New school nurse position, is it normal to pay for everything?

[samantha_sqbl]

Hi! I've only been a nurse for a year and I've been working in a peds ICU. It's been physically and emotionally exhausting, and I wanted to try something different so I applied for a school nurse position and got it! I'm very excited, but I am taking a pay cut and I'm expected to pay for a lot of things. So far I'm paying for an audiometry class ($800), 2 live scans (about $60 each), and my preliminary school nurse credential which I think is going to be about $250. This is a lot of money to put out all at once. Is it normal to have to pay for everything? Is this going to pay off later? I'm nervous because I don't even know if I'll like this job. Do some school districts help to pay for these things?

[muirite]

It depends on the district they are all different. I think it's pretty common to pay your own live scan and credentials.

[GatezRN]

It cost me about $750 altogether to get the credentials I was required to have. It was my responsibility.

[SnowyJ, RN]

Lordy! Here I was thinking some window clings and cough drops were an expense.

No way I would shell out for Audiometry class. What we do is so basic here. And luckily, my State does not require certification. But that i would pay for if needed.

[Eleven011]

What Snowy said! I was thinking about supplies when I read the title. I don't do any hearing testing, so no audiometry classes necessary. My state doesn't require any certifications either, other than CPR. My only real expense before starting was to join the NASN, which was by my choice, not required.

[SassyTachyRN]

We have audiologist who do hearing screenings in my district, the RN's don't so I don't deal with any of that. I don't know what a live scan is, a background check? We have to pay out of pocket for one at hire and every 5 years, $35. My state doesn't require a school nurse credential either. The only thing I pay out of pocket for is decorations for my clinics, staff prn meds (tylenol, ibuprofen, tums, cough drops) if I'm feeling nice, mints, stuff to keep me organized, etc.

[100kids, BSN, RN]

I had to pay for my fingerprinting when I first started (about $100). I do hearing and vision screening but had to train myself when I got here.

[AdobeRN]

Wow! I am spoiled in my district. We do not pay for any of that. We are required to do vision/hearing screenings and need to be "certified" by the state but the district pays for that. My National School Nurse Association Dues are also covered. My district does not require school nurses to be Certified - we have a few nurse who do have their certification but they paid for that on their own.

The only thing I am required to pay for is any Continuing Education that I go for outside of what the district offers - which I think stinks - we are required to do 12 hours of CEU during the summer and there is not much offered for us nurses - I usually spend at least $200 out of my own pocket attending various CE courses.

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

It depends on the District. Are you in California? I didn't have to pay for my preliminary credential, but I paid for my audiometry class at CSUSB. Keep in mind this can all be written off your taxes.

[OldDude]

Anything associated with a required screening should be paid for by the district. Vision/hearing, acanthosis, and scoliosis are all state require screenings here so the district pays the expense for certifications, etc.

[SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN]

I had to pay for my School Nurse License because it is not a requirement for my position. However, my district does reimburse me for RN license renewal because that is a requirement!

What is a "live scan"?

[OldDude]

I had to pay for my School Nurse License because it is not a requirement for my position. However, my district does reimburse me for RN license renewal because that is a requirement!

What is a "live scan"?

Thats the opposite of a "dead scan" HaHaHa, I crack myself up!