private school school nurse postings

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Feb 4, 2015

Have you tried Teaching jobs, educator jobs, school jobs | SchoolSpring ?

NanaPoo · Feb 4, 2015

I work at a private school. Honestly, I've never seen a job posting for a private school nurse in my area. My daughter goes to a private school and I just happened to find out a year or so ago that her nurse was in need of subs. A fellow mom found out that I was an experienced nurse but currently staying at home because of my husband's job situation (he travels A LOT which required me to stay home to be available for our daughter). The sub position was perfect for me because I only worked when she was in school.

Soon, the nurse left and the position came open. I fell right into place and the rest is history.

If I were looking now I'd go to each private school's individual website and see if they have a job postings link.

jryanrn · Feb 5, 2015

Will try those thanks.

jryanrn · Feb 5, 2015

Yes, I hear that scenario alot. Hard for me to give up stedy paycheck at this point in my life. Even though that seems to be the best way to get your foot in the door.

Thanks

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2015

I actually ended up in school nursing getting a sub position in the public school setting. I worked pretty steadily, though, as it was a very large district. Pay was low, but the experience landed me a full time position at a public charter.

Different areas are well...different, I guess. Where are you located?

jryanrn · Feb 5, 2015

I live in New York, they have a 4 day certification course that I will be taking in August. Then I think the best route is to become a sub. after the certification. Alot of it is word of mouth, who you know and getting on that sub list. Will keep trying. Thanks for input! Just nice to know what direction I want to concentrate in, never too late even at 50!

kidzcare · Feb 5, 2015

Is it harder to get a private school job as opposed to a public school job? Is the pay significantly higher?

I don't think the school nurse gig too appealing to most nurses around here. The pay is terrible, I had to take a $20,000 base pay cut and work another job. I made the change for the predictable schedule and summers off since paying for childcare for 2.5 months for my kids (3 kids aged 10 and under) would be a minimum of $1800/month in this area and I haven't seen a penny from my ex husband in over a year. Not to mention other school breaks that I would need childcare for and the overtime I would have to pay a day care center if I couldn't leave at 3 on the dot to get my kids from school.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2015

The pay at private schools is LESS than public schools in general. Public school teachers are usually represented by unions, at least where I live. I briefly worked per diem at a private school and was paid an acceptable hourly rate; however, when I saw the salaries for full-time teaching staff (school nurses are usually paid teacher wages), I almost didn't believe them. I mean, not exaggerating, you had to have like 10 years experience before you'd even be making $50k. I made more than that as a new grad RN. Now, granted, this school was also almost never in school. They started after Labor Day, had a full week off for Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, over 2 weeks for spring break, ended school in May and had random professional days all the time.

tat_nurse · Feb 6, 2015

Oh... is that certification course online by chance?

I m too looking to get into school nursing.

Right now subbing for the district, but looking to increase my chances.

Does anybody know any online school nurse cert programs?

I live in New York, they have a 4 day certification course that I will be taking in August. Then I think the best route is to become a sub. after the certification. Alot of it is word of mouth, who you know and getting on that sub list. Will keep trying. Thanks for input! Just nice to know what direction I want to concentrate in, never too late even at 50!

kidzcare · Feb 6, 2015

The pay at private schools is LESS than public schools in general. Public school teachers are usually represented by unions, at least where I live. I briefly worked per diem at a private school and was paid an acceptable hourly rate; however, when I saw the salaries for full-time teaching staff (school nurses are usually paid teacher wages), I almost didn't believe them. I mean, not exaggerating, you had to have like 10 years experience before you'd even be making $50k. I made more than that as a new grad RN. Now, granted, this school was also almost never in school. They started after Labor Day, had a full week off for Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, over 2 weeks for spring break, ended school in May and had random professional days all the time.

I just did the math and I will break $50,000 after 15 years at my school. That's depressing.

For most of the districts around here, to be on the teacher salary schedule, you have to be a certified school nurse. And to do that it's an 18 month study course costing $10-15K. And even then, I'm not sure it you're started at the bottom of the certified staff pay, since it would be year 1 as a certified employee.

I'd love to see a change in our pay. A first year teacher's starting pay is $8,000 over starting pay for an RN with any amount of experience in my district.