (except the fine co-workers of allnurses). So those are some things to think about.

All that said. I absolutely LOVE my job. It sounds cliche, but I've not once got up in the morning and said "Ugh, I really don't want to go to that place today..." And for that, I am blessed.

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Specializes in School nursing.

Like Sully said above, vomit happens. A lot. I tell kids that if vomit bothered me than I picked the wrong job :).

When I don't have a puker, it is a good day.

And yep, I love my job.

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Thank you so much for all the info!! I do not have a nursing degree, but I am looking into school now :) Do you have to be an RN or can you get the job as an LPN?

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In NY they want experienced RNs.

It depends on the state.

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Specializes in School nursing.

MA also wants RNs, BSN mainly in the public school districts.

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In PA they want BSN's with a school nurse certification and some experience. I hate to sound like a downer, but your kids will be in middle school before you qualify. You can sub with just an RN. The perks you mentioned are true, but there is a lot more to the job. And vomit happens. A lot. It happens a lot in nursing school, too. Sick people are smelly and yucky things come out of them. :) On a more cheerful note, good luck with your career pursuits. Don't let the time involved stop you. I wish you the best!

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

In our district we hire LPN's and RN's. Every state and even every district in the state is different. Our district doesn't require a certification.

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