Intermediate to high school

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I’m thinking about applying for a high school nurse position. I am currently a nurse at an intermediate school and I love it but wanting something closer to home. Has anyone switched from intermediate to high school? Did you like it or do you wish you would have stayed at intermediate? If so anything in particular that you like or don’t like? Thanks!!!

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Yes, I've actually moved up from Elementary to Middle to High as my son progressed. I ended up staying in high school after he graduated. While all three grade levels have their own charms, middle schoolers being so sure of everything, I've got a lot more self-reliant kids (I'm not doing a lot of the hands on things like dealing with diabetic kids or kids needing cath help as I was in the younger grades) in high school which is good because I'm serving a larger enrollment.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

High schoolers are awesome. When their eyes aren't rolling back up in their heads...

You have survived one of the toughest gigs in school nursing - middle school! Your 9th (and some 10th)graders are going to look excruciatingly familiar as some kids don't outgrow middle school when they leave. You will be able to have really good conversations with high schoolers. You'll see a lot of anxiety and issues related to performance. You'll see a lot of issues r/t social media.

April is right about level of care - if you can't count your own carbs and administer your own insulin in the 9th grade we gotta make that work for you. Best of luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

I switched from intermediate (5th/6th grade) to a 9th-grade campus a little over two years ago, and I've never looked back! I taught 5th grade in the same district for 7 years before going to nursing school, and I needed a change of scenery.

In high school, I love the fact that there are no recess injuries to contend with, and we have athletic trainers who take care of injuries sustained during sports, band, ROTC, cheer, etc. The students are a lot more independent, and most of them actually listen when I give them advice. I have fewer students going home, because teachers take attendance each class period. I tell them that unless they have fever, diarrhea, or vomiting (and a few other things), it is an elective pickup, and they will be unexcused for the rest of the day.

The last major plus for me is the hours worked. In intermediate school, I worked from 8:15-supposedly 4:15 (more like 4:30 when I finished with car rider duty), and it was a longer commute for me. My daughter had to go to after-school care, and it would be 5:00 before we arrived at home. Now, I work 7:00-3:00, and it is extremely rare that I stay late. There are no math or reading nights that I am expected to attend.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

If you "love" intermediate school, high school will be like moving to Disneyland.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

I just moved from a middle school to a high school this year. WOW! What a difference. My previous school had approx. 850 kids grades 6-8, I would see 30-50 "sick" kids, 20 scheduled meds, 7 diabetics a day. It was nonstop all day. Now I have 1500 students grades 9-12, 5-10 "sick" kids, 12 scheduled meds and 5 diabetics a day.

I miss the interaction with the middle school students. I was "needed" a little more. Middle schoolers are a tough bunch but I sure miss them.

Dealing with High School students is quite different. They are more independent - right up until they vomit. Then they turn into little kids that just need some love and comfort.

All in all, I am really glad I made the move. I can breathe a little bit during the day, and my commute is shorter.

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Thanks so much everyone! I decided to go for it. We will see!

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