School Nurse vs Home Health

CanIcallmymom, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2019

Hi, I'm a first year school nurse this year, and I love it. I have never worked home health or even rehab, so I can not compare the two effectively. It is more of a public health role. You will probably get lots of answers if you go into the school nurse forum and do a search, or you can ask them in there. ? There are a lot more experienced nurses in there that can answer.

OldDude · Mar 21, 2019

Both positions require independence in knowledge, assessment, and critical thinking skills; school nursing even more so than home health. Your experience thus far would lend you more qualified for home health.

If you like to work alone as a nurse, both positions will fit that bill.

Home health requires transportation and you are usually on call some weekends and holidays. With school nursing you are off all weekends, holidays, spring break, and several weeks during the summer.

School nurses make less "salary" because they don't work all year long.

I tried home health and hated it. School nursing will be be from where I ride off into the sunset.

Good luck!

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Mar 21, 2019

The schedule for school nursing is great...not so great for a new grad. I don't think home health is a great place to learn either.

School nursing: Low pay, great schedule, and in most cases, state benefits. Make it very clear to ask about their policies for emergencies. I live in an area where they have this stupid rule that you can't call 911 unless you get the parent's permission. I have a friend who is a school nurse that sees nothing wrong with that. If you have a child in an emergency, you can't use "their policy" as a defense in front of the BON...call 911 and then whatever transport decision is made...that's not on you.

Home Health: A very, very long list of people who need care and I personally don't think anyone should do home health unless they have done med-surg first. Something to consider: You have to travel from house to house no matter the weather. This may be a problem if you live in an area that snows. Great pay, great autonomy, but not a great place for a new grad. You need to understand how disease process is managed first.

It sounds like you like primary care. I honestly think you would like a med-surg floor.

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2019

I've done both and I don't think either are a good fit for someone with only 6 months experience in rehab. You're going to be on your own with either job. Even though they may hire you for either because they are short-handed understand you will probably feel in over your head. I'd recommend a med-surg unit if you can find one for a while just to gain invaluable experience.

For what it's worth, I hated home health and I'm still in school nursing.

amusedRN750 · Mar 21, 2019

Worked Home Health for some time. Due to the fact that you are working alone in HH, 6 months experience in Rehab may not be enough. I agree with the poster above, time on a med-surg unit would be good for you to gain the needed experience.

Positives of working HH- meeting the patients in their homes, families, being able to see one patient at a time and giving them your undivided attention. The independence and some flexibility.

The negatives; meeting some of the patients in their homes, some of the families and the long hours of charting.

I wasn't notified when interviewing or accepting the job, that the state was investigating our HH. So 2 weeks into my manager was fired, lots of extra trainings and lots of State and Educators constantly meeting us randomly at our patients homes. Talk about stress! My first day off of orientation, the State arrived and wanted to observe me!! Was I a little shaky! Needless to say, it wasn't a fun place to work at all! I much preferred working Med/Surg...

BrisketRN, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2019

I've done both! My home health job was more private duty than home health, but that was a good start for me working independently because I always had a clinical manager just a call away. As a school nurse it's just lil ol' me and the folks over on the School Nurse forum (and when I'm really desperate, a call to the old school nurse--one of our parents at my school).

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2019

The two areas are definitely apples and oranges, but they both do require more experience than you currently have. Seek out medical opportunities if you'd like to eventually end up doing either.

tatyfreedom · Mar 22, 2019

16 hours ago, OldDude said:
Both positions require independence in knowledge, assessment, and critical thinking skills; school nursing even more so than home health. Your experience thus far would lend you more qualified for home health.
If you like to work alone as a nurse, both positions will fit that bill.
Home health requires transportation and you are usually on call some weekends and holidays. With school nursing you are off all weekends, holidays, spring break, and several weeks during the summer.
School nurses make less "salary" because they don't work all year long.
I tried home health and hated it. School nursing will be be from where I ride off into the sunset.
Good luck!

15 hours ago, Jory said:
The schedule for school nursing is great...not so great for a new grad. I don't think home health is a great place to learn either.
School nursing: Low pay, great schedule, and in most cases, state benefits. Make it very clear to ask about their policies for emergencies. I live in an area where they have this stupid rule that you can't call 911 unless you get the parent's permission. I have a friend who is a school nurse that sees nothing wrong with that. If you have a child in an emergency, you can't use "their policy" as a defense in front of the BON...call 911 and then whatever transport decision is made...that's not on you.
Home Health: A very, very long list of people who need care and I personally don't think anyone should do home health unless they have done med-surg first. Something to consider: You have to travel from house to house no matter the weather. This may be a problem if you live in an area that snows. Great pay, great autonomy, but not a great place for a new grad. You need to understand how disease process is managed first.
It sounds like you like primary care. I honestly think you would like a med-surg floor.

Thank you. The one I am being Offered is one patient, 8 hours a day. I don’t do multiple visits a day. My frustration with my current one is the nurse to patient ratio. Sometimes I have 22 patients in my unit and no help from a supervisor.