No Acute Care experience: Will I survive as a school nurse

[~Shrek~]

Hi all.

I am an RN with 3 years of experience in psych, case management, and in a community clinic.

I was offered a job as a school nurse.

I really want this job, and am super excited. But I am also scared I spoke to 3 school nurses so far, and have an idea of what the job is like, and I know it is a lot of work and can get intense, with a lot of autonomy. The nurses I talked to told me it would be a steep learning curve, but believe I can handle it/

I am afraid that I will flounder without hospital experience. I have to re-learn a number of skills I have not used since school.

Will I be able to handle working as a school nurse without hospital experience?

[OldDude]

I don't think "hospital" experience is the issue. It's how much experience you have with the age group you'd be assigned to. What grade level is your offer?

[~Shrek~]

I don't think "hospital" experience is the issue. It's how much experience you have with the age group you'd be assigned to. What grade level is your offer?

Elementary school

I have a ton of experience with kids in my current job and volunteering. But not in a school nurse environment!

[~Shrek~]

I don't think "hospital" experience is the issue. It's how much experience you have with the age group you'd be assigned to. What grade level is your offer?

And a lot with families too, since kids come in with their parents.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Your community clinic experience/skills will overlap a lot with what you'll need working in a school...

[~Shrek~]

Your community clinic experience/skills will overlap a lot with what you'll need working in a school...

Thank you. :) I hope so. Gah I am just nervous!

[OldDude]

Elementary school

I have a ton of experience with kids in my current job and volunteering. But not in a school nurse environment!

And a lot with families too, since kids come in with their parents.

Go for it! The school nurse environment is mostly administrative procedures...enjoy the autonomy. I often cite I get along just fine with the three of us in my clinic; me, myself, and I.

[~Shrek~]

Go for it! The school nurse environment is mostly administrative procedures...enjoy the autonomy. I often cite I get along just fine with the three of us in my clinic; me, myself, and I.

Thank you >.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

That's what I call my office a good 1/4 of the time - community clinic - based on the parents that send in their kids with the unknown rash and say "have the nurse look at it" or send the child in with the ear ache they've had since Thursday and it's now tuesday. - i think you will be fine!

[audreysmagic, RN]

Community clinic and psych are honestly good backgrounds for school nursing, if you ask me, as long as you have experience with the age group - which you've said you do! You'll see more psych in school nursing than you expect, trust me. I'd had home care experience before I did the schools, too, which had gotten me used to the autonomy. Once you get used to that, you'll probably love it.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

What will your orientation be like?

[MHDNURSE]

I think you will be fine. The "steep learning curve" will be more about navigating through state regulations, procedures, figuring out how to prioritize screenings, etc. Once you get that all sorted out, the rest of it will fall into place. Good luck and remember you can always come here with questions!