dfs1961

Just started my 7th year in a MA public elementary. $67,243. M-F 8:15-2:50. Sept-June. No weekends. No holidays. Summers off. MSN and DESE licensed as a school nurse. We are in current negotiations for a new contract, so I should be in the low $70's ...

I wear regular clothes like the teachers. Although I do have to say that I do get a little dirty, especially my pants because I am always putting my students sneakers on my pants so I can clean their knees. In my district they like us to blend in as ...

lol - I thought about this today as I did my "med pass"....I had to give out my 5 daily meds and it takes me about 20 seconds total to complete it. There is one student who I have to crush her pill and mix it in pudding - sometimes I get annoyed abou...

School nurse here for 1.5 years and I love it. Best job I ever had. Former med surg/telemetry RN for 5 years. I enjoy being my own boss, I run the health office, I like the minimal interaction with adults. I mostly talk and see only elementary childr...

I am graduating next spring (May 2012) with my MSN. I am currently an RN on a med/surg/tele floor. I work 24 hours a week and love it! I love the hours, my floor, and my co-workers. I don't plan on picking up extra hours on the floor. I went back fo...

I have to disagree about the money. I make about the same that I made as a new grad in my hospital job. Around $30 an hour. I essentially work part-time. In 13 years, when I max out the pay schedule, I will be making $80k+ for part-time work (if you ...

I would actually refer the poop smearer to the school psychologist. This type of behavior is associated with multiple psychiatric disorders in children.

I wear business casual for a number of reasons 1. I don't think scrubs are flattering and my Principal wants us to look like a member of the educational team 2. I like my clothes! :) 3. When I get out of work at 3pm, there is a still a lot of the da...

I pull out teeth all the time. I ask the student to wiggle it for me. I can usually tell at that point if I can get it out. I then give them the choice. 1. leave it alone and come back to get a tooth box once it fall out, or 2. I can pull it out but ...

My story is similar. I was a telemetry/medsurg nurse for years and have four young children. Once my youngest was in school fulltime, I knew I wanted to make the switch to school nursing. I work 8:15am to 3pm and am out the door everyday at 3pm, on t...

Last day is next Wed the 26th of June. I won't be going back till after Labor Day! Woohoo!

I am supposed to get 50 minutes of duty free lunch/prep time daily. What a joke! I never leave my office, ever. When I go to the bathroom, I can hear the little voice saying "where's the nurse?"...I had one student today who was asking me why I was l...

My ADN program had crap instructors as well. And they treated all the nursing students like garbage - because at least 1/2 my class was from a foreign country, they didn't know any better and they took the abuse. I got in trouble on more than one occ...

Start subbing in the school district (or two or three) that you'd like to work. Get to know all the nurses, be flexible and available. It may take a few years (till someone retires) but if you have been a reliable sub nurse, you should have the advan...

How do you get a note from the doctor if the parent's won't get you one? She (the nurse) has done due diligence by 1. discovering the eye problem, and 2. making the referral. The parents have responded. I think the issue is out of her hands and the c...

In Massachusetts, entry level is an RN-BSN. You need to be nationally certified as a school nurse OR have your masters in nursing or education within 5 years to get your professional licensure as a school nurse (you can ask for a 5 year extension). A...

I would first research what blood borne diseases are still active after air exposure...from what I recall, dried blood that has been exposed to air I don't believe can contain an active virus. Now I'm off to research/google......

I plan on working until the age of 66. I'll have 30 years by then and should be able to collect a nice pension, plus, if I'm healthy, that gives me quite a few years left to travel and enjoy retirement, as well as my grown adult children. I do plan, ...

I have 5 years of cardiac step-down, med surg experience. It wasn't that hard to break into school nursing. I subbed for the past year, did a good job, and then applied when someone retired. I think the hard thing about breaking into school nursing i...

Word.

Schools are desperate for substitute nurses. You won't need peds experience or your certification to be a sub. I live in MA and I subbed for an entire year w/no peds experience or certification. I recently got my first school nursing job. That year o...

You could work as a school nurse substitute - prn and they are short 7 hour days.

My commute is 8 minutes door to door. No traffic. Easy peasy. My old job was 2 miles down the road - my hubby would drop me off. I could leave the house at 6:55am for a 7am shift and be badged in by 6:58am. I would NEVER commute again. Quality of lif...

MA - 1st year as a school nurse. 5 years med/surg/tele experience. Masters degree in nursing. $44k. I will max out around $85k in 15 years. I am in the teacher's union and on their payscale. I will also be eligible to receive a state retirement pensi...

I learned a long time ago that we are all replaceable. All of us. At anytime. I am loyal to my husband and my children. That's about it. I recently left my place of employment (hospital, med/surge/tele) after 5 years. I was good to them, they were go...