Shanny246

I agree with looking into sub nursing and checking schoolspring. I would also just look on indeed for "school nurse" postings. The other thing I recommend is reaching out to an agency, like Maxim, and getting a 1 year contract or so. That is how I got my foot in the door! School districts often hire through agencies to get extra help for the year.

I started school nursing in 2020 (during the pandemic), but I have been a pedi nurse (off and on, because I have 3 kids) since 2013. School nursing is great! Day to day, it is like a mini clinic. You have some kids come in that just need a bandaid, or have an upset stomach, or a headache. Then you have kids that fell and may have broken a bone, or ended up with a laceration. You have your daily medications that you have to give. You also have your emergency meds (like EpiPen, inhaler, diastat, valtoco etc). I have only had to give valtoco once, and an EpiPen once. It can feel intimidating being the only nurse at a school. That said, if you work in a good district, the nurses in the district all regularly communicate. You will have their extensions, and can call them with any questions! Also, so schools and districts have more than one nurse based on school size; this may be a good place to start. The salary depends on years of experience, and if you are on a teacher pay scale (tends to be better) or not. I make just under $80,000/year where I am, and I work 182 days a year. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Massachusetts Just over $79,000/year, work 182 days, 35 hours a week. School nurse since 2020, on teacher scale.

I did study groups with friends I made in the program. It is seriously what got us all through it! The study groups are such a help. They are not super flexible if you get below an 80, so you have to keep your grades up. It is very doable if you study regularly. The lowest grade I got was a B+ once. I can't remember how many exams I had, or how much time I spent studying exactly. I was sometimes at school until midnight doing study groups though (that was the time that worked for me because I had a young child). You can absolutely do it!

I also did the evening program because I had a child at the time (now I have even more kids!). I loved the evening program. I made excellent friends that I am still in contact with 10 years later. I cannot speak to the instructors now because I do not know who is there. If Pat Hagan is still there, she is AMAZING! I personally feel it was worth it.

I did not do the LPN-ASN program, but I did do the ASN program. I personally loved it. It was a great program with excellent instructors. I am very happy with the education and experience I got there.

Each core nursing class has a clinical that went with it. We had 2 “care of the adult/med surg” clinicals, pedi, L&D, and mental health. I did the night program cause at the time I had a 2 year old and it was most convenient. Clinicals were either 3 8s or 2 12s (I may be wrong with that since it’s been a while, but I think that was it). At the end of each nursing course you take a HESI (like a mini NCLEX that is specific to that course, and you have to pass to move on). Anything below an 80 is failing. You do have to take a religion course since it’s a catholic school (I took an ethics class which was relevant to nursing). All in all I loved the program and remember it fondly. I did not live on campus, so I can’t speak to that (I was married and had a child). The reason son I didn’t continue at Riv is because I just went back last year (I had 2 more kids!). I live in the Boston area now and don’t have a car, so I wouldn’t be able to make the commute for the capstone with is something I do want to do. When I went there I lived in Nashua. If you don’t have kids and are able to make the commute, it is worth it.

Hi Jonghyunbb! This was my original post. I’m happy to share that I graduated from Riv back in 2013 and the program was amazing. I loved my instructors, especially Patricia Hagan. I passed my boards the first try. I do regret not continuing straight for my BSN (I went for my ASN). I am almost done with my BSN, I have 2 more semesters (doing it online through UMASS Boston). I have only good things to say about Riv. Best of luck.

My concern is that I will work all night Monday, all day Tuesday and then all night Tuesday night...there is literally no time for sleep :)

Hi everyone! I graduated in May 2013, took my NCLEX in the end of June, and started working in December 2013 (I had a baby in September, so took a couple of months with my baby!). I was working in a pediatricians office. My husband got a new job so we moved to Boston, and I had to leave my job (I did give a 2 week notice). I was sad to go, but excited to see where I would end up. My absolute dream job is L&D/postpartum. I have been a lactation counselor for 19 months, and I took an online class through AWHONN for electronic fetal monitoring to make myself more appealing. I have applied to so many L&D and postpartum jobs in the boston area, and have been turned down for all of them. I have not even got an interview for 1 of them. I not only do an online application, I also call the floor directly so I can speak to the nurse manager! No luck!! Anyway, right now I am working 2 days a week doing triage in a pediatricians office. I have been there for just over 3 months. I recently got another job that is 3 nights a week (10p to 6a) for a company that does private overnight postpartum home care. I will go to the families house and take care of the baby at night. I will have to do baby assessments, help with breastfeeding, assess the mom's recovery, among other things. I start this week with a 1 week old baby! My concern is how tired I will be during the day with 2 jobs. I am at the pedi office Tuesday and Thursday from 8a-5p and then I will be working Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night from 10p-6a...I will go days without sleep. I have 2 kids, a 5 year old and 17 month old. Do I leave my day job? If I do, will it look bad on a resume? I had my 1st job for 6 months before moving, and if I leave this job, I will have only been there a few months...will that make me look flakey? I just want to do what I can to get closer to my dream job!! Thanks

Hi Everyone! So, my dream job is postpartum/L&D. I would love to do some outpatient OB/GYN nursing to get my foot in the door, and get some more experience though. I currently work in a pediatric office. I am a RN (taking classes towards BSN) a lactation counselor and I have taken an online certification for EFM through AWHONN. I live in the Boston area (I actually live in Brookline, just off of Longwood!), and would love to work in an outpatient office in the area. Do any of you have any recommendations? Any connections/contacts? This is a difficult field to get into! Thanks in advance :)

Sorry. I tried to send you a PM first, but it says you exceeded your storage of private messages :)

ipink Do you mind me asking where you work? I have actually been trying to do research on each hospital I apply to, and find the nurse managers. i have found some through linkedin and sent them messages there. Sometimes I just call the floor and ask for thr manager (doesn't always work!). Any other tips? I want this so badly!! Thanks

So, not very promising? This process is draining the life out of me! I want this so badly. Any tips on how to get to the interview process? I know that if I just got a chance I would be a great L&D/postpartum nurse!! I have been calling hospitals to speak to HR an to speak to the actual hiring nurses...no luck so far.

Congratulations! Where do you live? L&D is my dream :) How did it go?