I am a first year school nurse at a middle school. I come from a high risk OB labor and delivery background. First off let me say I did labor and delivery almost 8 years and I complained most of the time. I loved the docs, and people I worked with however the corporate side left us often short staffed and scrambling. I was prn at the hospital and worked 1-2 12 hours shifts per week. I also worked prn at a local surgery center doing preop less often and 8 hour shifts.
A school nurse position opportunity arise and I decided to take it. This is a huge job. I feel like even though I did high risk OB and things were life and death, it was a job. This is more of a career, whatever you leave at work continues on to the next day. I'm not sure if it is because its my first year or the actual job, but I'm struggling. I desperately miss the days off during the week that I used to have being prn. I know we get many scheduled breaks, but I feel like I'm always working. I feel a bit selfish that my days off are what I miss most. But maybe I'm not cut out to juggle all of it? I am contemplating going back to my prn job, but is that smart since I left that behind? Being over 40 I feel like the extra benefits are nice such as short term disability ect. (I have health insurance through my husband). Anyway I am rambling on but I just don't know what to do.
I will say my favorite part of my OB job was doing triage. I love getting people in, figuring out what is going on, and moving them on to the appropriate place. I love that it was women's health. I love starting IV's, drawing labs, investigating what is going on. I do not miss the labor part at all. I thought school nursing may be a good fit since I see a variety of people and it would be like a mini triage. A part of me thinks I am just not a content person and maybe I wont like any job. Any advice or thoughts are welcome. I don't know which direction to take and I assume our contract negotiations will be coming soon. That is even added stress that I will have a time limit on deciding. Help!
Oh and I have NO intention of leaving before this school year is completed. I am just anticipating contracts coming out soon and not knowing what to do. I don't want to wait too far into summer break to tell my school and my director. I really don't want to leave them short. I truthfully think this might be a job I would like when my own kids at home weren't so needy. I just feel overwhelmed. There are days I have to go in a room and take a few breaths due to the constant attention (not nurse related) of certain students. I think part of this can improve next year since I know more of what I am doing. I may have been too accommodating to some of the students which in turn now I am taken advantage of. I am trying to improve that with the help of advice from my district nurses. Unfortunately I want someone to say, "you should do X,Y,Z" and deep down I know the decision has to come from myself. Did I mention I am terrible at making decisions?
Specializes in clinic, ortho/neuro, trauma, college.
I'm a nurse in a college health center ( do I qualify as a school nurse? :)) and there are definitely things I miss about the bedside. I was just telling friends the other day HOW MUCH I missed placing IVs and phlebotomy. What I don't miss? Frequent flyers who were abusive, three night shifts in a row, fall precautions, getting a complicated discharge and then getting hit right away with a new admit, yada yada yada.
Additionally, OP, with a family, it's made the switch so much easier and so much sweeter. This schedule jives more with my family's, and we're all happier.
This is so funny. One of my "kids" told me that I couldn't leave the school I am at until she graduated then I could go to college with her.. HAHA I am soo not telling her that there are actually college "school" nurses!!
I'm a nurse in a college health center (do I qualify as a school nurse? :))
OP: If you honestly aren't feeling it by the end of the school year don't stay. No need staying if you are going to be miserable. My son is seven this schedule works well for me, I am home on nights and weekends. I have time to drive him to school and pick him up. It just works well. There I have been days I went home angry there have been days I went home in tears. There are days I roll my eyes when I see certain kids come into my clinic, and I feel like saying NOT YOU AGAIN! On a daily basis I deal with the not nursing stuff, sometimes those kids are needing attention and they aren't getting it anywhere else. I personally don't like middle school aged kids. Give me the little ones or the big ones. Those middle schoolers are tough.
Maybe if you think you want to stay and another age group position opens up take it. I guess what I am trying to say is go with your gut. If you don't just "feel" it's for you go back to what you miss. No harm done.
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
Oh and I have NO intention of leaving before this school year is completed. I am just anticipating contracts coming out soon and not knowing what to do. I don't want to wait too far into summer break to tell my school and my director. I really don't want to leave them short. I truthfully think this might be a job I would like when my own kids at home weren't so needy. I just feel overwhelmed. There are days I have to go in a room and take a few breaths due to the constant attention (not nurse related) of certain students. I think part of this can improve next year since I know more of what I am doing. I may have been too accommodating to some of the students which in turn now I am taken advantage of. I am trying to improve that with the help of advice from my district nurses. Unfortunately I want someone to say, "you should do X,Y,Z" and deep down I know the decision has to come from myself. Did I mention I am terrible at making decisions?
Hang in there holken- I am pretty sure that we have All been there. (After 20 years, I still have that feeling in my gut once in awhile) You will soon learn when to be tougher and when its not necessary, depending on the kid and the situation. Relying on the help of your district nurse is ok, until you feel more secure.
Hey OP I am in my 2nd year as a school nurse and have 10 years of high risk ob. It does take time and self guidance to get use to the culture and environment of the school system which is very different than the healthcare world. While I like school nursing I do still love Ob so I work per diem twice a month or more on my old unit. I don't miss the stress that comes with it but, its refreshing on the days that I work. I do agree with you that my biggest pet peeve are parent enablers. It drives me nuts at times but, then I say hey its not my education I have one already. However, those students who I can reach do get that nice lecture from me on the importance of school and working in the real world will not allow any absences. I work with ms/hs students who are easier to talk to especially since we have cared for many teenage mom's in l&d. I couldn't survive elementary. The middle schoolers are tough because they still need a lot of babying and have the highest occurrence of parent enablers. My office has become a safe haven with boundaries for students since they have gotten to know me. They share with me their achievements and frustrations and I give life lessons and encouragement. This is the part of school nursing that I love.
