School Based NP Job Advice

Trauma Columnist · Apr 29, 2009

My only thought is if you work as a school nurse, will you be able to recertify as an FNP a few years down the road? Does your BON have a minimum number of hours you must work as an APN in order to recertify?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Apr 29, 2009

I graduate in a few weeks and will be an FNP once the BON processes my paperwork. Unfortunately there are limited to no job opportunities in any specialty in my geographical area. I really would love to work in a school based clinic. There are about 10 in my area, but they are rarely hiring.
In the meantime, I am considering looking for a school nurse job so I will have that experience if an NP position arises. I hate the thought of having my MS degree after being a nurse for 9 years and considering a position that pays less than 1/2 of what I make now, but looking at the big picture it may work for me and my family. Any thoughts on the school based NP role or working as an RN after graduation?

Hi, may I ask where you live? the Health System I work for participates in a shool-based health program providing NP's and PA's to inner city health clinics located in elementary and high schools in Detroit. The program is funded by Kellogg Foundation and just recently, our Mid-Level recruiter was begging for applicants to staff 2 different clinics or we risk losing our funding. The positions are now filled. However, the program sponsored by Kellogg is a multi-state program. If you don't mind woking with inner city children, it can be something to think about. Sometimes, school NP openings are not offered through the public school system but rather via other philantrophic endeavors such as this one. Kellog's program's website is found here: http://www.schoolbasedhealthcare.org/. Our health system's program is found here: http://www.henryford.com/body.cfm?id=47741

Sheri FNP-C · May 5, 2009

Thanks NP Gilly. I checked out both websites, neither seem to serve my area (NY). I have sent out a couple of unsolicited resumes to the two organizations that I know employ school based NPs in my area (one serves an inner city, the other a very poor, rural area). Until then, I am really thinking school RN though. Decisions, decisions. What a waste of my degree, but at the same time I cannot work 60 hours a week...I have young children and a husband that works a lot.