Positions for New Grads

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Will school districts hire new grads as school nurses, or do you have to have experience?

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If working alone, districts prefer experience. However, some districts have such large schools that they sometimes hire a new graduate to work with a experienced nurse. I know a person who started in school nursing 12 years ago right out of school and has never regretted it. However, with the actue skills needed and the perspective, I do think that 2 years working in peds or ER are excellent experience for school nursing. I had a new grad, 1:1 agency nurse in a school setting with a medically fragile child and whenthe student had distress one day (equipment malfunction) she lost her cool, because she had no context to put his symptoms into, she was freaking out that his o2 sats were in the 80s and to those of use who have worked acute, you do not panic until they are much lower, dropping, and the child is blue. She really frightened the child, wanted to call 911, and I kept saying, "He's OK, he's still pink".

Will school districts hire new grads as school nurses, or do you have to have experience?
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That seems like really good advice that I will take to heart.:rolleyes:

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The school district I work for hired me as somewhat of a new grad. I had previously interned as an RN on a peds unit and then worked in OB for 6 months after I graduated with my BSN. I think it really depends on what the school district is looking for. :)

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School districts will hire new grads, actually it's better for their budgets because they don't have to negotiate a salary, they start you on the bottom! I think they would prefer an older student/new grad because they have more "life experience" though. If you're just 21 yrs old, your taking on a big responsibility unless you're not the only nurse in the building (that way you have a mentor to help you make decisions). Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule, and a 21 yr old may be a good fit for some schools and may be wiser than their age implies.

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I interned for 3 mos. at a Telemetry Dept. then worked 6 months at

a large community clinic when I applied for a school nurse job and actually

to my suprise I got it! Keep in mind I applied to three schools, the other

ones turned me down, I never asked why, but who cares the third school

gave me the opportunity, and if you're wondering I am alone and I am doing fine, just say a little prayer every morning and a little related reading in the

evening. Thats my motto. :p

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Does anyone know what education the Ohio school districts require for entering school nurses? Thanks. Joa

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Ohio's requirements:

http://www.oasn.org/About%20OASN/certification.htm

OASN website: http://www.oasn.org/

Does anyone know what education the Ohio school districts require for entering school nurses? Thanks. Joa
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Martha, Thanks again for the very helpful information. Joa

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Will school districts hire new grads as school nurses, or do you have to have experience?

i live in nc and i think you have to have at least 1 year expirence in public health. they also require a bsn or higher.

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