Offered High School Nurse Position

It's hard to say, because you might find it to be an amazing fit, but if you're that much on the fence, I would say that maybe you shouldn't accept the job and wait to see if something else comes up. 

School nursing is a completely different ball game compared to office nursing and while you won't necessarily have to deal with office politics within your space, you absolutely will have to deal with it from teachers and admin, who can be worse than nurses with cliques and cattiness. 

Also, it's so hard to find school nurses - if you were to accept and then leave again before the Summer, that will leave them in a major bind. So, if you do decide to accept, do them a solid and stick out the school year...

Why did you apply for the school nurse position?  Is it because you are interested in pediatrics, yes, high school is still pedi LOL, or because you are just trying to get out of your current position and were throwing your resume out there?  Why did you take in the interview?  During the interview, what feeling did you get about the work environment?  Did you interview with just Health Services or with the school admin, or both?  

School nursing is, as @k1p1ssk said, a completely different ball game.  The good news is you do have another person there, at least part time.  Having another nurse in a school that large is a big plus. 

You have to be prepared to just jump in.  School nursing is often "baptism by fire", there is usually not an orientation or preceptorship.  

Don't take the position unless you are able to commit to staying until the end of the school year.  If, at the end of the school year, you don't think it was the right fit, then thank them for the opportunity and say goodbye.  I will warn you though, your first year of school nursing is your absolute hardest - from now until the end of May/early June may not be enough time for you to get your feet under you enough to make an informed decision for yourself.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!  Come back and let us know. ? 

You might want to start by subbing before you commit to a fulltime job. 

I 100% agree with Emergent, RN. I did a year as a school nurse (during the height of Covid) and probably will never do school nursing again but I certainly wouldn't do it unless I subbed in that school prior to a full-time commitment. However, high-school is much more interesting to me than K-8. School nursing always sounds amazing but there can be significant stressors and demands made by school staff, parents, and students with much lower pay. I also wonder why the previous nurse left this position in the middle of the year. Just a couple things to think about, I'm sure you will make the right decision for you!

AbbyUSA said:

there can be significant stressors and demands made by school staff, parents, and students with much lower pay. I also wonder why the previous nurse left this position in the middle of the year

exactly what I was thinking

k1p1ssk said:

It's hard to say, because you might find it to be an amazing fit, but if you're that much on the fence, I would say that maybe you shouldn't accept the job and wait to see if something else comes up. 

School nursing is a completely different ball game compared to office nursing and while you won't necessarily have to deal with office politics within your space, you absolutely will have to deal with it from teachers and admin, who can be worse than nurses with cliques and cattiness. 

Also, it's so hard to find school nurses - if you were to accept and then leave again before the Summer, that will leave them in a major bind. So, if you do decide to accept, do them a solid and stick out the school year...

I don't think it should be on them if the school is in a bind. That's a lot of pressure for someone that also has a life. If things happen, they shouldn't feel guilty for prioritizing themselves first. I also say this as some who will be leaving my school before the school year is over. I plan to make the transition for whoever replaces me as easy as possible but it's not my burden to bear that they may not have a permanent nurse once I leave. I think the city should be better prepared and offer school nurses more money so that the position is attractive to applicants.

I've been a school nurse now for a little over 4 years in an elementary school. It's not clique-y like other jobs with other nurses but it's like working alongside people who think this is high school and a popularity contest. If you're new to schools you'll soon find out that this is how adults who work in schools behave. It's a sad reality.  The most difficult thing for me was realizing that THIS was true autonomy. I could call my supervisor, sure. But nursing judgement takes precedent and you have to make the right call. It's possible that you will make mistakes along the way but it's better to realize that mistakes sooner rather than later before it becomes a sentinel incident. I was very into my policy and procedure manual so I would call 911 if there was every anything that I felt I couldn't handle and was very emergent. Better safe than sorry and covering your @ss comes into play a lot. You're essentially on your own, in charge of those below you in your medical office and THE medical representative in that school. 

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.