Interview Thursday!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I just was scheduled for an elementary level interview on Thursday morning with the principal.....apparently they're doing "informal" interviews 1 on 1 with the principal, then having a second round that will be more formal. What sort of questions do I need to be asking? I know I need to find out number of students, number of "ill" or disabled students, etc. But are there any big things I should be asking? Any other tips/tricks? I'm brand new to the school nursing world (ER nurse here!) and don't want to walk blindly into anything.

TIA for any help!!

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Specializes in HIV care, med/surge agency.

An ER nurse is perfect for the job so you are way over qualified on the clinical side. Be sure to stress how much you will enjoy working with parents and staff. Calling parents is the big thing school nurse have to do that acute care nurses don't. Tact and go with the flow stuff is essential to work in a school. Ask about the schools goals and achivements. Principals love to brag.

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I have an interview next thursday for my first school nursing job. i think i will like the hours and the summers off.

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Do NOT mention the hours and summers in the interview.

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Specializes in Retired - ER, School Health, Quality, Case Managem.

So NurseErica -- how did the interview go?

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Thanks for asking! It went really well. Like I said above, they're doing informals first, then having a more formal interview with more school personnel. The principal is really laid back - only 32 or 33 years old - and the school sounds awesome. There are 200 kids K-5, with a group of autism kids, and currently no wheelchair kids (most of the "sick" kids are asthma, DM, etc). He said I would have opportunities to teach, which is one of the big reasons I want to get into school nursing. So overall it went great! Now I just have to make it through the interview on Friday!

I was at a peds conference last week and met another nurse who works in the district; she had some great things to say about the school and district. She did say that it seems they are looking for someone who will "mesh" with the principal first, and skills second (which seems backwards) but we'll see how the second interview goes :)

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Yes meshing with the principal then skills second may seem backwards but welcome to school nursing. I'm still a pretty new school nurse (only starting my 2nd year) but you work for the principal in their school. You need to believe in their philosophy. And as much as most educators/principals recognize that you bring something valuable to the school they don't totally get what we do. We do so much more then putting bandaids on scraped knees!:wink2:

Best of luck at your interview. School nursing is great!

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