Question

[RS0302]

I'm thinking about someday doing school nursing. My question is do you just get thrown in there? Do you have someone(maybe at a different school) you could ask questions if you are unsure when you first start off? It seems like the job might be a little intimidating at first when you are the only health proffesional in the school. Any thoughts?

[guest83140]

;)I think when some see all the nursing experience listed, they forget that it's a different environment. I did get about 1 week if that probably more like 3 or 4 days where I followed another nurse around at her school and was shown paperwork. I took notes and was given a nurse orientation notebook of forms and how to open and close a school. I studied that and the next day watched a nurse assist triage students and then they said ok call if you have questions. It wasn't so scary because I had children of my own and thought most children come and go to school normally healthy. I then skimmed through a couple of pedi/children books to freshen my early nursing day rotations in pedi. The nurses give you a nurse list of contact numbers so you can ask questions. I asked the ones that dealt with kids near my age group. Intimidating? Well, you must be confident and not so easily moved when questioned or adviced. If you know what you know, they will soon find out. You are the only medical person but you don't take all the long measures to solve problems as in the hospital. You asess and it's either a 911 or not a 911 call. If in doubt call. But you don't get that many close calls. A fracture- call parent unless life threatening. A seizure- if new or prolonged, call 911. If heart or stroke- call 911. You will learn the common school illness or complaints. Hope this helps. I enjoy it and I did 20 years of med-surg.

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

I have a preceptor who works at a different school. Fortunately for me, I worked in our school district as an "aid" for several years before I was hired as a nurse. (aid is a word for a registered nurse who does not get paid well in our district) We have a good team of nurses and I can call if I get in a jam, but it is a very independent job. I have found the secretaries to be invaluable for helping me with computer stuff and general building quirks.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Part of the NJ school nurse certification process is that you have to do a certain amount of time as a student school nurse working in a school. Similar to a student teacher.

I ended up getting around that rule by virtue of my first school nursing job. My first school nursing job was at a special ed school fortunate enough to have 2 nurses - I was granted "emergency" school nurse certification and worked like this while i took the necessary classes to complete my certification. Since I was working while I went to school in a school nurse capacity i didn't have to do the "student school nursing"