school nurse as a mom

[catia108]

I am debating on switching to school nursing. im curious on how you handle your own children's school events. im worried about missing field trips and field days. i love going to their classroom to read. but how do you make this work? thanks!

[ABRN2012]

I work at the same school (campus) as my children. I do not go on field trips but that is just because my children prefer to just go with their teachers and class. If there is a special event then I pop in but I always know that I can be called away for an "emergency" at any time. I have went with them for district science fair but I used my personal time.

[aprilmoss]

Ah yes, the science fair. I've always judged the school fairs, but I like doing the district (it's on Saturday). You're past the "moldy bread" projects by that stage. Some of the kids are way more advanced than I'll ever be.

[Schoolnurse2018]

I was a school nurse for 3 years in the same school my children attended, I bumped my head and went to home health for a year and missed having the same schedule as my kids so much, I certainly took it for granted before. I am now a school nurse again, however in a different district and 45 minutes away from my kiddos school, I also have a high schooler in another district, so Im juggling three different districts. However, you find ways to make it work. My supervisor and principal are both very understanding about me making it to special events at my kids school. I do have different administrative days off, but the alone time is good too. We all have the same holiday and vacations schedules and of course summer, that time with them outweighs the occasional challenge of not being in their school.

[OldDude]

I've said this before...you only get one chance with your kids growing up. On the day they leave the nest you'll never look back and say, "Damn, I wish I would spent more time working!"

[nmr79]

What I always say is that working as a school nurse is great because I have the exact same schedule as my kids. And the hard part is that I have the exact same schedule. I haven't been able to get into my kids' classrooms as much unless I use personal time. My supervisor is VERY family friendly and has no problem letting me take a couple hours to go to special events (school day concerts, bring your mom to school day). For a classroom party, it would be harder. but the summers off and all holidays and home by 4 more than make up for that (for me).

Yep.

I used one personal day for a field trip that my daughter wanted me to chaperone, and a half personal day each for spring and winter concerts. It's tricky, since we're in the same district, but she will be in the same building as me in 3 years, so that will be nice.

I don't love missing the first days of school, but I always meet her teachers at the district-wide institute day that is the day before school, so it evens out. I love not worrying about missing holidays with my family.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I work at the school were my children attend. I get to go on field trips, though I am not considered a chaperone and must stay in one strategic spot. My children have less free reign than other staff students and are limited in how much they can interact during the day. It has become a whole different animal than when I began.

[Amethya]

It is a trade off, I miss a lot of things with my kids BUT I have breaks off with them so I can spend more time with them.

You just have to plan things, for example, I have 7 PTO days off and 7 sick days off. I save my PTO days for things like field trips and such that my kids may go to. This year my oldest is in 5th grade and she's having this EOY graduation field trip to a roller rink and I'm planning to ask that day to be there with her. Same with my 2nd grader, he has not gone to any field trips yet, but if he does, you darn know that I'm going to this first field trip.

[cowboysandangels, BSN]

I am a mom of 4 and a school nurse. I switched to school nursing when my youngest son was born with complex medical needs. I find that schools are much more empathetic to family and children issues. They have always been wonderful with me having to take time for appointments and surgeries with my child. We also get 4 hours per year worked in as "child time". I use that 4 hours (paid) to go to my other children's assemblies and such. Since my son is disabled (and I work in his school) I am able to go on field trips with him and his class. I do go as the nurse because of his needs and the complex needs of other students in his class. Working at the hospital would not have allowed for any of this and I would have lost my job. This career path has been a blessing for my children and my family. I love my job and am a devoted school nurse.