New grad looking for peds opportunities offered a school nurse job

brithoover · May 15, 2013

Where do you live?

Star2011 · May 16, 2013

Bay Area, California

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 18, 2013

I do know ONE person who started as a school nurse as a new grad (most schools won't hire new grads in this area) and transitioned into acute care pediatrics. She had to relocate across the country to do so and then after obtaining acute care experience, was able to come back and secure a job at the pediatric hospital.

Star2011 · May 20, 2013

Ok thanks for sharing!

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 22, 2013

I'm not sure how I feel about a new grad starting out as a school nurse. In my state, a school nurse has to be certified with pediatric experience before they can be hired.

A school nurse is THE nurse in that system. You'll get kids sent to you for a huge variety of things. Most will be relatively minor, but some will be serious and require quick action. You'll be expected to be the expert. There's no one to observe, no one to teach you, no one to bounce your thoughts off. I'm not sure that a new graduate has the capabilities to effectively and independently manage the serious and/or emergent situations that may arise. I think it would be far safer and more beneficial for you to work for a few years on a pediatric floor and then pursue school nursing.

However, that's a perfect world. This is not a perfect world. There aren't an abundance of acute care pediatrics jobs available. There aren't even a lot of acute care jobs available, period. In order to get your foot in the door, you often need to take what you can get. But please be careful. Be wary. Realize that you don't know everything. Request an orientation. Request contacts to reach out to if you have a question. Do independent studying and think through what you would do in an emergency.

I was a really good student in college. I graduated well prepared for the real world of nursing. But when I stepped onto the unit for my first job as a pediatric ICU nurse, I realized that being well prepared meant that I could safely perform basic skills and recognize when I needed to ask for help. It's been two years since I've started, and I've learned much more in that time than I did in nursing school. One thing I've learned is that kids, while resilient, are also fragile. When they go bad, they can go bad quickly. I've learned to be protective of them. If I didn't have amazingly supportive co-workers who were willing to teach, guide and advise, there is no way I would have been successful as a PICU nurse. And looking back, if I ask myself if I could have safely practiced as a school nurse as a new graduate, then answer is whole-heartedly no.

Just food for thought. I don't mean to discourage you, but I want you to be successful in your first job, and I want your patients to be safe.

Star2011 · May 22, 2013

Thank you so much for your advice. I totally agree with you on the fact that I shouldn't have been given this opportunity and certainly don't want to put my licence or the children in danger. This situation certainly is not ideal, so I will be very cautious and make sure that it is safe. Though, this week I actually got an interview for a new grad program in Peds!! I can't believe I got this opportunity and know without a doubt this would be best the place for me. Any advice for that interview would be great too... :) Thanks again!

NCmcMan · Jun 22, 2013

Ok thanks for sharing!

Just curious, does that pay less than working at a hospital?

Star2011 · Jun 24, 2013

Yes! A lot less. Though I guess it depends on where you are. I'm salaried, so for the actual number of hours I'm working its not that bad.

bethm214 · Jul 3, 2013

I would NEVER put a new grad in a school nurse position. Kids go bad way too fast. An asthmatic can be dead if not properly assessed, likewise, a diabetic. Nursing school does way too little to prepare anyone for real nursing. Nursing is truly on the job training. New nurses need supportive environments where they are going to learn a lot and feel safe to ask questions and begin to see what all they don't know. I hope you will take the peds internship. It would be a much better place for you.

Star2011 · Jul 12, 2013

Thanks again for the advice. I totally understand and know that this probably isn't the best place for me. But I am beyond frustrated as I haven't landed another job yet.

skillaz · Jul 15, 2013

School nursing is a different beast when compared to acute care. However, I do not believe that you are not qualified for the job. I work in NY and they did not just throw me to the wolves. They gave all new hirees a one month orientation which I thought was too long. It was a mix of class/lectures and precepting with a experienced school nurse. The hardest thing for me was learning all the do's and don'ts of the job and the paper work. I had no problem assessing student or diagnosing their issues. I know nurses don't "diagnose" per se, but you have to have an idea of what is going on so that you can help/treat. The biggest medical issues in school nursing are asthma, allergies, and DM. Know s/s of those and how to assess. However the things the kids come in for are usually stomachaches, headaches, blunt trauma. Do a focused assessment and if something seems really off call 911. Be confident in yourself, and if you feel like you lack in an area; make sure you study and read up on it. Oh yea some background information. I was a new grad out of school for one year trying to look for a job and landed a school nurse position. I will say that in my opinion I am overqualified for the job. A majority of my job consist of placing bandaids, and ice packs. Not the best place to start because your skills will go to waste, however you will build other skills. Any additional questions just shoot me a message.