lissy1214

Hi there ! I’ve been working as a school nurse since April but it’s all been “virtual”. What that has consisted of: working with the local food bank to coordinate getting food to needy families, watching webinars, reading educational articles and literature, collaborating with the other nurses in my district to plan for re-opening (hopefully in September). There’s not a huge role for school nurses remotely (especially since I’m brand new) but the lifestyle change has already been such a breath of fresh air. The highlights (to be entirely taken with a grain of salt because I have not worked in the actual school yet): - I love the culture of working at a school ? maybe because I always kinda wanted to be a teacher and really enjoy the school setting. It’s cute and friendly and focused on the kids. At the hospital, you’re constantly bombarded with alarms and pumps beeping and codes being called overhead. That doesn’t exist here. It’s just a totally different environment and I’m loving it. (I’m sure in the future, when I’m actually in my office, I’ll inevitably run into some issues being the only healthcare provider amongst a group of educators.) - Having an office is an amazing feeling ! I’m so thrilled at not having to scrounge my unit for a functional computer/WOW!. - The hours are a dream. I’m off the clock by 3pm and I know that I’m off every single weekend and holiday (unless I’m picking up per diem at the hospital). It’s so nice to be able to answer “yes” to plans instead of “ugh, that’s my weekend” or “crap, let me see if I can find a switch”. The downside: - Less money . . . but only because this is a 10-month position and not a full-year job. When you do the math, my hourly pay is actually the same as my hospital-based job. It just stinks feeling like I *have* to pick up per diem time over the Summer to compensate for the fact that I won’t be getting paid for July and August. - The fact that you can’t go on vacation whenever you want (not that anyone is going on vacation right now due to COVID). You are bound to the school calendar. Granted you have off all Summer, a week for Winter break and a week for Spring break. But still, you have to plan entirely around those breaks. With hospital nursing, you could always manipulate your schedule to allow for vacation or just request PTO virtually any week. If you have any questions, let me know !! What is your nursing background / what has you considering school nursing ?

Thank you to everyone who responded ! I read each of your responses and greatly appreciated them. I started my new job as a school nurse this week (virtually of course). It’s got to be the weirdest time/way to start a new job but I’m trying to figure things out as I go. Everyone in my district so far has been so helpful, I’m feeling quite lucky ?

@Flare, I’m curious. What did you go with for your masters degree ? ?

Hi all ☺️ I hope this post finds you well, and staying safe during this trying time. I’m posting on here looking for a little insight on school nursing. After working in an inpatient pediatric setting for 5 years, I just accepted a position as an elementary school nurse (grades 1-5). It’s a weird time to be starting a new job but what can you do ?‍♀️ I’m very excited to start this new chapter, whenever that may be ! A few questions: What are some of the highlights of your job ? What are some of the challenges of your job ? Anything you wish you knew before you began working as a school nurse ? Any insider tips, good resources to have, mantras, tricks, etc. you’d like to share ? Additionally, being that I am transitioning from working in a relatively high-stress PICU, I am especially interested in any tips on how to make the mental adjustment from PICU to well children in a school setting. Thanks guys ?

Hey fellow nurses ������ I'm an RN with almost 3 years of experience, currently working in a PICU. While I've enjoyed different elements of working in the PICU, my favorite part of my job is working with the pediatric oncology patients (I've been chemo-certified for 2 years now). I'm constantly on the lookout for full time jobs in this sub-specialty of pediatrics. Well, last week I attended an open house at my dream hospital, interviewed, really clicked with the manager, and was offered a position on their inpatient pediatric oncology unit ! The only caveat . . . it's night shift. I have only worked days since starting as a nurse (I know, I know, I got lucky). I have no clue how I'd transition over to nights and I'm nervous that working this shift would have a negative impact on my family/social life (every other weekend on nights sounds daunting compared to my current 3 weekend shifts a month). However, this hospital is my dream job, would nearly double my salary, and seems like such an incredible opportunity. I have to decide by Monday and I am so helplessly torn ������ Any insight would be appreciated ! Some additional details: I just moved in with my boyfriend (who works M-F, 9-5, in NYC) and live about an hour away from my family. My commute would be 45 mins or so. I wouldn't start till mid-July and would have a 3-month orientation on day shift.

Hey :) It's great that you are looking to get some valuable experience early-on in nursing school ! Kudos. I don't think it's necessarily worth it to become licensed as a CNA. In most states, you do not have to have a license to practice as a nursing assistant or patient care technician/clinical care technician. I have worked as a patient care technician for the past year and a half without having any professional license. Most hospitals open up CNA type positions to both licensed CNAs and to nursing students. Nursing students, after having completed at least one clinical rotation, are considered to be qualified for CNA/PCT/CCT positions. That being said, I don't think you can feasibly work as a CNA prior to completing at least one clinical rotation. But to get yourself some experience and something to include on your resume, I think it would be in your best interest to start volunteering at a hospital as soon as possible. That way, when you do go to apply for CNA/PCT/CCT positions after you've completed your first clinical, you'll already have had some hospital experience. And at that point, getting a CNA/PCT/CCT job will make you a stronger applicant for an externship program. Externship programs are held during the summer between your junior and senior year. Bottom line, I don't think it's worth it to take the CNA course because you ultimately don't need that license to practice as a CNA.

