Interested in school nursing :) and intro...

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I have been interested in school nursing since my nursing school clinicals, I really enjoyed it and knew I would like to do that at some point.

After graduation I worked in a level one trauma center PICU for 9 months and then left there (census was low and I was getting NO work, also felt my license was on the line one too many times---though I saw a LOT and learned a TON. Seen kids healthy one day dead the next with menningities, head injuries on the playground, seizures, etc) I worked there in the PICU as a nurse tech for a year prior to that.

I now currently work in adolecent psych (teenaged boys) dealing with both behaviour problems (mainly psychosexual, add/adhd, oppositional defiant, schizoaffective, etc) and your basic medical issues/health needs (bloody noses, athma, broken arms, med reactions, allergic reactions, diabetics at times, etc stuff I image I will be seeing a lot of in school nursing). I will be at this job another year before looking for work as a school nurse. So I will have 3 years of nursing experience behind me by the time I apply.

I do think I have good medical experience (I know when it's something to be concerned with, and when to send them back to class....the teens I work with now also attend school on this premise and are always looking to get out of class, so I'm used to dealing with manipulation....lol). I also work a lot with medical charts doing reviews, etc.

Does my experience sound like a good background in order to function as a school RN? I feel like it will be and I feel confident I could function independently. But If not, what are your recommendations? Any certifications or classes I need to look into? I do already have my BSN. I have thought about taking some public health classes but not sure I can afford those right now (my husband is in college right now working on his elementary education degree).

I am 35 years old and a mother of 2 :)

I look forward to reading your replies, thanks!

Marilyn

[bergren]

Your experience is great. The PICU & adolescent MH backgrounds a serious plus.

You have the required PH classes that you had with the BSN. You can look at the NASN and CDC for the school health materials and start reading the journals and the national guidelines at AHRQ and the CD (http://www.thecommunityguide.org) for evidence based population health promotion programs.

Some states do require additional classes for state certification. Look at the state school nurse organization for some direction:

http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=60

or your state school nurse consultant: http://www.nassnc.org/

Even if your state does not require classes, you can take the classes offered elsewhere to increase your school specific knowledge - most are online: http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=618

The National Certification is not recommended until you have 3 years of experience. http://www.nbcsn.org

You mention affording the classes due to your husband being in school. Do check out the school nurse salaries. It varies quite a bit from state to state and even from district to district. It will likely be a cut in pay and could be a serious cut in pay, so definitely check that out.

Good luck!

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

Martha, thanks so much for the great links :)

I've have looked at the school websites and realize what the pay is. Thankfully I am still a new nurse and don't make much anyways. I live in Oklahoma where RNs are not paid a great deal to begin with ($18/hr for new grads), so it won't be too much of a drop in pay for me.

Another question, do any of you have masters classes? Do you think it's necessary or pays off to have a masters degree for your job as a school nurse?? A masters degree is a personal goal of mine, I was looking at MPH, so I might just do it for my own personal goal, but was wondering what you all thought.

[bergren]

I have a masters and a doctorate - in schools where you are on the teacher salary scale you are paid more with more education. It also puts you on par with the teachers education wise.

I have definitely used my course work, especially the public health classes and the advanced physical assessment. I have a minor in informatics which has been very beneficial. I have taken classes on children with special needs, research - you get out of them what you put into them. My masters degree was not online, and required us to present once week for at least an hour. You get very good with handling a class and speaking experience.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I have a masters and a doctorate - in schools where you are on the teacher salary scale you are paid more with more education. It also puts you on par with the teachers education wise.

I have definitely used my course work, especially the public health classes and the advanced physical assessment. I have a minor in informatics which has been very beneficial. I have taken classes on children with special needs, research - you get out of them what you put into them. My masters degree was not online, and required us to present once week for at least an hour. You get very good with handling a class and speaking experience.

Wow!

May I ask what you masters and doctorate are in? Do the schools help with paying for advanced education? I'm sure it varies by state/district but as a general rule what has been your experience?

I was looking online at the various schools tonight.....and it got me thinking about wealthier schools vs poorer schools, and what type of student body I would most like to work with as well as ages.

I did my nursing school clinicals in a lower middle class elementary school and enjoyed it. What issues are most prevalent with elementary/middle/high schools and also upper class school populations vs lower economic school populations.

I am really enjoying out conversation here :)

[bergren]

My degrees are all in Nursing, the masters is in Child Health Nursing. I rec'd both degrees free as a graduate teaching assistant at the university, so the districts did not pay.

I have served schools with some students from low income families, but not low income schools.

[SchoolNurseBSN]

Most districts I know of do not pay for nurses to continue their education. However, you usually do get rewarded with a higher pay scale lik the teachers.

I worked several years with middle schoolers and now am in my first year with elementary age. I have always worked with low income families and enjoyed. You are often their only link to health care.

In middle school - I dealt with drug, pregnancies, self-mutilation, abuse, you name it!!! I have a lot of asthma students most with no rescue inhalers available much less maintenance meds. Finding the parents is really hard because they change phone numbers so frequently. I spend a lot of time finding free and low cost resources.

I love school nursing and the population I work wih.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

SchoolNurseBSN, thanks for your reply and I'm glad to hear you enjoy your work.

Do you all have several schools you travel back and forth from during the week? Seems a lot of the school districts here do that (lack of funding I imagine).