Some days I love school nursing and other days I'm like get me out of here. Will I retire as a school nurse I doubt it but, right now it works for me. I would suggest keeping your foot in the door prn in womens health while you figure things out.
I was thinking today maybe elementary would maybe be better for me. I NEVER thought I would want to be around the little kids, so I thought middle school would work. But maybe I should try something different instead of leaving all together? There are almost 800 student in 2 grades here. I always talk to these middle school kids about "being their own advocate". I feel I want to assist with their transition into high school. Getting them to take care of themselves, problem solve. However maybe the little ones wouldn't leave me agitated?? Ugh. I'm just not sure. I'm glad I still have time before contracts come out, but I am hoping by that time me decision will be more clear. I am so grateful for all of your responses! Thank you!
I'm an OB nurse at heart. I did it 12 years before becoming a professor and school nurse. I miss it sometimes, but I love getting off at 330pm, off every weekend, every holiday, and every summer. You can't beat it.
I don't miss working 12 hour shifts, and I don't miss working holidays, and dealing with under staffing.
Your office staff is your saving grace, call other nurses in your district, and call lead nurses. Stay in contact with them.
It is tough working 5 days, but by noon, your day is basically over. cheers!
I love elementary nursing too! The fun celebrations the cuties and we have big kids too. The 4th and 5th graders deal with hormones, and they are bigger than me.
We have so much fun with our themed months. We act so goofy and celebrate and dress up, ect.
I am a first year school nurse at a middle school. I come from a high risk OB labor and delivery background. First off let me say I did labor and delivery almost 8 years and I complained most of the time. I loved the docs, and people I worked with however the corporate side left us often short staffed and scrambling. I was prn at the hospital and worked 1-2 12 hours shifts per week. I also worked prn at a local surgery center doing preop less often and 8 hour shifts.
A school nurse position opportunity arise and I decided to take it. This is a huge job. I feel like even though I did high risk OB and things were life and death, it was a job. This is more of a career, whatever you leave at work continues on to the next day. I'm not sure if it is because its my first year or the actual job, but I'm struggling. I desperately miss the days off during the week that I used to have being prn. I know we get many scheduled breaks, but I feel like I'm always working. I feel a bit selfish that my days off are what I miss most. But maybe I'm not cut out to juggle all of it? I am contemplating going back to my prn job, but is that smart since I left that behind? Being over 40 I feel like the extra benefits are nice such as short term disability ect. (I have health insurance through my husband). Anyway I am rambling on but I just don't know what to do.
I will say my favorite part of my OB job was doing triage. I love getting people in, figuring out what is going on, and moving them on to the appropriate place. I love that it was women's health. I love starting IV's, drawing labs, investigating what is going on. I do not miss the labor part at all. I thought school nursing may be a good fit since I see a variety of people and it would be like a mini triage. A part of me thinks I am just not a content person and maybe I wont like any job. Any advice or thoughts are welcome. I don't know which direction to take and I assume our contract negotiations will be coming soon. That is even added stress that I will have a time limit on deciding. Help!
You and I are the same person!! I actually think you responded to a similar post of mine. I feel the same way about school nursing as you. I have been doing this for almost 4 years and I still feel like I don't love it. I also enjoyed my previous specialty but management, poor moral and finding a good schedule for my family were the obstacles. I was also ready for a change. I do feel like you will be less stressed the more experience you obtain but I also hate making decisions but it does get better. That being said I do not like being the only medical professional and feeling like I need to know everything about every medical issue that comes through the door. ( staff and students). I feel like if I still feel this way after 4 years than I prob always will. I struggle with leaving because it IS an awesome schedule and I feel like I'm choosing between what's best for my kids vs myself. I also hate the 5 day work weeks! I would love to hear from people who left school nursing ...were they happier ? Or did they return ??? I wish you the best of luck !
I originally wanted to go into OB! That is really my passion. I started per diem working as a childbirth ed instructor. I love it - I would do that full time if I could. Then a school nurse position opened up. I really struggled the first year but in order to stay in school nursing I had to become certified. In my state, the CSN is a post-baccalaureate cert and wound up costing me about $10,000. There is no way I can leave right now. Since I'm certified and I'm not so worried about my job, I've gotten a lot tougher with staff. I set up a guide on when to see me so it's not quite a crazy as it was in the beginning. I've gotten my rhythm down so it's easier. The crazy parents still bug me.
I still do per diem work teaching childbirth and new baby classes. That helps a lot. :-)
KSM-RN, BSN, MSN, RN
48 Posts
Oh and I have NO intention of leaving before this school year is completed. I am just anticipating contracts coming out soon and not knowing what to do. I don't want to wait too far into summer break to tell my school and my director. I really don't want to leave them short. I truthfully think this might be a job I would like when my own kids at home weren't so needy. I just feel overwhelmed. There are days I have to go in a room and take a few breaths due to the constant attention (not nurse related) of certain students. I think part of this can improve next year since I know more of what I am doing. I may have been too accommodating to some of the students which in turn now I am taken advantage of. I am trying to improve that with the help of advice from my district nurses. Unfortunately I want someone to say, "you should do X,Y,Z" and deep down I know the decision has to come from myself. Did I mention I am terrible at making decisions?