Also, your academic excellence will be reflected in your GPA and potentially, in your induction to honor societies such as Sigma Theta Tau. Don't feel as though you need the tutoring position to prove your academic achievements.

Hi :) Both positions have merit and would look good on a resume. However, hands-on clinical experience is so, so valuable. If you are able to find a PCA job, I think it would be in your best interest to take that. When you graduate and begin applying to RN jobs, you want to have had as much clinical experience as possible. Typically, hospitals are more likely to hire a new RN who has worked in a hospital or a nursing home setting versus a new RN who has never held a clinical job. In the meanwhile, I would accept the tutoring position. If you don't find a PCA job, then at least you have the tutoring. And if you end up getting a PCA job, then you can adjust your tutoring hours accordingly (I'm assuming the tutoring schedule will not be too demanding). Hope this helps ! Good luck with everything.

Ultimately, your professor telling you that "nursing school should be your number one priority" is just her opinion - an opinion that should have no bearing on the way that she treats you. It's fine if that's how she feels about nursing school but it's unfair to impose that opinion upon you. She is crossing the line as your professor if she grades your assignments/test unfairly or embarrasses you in a class/clinical setting. Otherwise, I would ignore her differing opinion and continue to do the best that you can with balancing family and school. I think it's important to just keep on doing you and staying true to yourself - there are always going to be people that would love to impose their opinions upon you. As for the Catholic guilt comment, it sounds like she used the term jokingly. "Catholic guilt" is a very common phrase / stereotype because for whatever reason, it seems like Catholics carry a lot of guilt with them. It's similar to the whole "Wasps don't talk about their feelings" cultural stereotype. You feeling guilty made your professor wonder if you were Catholic. I don't see a need to be offended here but I also don't want to invalidate your feelings.

No, I am not a PCT at CHOP. On the CHOP website, it says that they accept new graduates / entry level RNs once a year and that the application for that will be available at the end of August. Hm, I will definitely be sure to stalk their website in August.

Hi all :) I'm graduating from a BSN nursing program this May and feel passionately about working in pediatrics, specifically at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I have experience as a Nurse Extern in dialysis/med-surg and have been working as a PCT on a pediatrics floor for the past 6 months. I understand that they accept new grads at the end of August (and that they are a notoriously competitive facility). I'm wondering if anyone on this site is familiar with CHOP and their hiring process. What can I do to make myself a better candidate ? Interview, resume, clothing advice would all be appreciated as well as any inside scoops about CHOP Sincerely, lissy1214

While I would have to agree with you that nursing isn't a great profession for me (it's something I've known since joining the program unfortunately), I feel there's got to be something within the nursing world I'd enjoy. I think it ultimately makes sense for me to pursue a graduate degree in something other than nursing. For the time being though, I will have to work as a nurse in some capacity. So I'm trying to find some kind of nursing work that suits my abilities. I've heard it said many times "There are so many different kinds of nursing, you'll find something you like - you could work in a hospital, a clinic, a school, with any age group, etc" You know ?

Hello all :) I'm currently a senior year nursing student, set to graduate this May. I'm trying to find my niche within the nursing world but have been unsuccessful thus far. I'm wondering if some of you more experienced folks can gain a sense for what I'm interested in and give me suggestions as to what type of nursing I might like to pursue. A little bit about me: I chose to major in nursing not because it was a passion of mine but because my mother (a NICU nurse and single mom) pressured me into it. Had it been truly up to me, I would have pursued a writing or music degree. I have always been an excellent student and glided through nursing school with ease. Clinicals have been somewhat of a struggle for me though because that's where I really see how much I dislike nursing (especially compared to other students who approach clinical with such enthusiasm). All in all, I am certain that traditional floor nursing is a poor fit for me. My personality and natural abilities do not line up with what traditional nursing consists of. I don't like hospitals, I don't like completing medical tasks (suctioning trachs, administering tube feedings, changing dressings, etc.), I don't like catering to patients' needs for the entirety of a 12-hour shift and I don't like the lack of autonomy. (Just because nursing isn't the best fit for me does not mean that I don't respect what nurses do. I think nurses are very incredible, caring individuals and it takes a lot of dedication to do what they do.) That being said, there are many things I do like ! I like writing, music and art. I like to design and draw. I like working with children and women. I like the pursuit of social justice and fighting for causes I'm passionate about. I like problem-solving and utilizing my creativity. I like flexibility and non-routine work environments. I like to call the shots - I'm not one for following instructions. I like brainy endeavors that require thinking rather than physical, hands-on endeavors that require doing (i.e. solving problems rather than completing tasks). I am an INFJ according to Myers-Briggs typology. Based on my interests and abilities, I've been thinking that public health nursing might be an appropriate fit for me but I'm just not sure. I've also considered case management. What do you guys think about public health nursing ? What other fits within the nursing world do you think would be appropriate ? If you do not see me within the nursing world at all, what kind of graduate degree should I pursue instead ? (I will graduate with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing.) Thank you so much for your input - I am in desperate need of it !! Sincerely, EMS