Love school nursing, but can't pay my bills.

[jupitercrash]

LPN working through agency. School has me come in for 4 hours a day to deal with all the daily meds and recess injuries. Just did the math and after taxes I am making like $11 an hour this month. I made more as an aide. Kind of feel like I'm wasting my nursing license... I LOVE school health. It was my favorite in clinicals, I took this job fir the experience to hopefully get into something full time next school year, but idk if I can afford to ride it out. Oh and the school is a 45 minute drive from my house. I knew this job didn't pay very well when I accepted it ($17/h) but because of the pay schedule I get paid the same amount twice each month (for 10 months a year) and at the end any days I have missed come out of the last pay check. I am starting to just think nursing isn't for me. I can either get a job I hate that pays well or a job I love where I can't afford to pay my bills. And I am apprehensive to go back for my RN when I hated bedside nursing so much. I am just feeling kind of lost in this profession. I've been thinking of picking up a pediatric home health gig on the side but the best part of this job is having nights and weekends with my kids and I dont want to give that up either. Plus then I'd need childcare. I don't know why I am posting this, but I needed to get it out.

[jupitercrash, LPN]

4 hours ago, Double-Helix said:

You’re working 4 hours per day M-F, right? Why can’t you pick up an evening or weekend job that will allow you to earn more while continuing school nursing? I‘m sure there are LTCs and skilled facilities looking for staff for those hours.

I've thought about going PRN somewhere. My friend from school got an agency job and she is making really good money, she keeps telling me to apply but being thrown into new facilities all the time makes me very nervous.

[caliotter3]

4 hours ago, Double-Helix said:

You’re working 4 hours per day M-F, right? Why can’t you pick up an evening or weekend job that will allow you to earn more while continuing school nursing? I‘m sure there are LTCs and skilled facilities looking for staff for those hours.

I worked a four hour shift during mid PM shift to do the med pass on a floor to help out the PM nurses. This job was offered to me by the DON who had met me at another facility. If you go to facilities and ask for such hours, you might be able to score another four or five hours of work each day. Steady work at the same facility with the same residents. Worth a try.

[nursex23, BSN, RN]

I would say definitely go back for your RN and then your BSN. It will open more doors for you. I cannot believe how lucky I was to find a school nurse job that pays only a little less than what I was making in the hospital but they did require a BSN. With your experience and a BSN, you would be a competitive candidate for full-time school nurse jobs that pay better.

If I were in your shoes I would do pediatric home health or a pediatric clinic on the side and keep that going until I got my RN. It'll be tough but once you're there, you can be more choosy about your job until you find the perfect fit.

Good luck!