Prepping for School Nurse Job Search

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Specializes in Pediatric nursing: ED, forensic, neuro, triage.

Good Evening All,

Could any of you share how you landed your specific positions in schools? I am currently contemplating starting a job search in school nursing and am looking for tips. Did you just use job sites? Scope out the schools and district openings? Go in person? I have approx 12 years experience as a pediatric nurse (all settings ranging from pediatric telephone triage, to ER to teen and adolescent specialty medicine) and am ready to leave the hospital setting.

Would love any insight you'd like to share about your experience and advice!

Thanks for everything you do!

Lisa

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

I volunteered to help the nurse in the school my children attended with screenings. Then I subbed in the district. When a position opened up, she called me.

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Go to schoolspring.com and look there. Nursing jobs are under "student services". There is a lot posted there. Around here (MA) some school districts require you actually aply through the schoolspring website. You can upload your resume, create a profile, etc.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

In my area, most school nurse positions are posted on the school district website, so you have to go to each individual website, search jobs, and fill out an application with each district. Good luck!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I knew the district I wanted to be employed in so I kept an eye on their job postings and applied that way. If you can, sub in the school system to make sure it is what you think it is. Also, subbing can help you decide what schools you prefer.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

If there's nothing open in the district you desire, make contact with the lead nurse/health services director. S/he may then consider you when an unusual mid-year position opens. You can also go to your neighborhood school, introduce yourself to the nurse and ask about subbing.

Finally, most of us are contracted from July-ish to June-ish. So there may be a few positions mid year but your best bet is at the end of May and again mid-July. That's when we commit to contracts (the former) and the last chance we have to rescind without penalty (the latter).

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I was working at my current school as the librarian (I had kind of stepped away from nursing) but also subbed for the school nurse too. When she retired, they offered me the position. I only know two nurses who held this job before me and they were each here 15+ years. I don't think this job has ever been advertised!

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Specializes in kids.

I had a friend who was a teacher there tell me about the opening. I ipopped in to tsee the nurse (my son attended school there), applied-long before Schoolspring, I might add! Interviewed and here I am 26 years later, living the dream!

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Definitely sub if you can. Nearly all districts need subs so they will snap you up. You can register with many if you are worried about getting enough hours. Not only can you get to know the position and the districts but you can sell yourself and your skills so they will consider you first when something opens up. This was how I ended up at my job. In addition to subbing I helped out at flu clinics and with dental screenings. It was a great opportunity to see many offices and settings. This is a very solitary job so you don't often get that opportunity.

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Specializes in Pediatric nursing: ED, forensic, neuro, triage.

Thank you everyone, this is really really helpful. I do have some sub school nurse experience through a temp agency, which is how my interest was peaked in the first place. At my favorite location, all I had to do was take care of the kiddos--no paperwork or monitoring or screening--so I got to see the fun side! I love teens and adolescents so I'm thinking I might concentrate in that area.....

I'm thinking of asking to shadow with my son's school nurse--we have a good relationship so it won't seem out of the blue.

Another question is how do you navigate the principal's authority vs. your lead school/district nurse? Who's your boss? I've heard some of you mention in this forum that it's sometimes odd to be in an educational setting with individuals who don't understand the nursing process or our practice acts...........

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
18 hours ago, sonicleese said:

Another question is how do you navigate the principal's authority vs. your lead school/district nurse? Who's your boss? I've heard some of you mention in this forum that it's sometimes odd to be in an educational setting with individuals who don't understand the nursing process or our practice acts...........

It is a shared practice. The principal cannot tell you how to do nursing things and the health director cannot dictate building policy (unless the policy converges and impinges on a nursing decision). The first year is often spent figuring this out. My new HS campus went through four administrators in six years so I started asking every one: What is your goal for me? Do you want the kids to be assessed and returned to class or do you want parent contact each and every time?

Because, if left to the parent, they will likely come be at sweet baby's beck and call if that's an option. If the principal is unwilling to defend the absence policies then you shouldn't have to care, either!!

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