Previous Experience to be School Nurse?

[thefuture88]

Do you have to have previous nursing experience or can you go straight into it as a new grad? What are your recommendations?

[rbytsdy]

I didn't have a lot of experience before school nursing. I worked adult med surg but that doesn't give you a lot of skills for school nursing. I also teach parenting classes for the local hospital.

Honestly - I learned a ton taking a sub school nurse workshop. You don't learn about giving Epipens in nursing school or on the hospital floors. Even diabetes management is different in the hospital vs school settings. In my state you have to be certified so I learned a lot there. We'll never learn about 504s, IEPs, using an audiometer, etc in nursing school. But you need to develop those skills in school nursing.

I think subbing is a great way to get experience. I have to bring in subs periodically to help with screenings. That would be a great way to learn.

It was a challenging learning curve but the other nurses in my district are awesome. Even the first time I was looking for lice, I called another nurse over to help.

I think ER or Urgent Care experience would be the most helpful. However, I agree with glsgirl1985 that my own experience with my 4 kids has probably been the most helpful experience! Learn how to assess wheezing, taking good vital signs, asking the right questions. When it doubt, you can always call a parent and/or 911.