School Nurse or Nurse Educator- What would you recommend it?

[desiruns]

I am B.S.N. nurse in my early 20's and currently working my first job as a nurse in a prestigious hospital's PICU. Throughout nursing school, I had many areas of interest, including neonatal/pediatric ICU, geriatrics, OR nursing, and nursing education or becoming a school nurse. I didn't think that I would want to be a nursing professor or school nurse right away, but at 7 months into my PICU job, I am already exploring other areas of nursing that would better fit my personality and desired lifestyle.

Basically, I love the level of acuity where I work now, but I do not think as fast as some of the other nurses and I am having some difficulty transitioning from textbook to real practice. Although I got good grades and graduated with honors, nursing school was hell for me, much because of certain professors. Ever since then, I have had a desire to become a professor so I can use my experience to make it better for others who are going through nursing school.

When I think about being a school nurse, I think about how fun it would be to work in a school and to have an educator role as well as a somewhat clinical-nurse role. Also, the hours seem ideal for somebody who doesn't really have the stamina for rotating 12 hour shifts (that's what I'm currently working).

Here are my questions:

1. What does a day in the life of both a nursing professor and a school nurse look like?

2. Pros/Cons of each?

3. Salary/compensation

4. Experience I need

5. What kind of education I need to pursue further?

6. Is there room to climb?

7. Are either of these good choices for somebody who wants to be very actively involved in my own family in the future? I'm currently single, but more than anything in the world, I want to be a wife and mother (yes, I'm one of those girls...haha)

If you have any thoughts or comments at all or anything to add, I would deeply appreciate them! Thank you!

[DEgalRN]

School Nurse Perspective

1. What does a day in the life of both a nursing professor and a school nurse look like?

This is going to vary a lot depending on where you are a school nurse. And I'm still fairly new, so take what I say with the grain of salt it deserves. You're going to see lots of kids that are sick, and some that aren't but don't want to be in school. And some that just want to chat. You're going to give a lot of OTC meds (if your school stocks them!) and pads/tampons. There will be some blood and vomit. You'll have kids with chronic health conditions (diabetes, asthma, cardiac issues, maybe even feeding tubes among other things), some will be compliant, and some won't. No body wants to turn in their paperwork. You'll have the kids you can help, who are appreciative, and the kids you can't help who are still happy you're there. You'll also have the kids who no matter what you do, it's not the right thing. You'll second guess yourself, and if you're lucky, you'll have a second nurse to ask, but most likely you won't (unless allnuses counts!).

2. Pros/Cons of each?

Pros - the schedule for sure. And it's almost 99% of the time not life or death (there will be emergencies though!). You'll get to know students and see them succeed and grow. You will get to practice those assessment skills, but most ailments are not things you can physically diagnose (headaches, stomach aches, and "feeling bad" come to mind)

Cons - Little to no backup. Some parents are less then understanding about what a school nurse can and can't do. The frustration in trying to get your students to bring in their inhalers!

3. Salary/compensation

I work off the teacher scale, so it's pretty bad, especially compared to hospital nursing. But in my state, it's a state job with state benefits and pension. Other states pay school nurses more, but it's going to vary wildly.

4. Experience I need

Again, it's going to vary. Some states require a BSN, some require an LPN. Some will hire you right out of school, and some want 5 years experience. I had to have a BSN and a few years (not necessarily acute) experience.

5. What kind of education I need to pursue further?

In my state none. And I wouldn't recommend getting a master's if you want to stay in school nursing. The benefits don't out-way the cons since it won't increase salary much and doesn't provide more benefits. I've seen certificates for school nursing, but I can't speak to them since I haven't taken those courses.

6. Is there room to climb?

Yes, but in small districts there isn't as much. And you're moving into administration and out of patient care, so that's something to keep in mind (if you want to do this, then yes, you need to further your education contrary to if you just want to stay a patient care school nurse).

7. Are either of these good choices for somebody who wants to be very actively involved in my own family in the future?

I shadowed a school nurse in nursing school who specifically went into school nursing when her kids were in school because of the schedule and the ability to see them more and pick them up from school (I said school 5 times in that sentence!). I'm personally looking forward to being able to spend time with my daughter this summer taking her to the pool, and the park, and the zoo, and all those things that I couldn't do when I was working full-time a 45 minute commute from home in an "all-year" job. But, with that said, most schools don't give vacation time to take during the year (for obvious reasons!) so you may or may not be able to do things like go on school trips.