LPN new grad as a classroom nurse

Jp381209 · Jul 29, 2015

Thank you so much justbeachynurse!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

JustBeachy is correct. To practice as a school nurse in the state of Massachusetts, the DOE requires one to be a Registered Nurses with a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree. You also must be an experienced nurse, pass MTEL and get a separate school nurse license.

603 CMR 7.00: Regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval - Education Laws and Regulations

Now, DOE regs do only apply to public schools and I'm guessing this is some sort of private school? I'd have to agree with JustBeachy though, this is not an appropriate role for a new grad.

HazelLPN, LPN · Jul 30, 2015

I just graduated nursing school and passed the nclex. Had my first job interview at a special needs school as a classroom nurse. The responsibilities seem to involve giving meds, monitoring, prn assessments if the child appears ill, etc. There are also teaching responsibilities as well. Does anyone here have a similar job? Any recommended books/ reading on school nursing at the LPN level?

This is kind of what I do, although the title is an "assistant school nurse" and I'm only a substitute. I took the job about a year after I retired from a long career in critical care nursing as I didn't really want to retire completely from nursing, but knew that physically I simply couldn't work in the ICU as well as I once did. I work at all of the high schools that have special needs units and we have a handicapped school that is K-12 that serves medically fragile children where I also often am assigned.

I don't have any teaching responsibilities, but there are some days where I do very little nursing and I'll help the teachers with one on one help.....it's either that or I sit around like a bump on a log and I'd rather help the kids. There are also days when I work at the handicapped school and I have little downtime. I have kiddos on vents, on TPN, who need cathed, are on meds, who get tube feeds, etc. There is a population that lives in a LTC facility, yet they are still able to come to school and learn with an adapted curriculum. If they are the least bit sick, they generally do not come to school, but I've had some who crumped on me and had to go back to the facility, home or even taken to the hospital by EMS. In peds, conditions can change very rapidly compared to adults and you have to pay attention. You can't simply give the care and then read a magazine when you are done. You have to continually assess these kids and treat them as if they are potentially unstable because sometimes they do get sick at school. 98% of the time they are fine, but a few times a year, especially in the winter, things happen.

There is always an RN in the building who is available but she usually does very little with the special needs students as she has her hands full with her other responsibilities. Of course, if one of the kiddos is getting sick, I let the school RN know and she'll come up and contact the parents and pediatrician or LTC facility. The RN makes the decision to send them home and at that point you are a support person although all of my RNs know and respect my PICU experience and listen to my advice.

IMHO, school nursing isn't for new graduates...be it LPNs or RNs. Most of our assistant school nurses have experience in skilled nursing facilities or acute care...and all of our school RNs have worked in acute care....many are former critical care or ER nurses...one was even a flight nurse for the US military. Some of them maintain prn jobs at the local childrens hospital where I used to work for extra money in the summers and to keep their skills up. As you work with a lot of autonomy, you really need to have excellent assessment skills as there is no house officer to page, no house supervisor, no charge nurse, no nurse in the next room who can look at something for you. My advice is to try to get some acute care experience before taking on any kind of school nursing. In the case that LPNs are no longer used in acute care in your area, try to get some experience on a pediatric skilled nursing unit in long term care where you can sharpen your skills before taking on such a position. Experience is truly the best teacher.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

amoLucia · Jul 31, 2015

Ms Hazel - are you my nursing cap soulmate? I think we talked in the past.

Thank you to you, Kel & Just Beachy for their interesting info. I enjoy learning in the forum.

CalNevaMimi, LPN, LVN · Aug 7, 2015

I get around this sort of thing by referring to myself as a school site nurse. I am not a credentialed school nurse. Not everyone knows what LVN/LPN means. My first nursing position was in a special ed classroom at a high school. I did just fine with my RN only a phone call away. There are school districts now training non medical people to do the same tasks I was responsible for during my first year as a nurse.