mdonohue76

Hi Everyone! I have a question...I am just about to get my certification in School Nursing. It is my understanding that you need an additional 24 graduate level credits (or a Masters degree?) to make your certification "Permanent". I was going to do a Masters in School Health Services with the university I'm currently attending (Eastern university) However, I just found out that it's only 18 credits, so even though I would get a Masters, it wouldn't make my certification "permanent". Ugh, I am so frustrated! What are my fellow CSN doing in regards to Masters degrees and making their certification permanent? I would like to AVOID Masters in Nursing. I am struggling with tuition as it is, and because of many different life situations, I need to make it as quick as possible. Can anyone tell me what they plan or already got their Masters in if you are a school nurse? Any advice you can give me in what to pursue in regards to my master? The CSN I worked under got her Masters in

Thank you all for the responses! Looks like it al varies (I live in Pa) bachelor's degree in Geography/environmental planning. Looks like everyone is in agreement with Masters in Public health!if any other school nurses could add anything I would so appreciate it!!:):)

Thank you SO much for your thoughtful answer!! I hope too that more school nurses from east coast answer as well!!! Any help is so appreciate f :)

Asking any School Nurses out there! I am at the point where I am seriously considering school nursing (any age). Ive been a nurse for 5+ years, worked mainly in Geriatrics, but have done skilled home care nursing (trach, vent, mental illnesses, autism,OCD,etc) I have an associates in nursing, bachelors in another field. Plan to just go straight thru and get my Masters in Nursing, although not sure what my concentration should be. Questions, if anyone would be so kind to help! 1.) How hard is it to become a school nurse? I looked online and it said you need 1000 hours of clinical to qualify for the certification exam. I am confused as to who would hire you without that certification? 2.) What Masters degree concentration would you suggest, I don't want to limit myself to just school nursing in case it doesn't work out, so I was thinking something more broad like public health. 3.) I live in PA (Philly area). What is the pay like? I know it's not competitive to those nurses who work in hospitals, but this is a change for my family, so pay isnt the top priority. If anyone could give me their overall opinion of school nursing I would greatly appreciate it! Going through a "mid life nursing carrer crisis" :-}

Thank you for your response! Yes I do have to buckle down nd think about what I really want to do. I currently work in geriatrics and bayada home health I love geriatrics, so I think I pretty much have it narrowed down to 2 majors: Clinical nurse specialist in adult/gero, or Adult/gero NP. I don't know if with three small children and working, I would be able yo also fit in clinical time, that is a major factor. If anyone knows anything about the clinical time I would really appreciate it.I believe you have to sit for exams if you are a CNS or NP, so part if me wants to just got for the NP

Hi, I WAs wondering if anyone could help me out. I am interested in getting my Msn, online of course at an affordable, accredited college. I have a bachelor's degree in another field. I am going crazy with all the different colleges to choose from. I am not sure if I am going to get my Msn, or go forth with Nurse Practitioner with concentration in geriatrics. I am realm really intimidated by being a NP:) has anyone done any of these programs? Is it worth getting Msn, or should I buckle down and go for Np? ANY info is helpful! Thank you!!

CloudySue, thankyou for your responce! I really appreciate it. I honestly thought "this is too good to be true" when I got hired, but then I heard what they pay :-{. However, I want to learn all those skills that you are talking about, and they are the ONLY company that is willing to train you. Everyone else slams the door in your face. I just wish the pay was a little higher, or I would consider quitting and working there full time. I am hoping that they give me the experience I am hoping for!

Has or is anyone currently working for Bayada Home Health? I accepted a position (part time, not leaving my current job b/c of Bayada's pay) Do you like it? What can I expect, etc? The company seems wonderful (except for the pay!!!) any advice or experiences would be helpful!!

Hi Everyone - I have been working in AL for 21/2 years and LOVE it. I was hired right out of nursing school to AL, since no hospitals or any other place really will hire new grads. I am the only nurse on for over 100 residents. I do NOT pass meds, only some that are required for nurses to give. I do all treatments, wound care, assesments, work with hospice/terminally ill, etc.I could go on. It's VERY busy. I feel like working in AL is excellent experience bc you are the only nurse on, you get very familiar with meds, you deal with psych issues, you have NO doctors, no other nurses, etc so your assesment skills are top notch. You have yourself and yourself only to rely on if the patient needs to go out, can be treated at home, etc. ANyways, even tho I love my job, I applied at a certain compnay for some home health cases. I want to expand my skills. I was really interested in the hospice aspect as well as wound care, but also interested in their trachs/vents and they said they would be willing to train me on anything I wasn't comfortable with. Great. Until they saw that I haven't done a catheter or feeding tube since nursing school. (AL doesn't have catheters or tubes) THey almost dropped me right there. I said all I would need is a quick refresher, Im an RN for over 2 years, I am 100% confident I would be fine iwth it. ANyways, she made me feel a bit humiliated like I wasn't a "real nurse" because I work in AL. Really not fair. I bust my butt in AL, and deal with all sorts of diseases and illness and have to dx people on my own without help from anyone else. Has any other AL nurses run into this? THe company said maybe I could do a couple in our skilled unit so I would feel more comfortable, but honestly, I think I would pick up doing a cath and handling a feeding tube pretty darn quickly! If they wanted me to take a certification test or something I would, but everone wants this "on the field" experience, but NO ONE will train you!!! How do they expect these new nurses to be any good if no compnies will train them? Has anyone out there switched from AL to more acute care??? HOw did you do it?

Ok I could have posted this comment myself!! I am trying to go back to school for BSN but EVERYTHING must be online! I work ALOT and kids, etc. DOes ANyone know of any credited school that you can take A&P II online???

Hi Everyone - I am a working nurse (about 24 hours a week) I work evenings and have 3 small children at home and a husband who works crazy shift work hours. I am thinking of going back to school to get my BSN> I already have a bachelors degree in something else; so I am hoping some of those classes will satisfy the BSN requirements. I went to DCCC for my nursing, and would like to do my BSN online (for reasons listed above! absolutly no time to go to campus) I have checked into West Chester who has an agreement with DCCC Has anyone taken ONLINE RN TO BSN classes? Which ones are the fastest/cheapest?(million dollar question!)How long did it take? Ive looked into several schools and they are hounding me like crazy already. ANy info from the nursing community would be helpful!