I may hate my School Nursing job...ADVICE, PLEASE?

RNPediatric18 · Nov 2, 2018

I'm also in VA! This is only my second year, so I'm still very much learning myself.
I don't know much about high school, I'm in elementary. But, have all the 10th graders had their vision and hearing screening? We hit day 60 today in my district, so all screening is to be finished by today. I know a few nurses in my district are still finishing up re-screens, myself included.
VDOE :: Online Orientation for School Nurses
Here is our DOE health site. There is an online orientation you might find useful. It's also a good go to when you need to find out state specific requirements.
I'll see if I have some more links for VA stuff and post it later. There is a learning curve with school nursing because it's so very different. It was hard last year, but is getting easier.

I had no idea there was even a 60 day deadline. They did all the screenings before I started...although there was a stack of ones that needed re-screened left here. So I am assuming the coordinator will get with me at some point to get that taken care of.

Thanks for all the links! I appreciate it!

meg816 · Nov 2, 2018

I was a school nurse for 2 years and didn't like it either. What I did like was the relationships I built with the students and staff. I was looking for other day jobs, when a teaching position at our local Career and Tech Ed school came open. I applied and got the job. I currently have a Type M vocational teaching certificate and am in my 4th year of teaching. It is way more work than school nursing, but the reward is great and I have discovered something I love as much as bedside nursing. And the schedule is amazing!! Good luck on your search.

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2018

You just missed the hardest two months of the year. Most of us are finally getting a chance to breathe a little. I also find it interesting you were complaining you only had three days orientation (I had none) and you already feel comfortable with how to do everything? Assuming all your care plans, emergency plans, teacher training, immunizations, 504 plans, etc are all up to date why not start a staff wellness program to keep staff from gaining weight over the holidays or ask to be a guest speaker in health class? Does every teacher of a diabetic have a set of snacks in their class in case of lockdown? I think you're too new to school nursing to make an educated decision about this. You took this job so you could be there for your baby more. Look at the big picture and give it a real chance. You have a lot of flexibility in this job to make it what you want. If at the end of the year it's just not your thing then at least you'll have known you tried. I left school nursing a couple times for more exciting things. That also meant more stress for me and my kids not having me around as much. The grass isn't always greener. You will make new friends and start to feel more part of things. It just takes time! Good luck!

RNPediatric18 · Nov 3, 2018

You just missed the hardest two months of the year. Most of us are finally getting a chance to breathe a little. I also find it interesting you were complaining you only had three days orientation (I had none) and you already feel comfortable with how to do everything? Assuming all your care plans, emergency plans, teacher training, immunizations, 504 plans, etc are all up to date why not start a staff wellness program to keep staff from gaining weight over the holidays or ask to be a guest speaker in health class? Does every teacher of a diabetic have a set of snacks in their class in case of lockdown? I think you're too new to school nursing to make an educated decision about this. You took this job so you could be there for your baby more. Look at the big picture and give it a real chance. You have a lot of flexibility in this job to make it what you want. If at the end of the year it's just not your thing then at least you'll have known you tried. I left school nursing a couple times for more exciting things. That also meant more stress for me and my kids not having me around as much. The grass isn't always greener. You will make new friends and start to feel more part of things. It just takes time! Good luck!

Wasnt complaining at all and I'm sorry you took anything that I have said that way. As well, I'm sorry you had zero training. I wasn't aware that in schip nursing it's not uncommon to just be thrown in. Also, I never said I was comfortable with everything. I would never say that as there is always something to learn in this field. I am comfortable with my daily tasks but past that am completely running blind. Thanks for the advice! I'll be looking into these things!

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2018

Sorry I was very tired last night. Anyway, you would have every right to complain about only getting a 3 day orientation. It's ridiculous. Because it's an educational facility and not a medical one, a lot of our needs are ignored. Little to no orientation, lower pay, not much support, etc makes it very hard to feel comfortable for a long time. School nursing is not for everyone. I knew within 4 weeks I did not enjoy my job as well as the one I had before it but I stuck in there to get all my time off. I have never felt as challenged or fulfilled by this job as others but it doesn't make it less important. It's because it's a lot slower pace most of the time.

There are lots of boards on here about night shift and kids. Some love it, some don't. It all depends on your support systems. I don't think there is anything wrong in leaving if you really feel it's not for you. I just think you haven't been there quite long enough to make that call knowing all I do about the job. I truly wish you all the best in whatever you decide!!

BedsideNurse · Nov 4, 2018

Stay where you are until the little one, or ones, graduate from high school. Then go work nights, weekends, holidays, as much as you want.

I have to agree. I was at work the other day looking at the holiday schedule. I'm working Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years Day. It's like okay, whatever, penciled it down. But then I was talking to a tech who was bummed out she was missing trick or treat with her kids, looking at pictures on her phone that her husband was taking as he and the kids were making their rounds. I felt bad for her. The were so cute!

After she walked off I started thinking about all the Halloweens my husband went on out by himself, and then the years of other holidays I've missed out on, thought about all the weekends and summers spent working crazy hours when other people were enjoying time with their families, heading to Sunday Morning Church, or at least just sleeping next to their spouse on a regular basis. Now my kids are 17 and 18, and they are in school all week and gone working on the weekends, so I don't even see them much every other weekend. My husband has to work a lot of overtime for his job right now so we hardly see one another some weeks.

Looking back I feel like a lot has been missed out on because of my career choices. For all of it I don't have much of anything to show for it...a few pocketfuls of stories maybe. This fear I've always had about working outside of the hospital has left me looking older than my years and pretty regretful when thinking about the scheme of life. I recommend staying put.

KatiejonD, RN · Nov 8, 2018

I never had the problem of too much time! LOL. I worked at a middle school and had to train the kids when it was appropriate to seek medical attention (scraping your knee on a Friday evening did not warrant a visit to the Nurse on Monday morning, etc). As I got better at managing the tasks, files, trainings, and documentation of my office... then I felt a little more free time become available. I used this how I prioritized: teaching 1:1 with students that really needed it. That was the best part of my job!

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Dec 7, 2018

I started a job as a School Nurse on October 1 in a local high school, 30 minute commute each way. The kids are sweet, the teachers (that I've met) are nice, and the job isn't bad at all. I knew I would enjoy the busy parts. However, when I took the position I worried about the slow pace.
The high school I am in is only 480 students and I have 5 scheduled students daily; 2 independent diabetics and 3 ADHD meds at lunch. I have two students with epilepsy and quite a few with food allergies. On an average day I see 7-8 additional students for the usual; sore throat, nausea, HA, emesis, etc... Some days more and other days, like today, nothing. Besides this my days have been filled with trying to find busy work; reorganizing, completing CME's, organizing some more, etc...
Even though I am enjoying this job, I'm not sure if it's going to make me feel fulfilled and/or challenged enough. The schedule is going to be amazing with holidays and summers off, I get that...but I can't help but think what I could be doing or providing to people.
History on my past employment: pediatric office for 4 years as an LPN, telemetry/renal/stroke unit in the hospital for 1 year after completing RN school, and most recently 2 1/2 years at a local community services board working primarily with the Pediatric Psychiatrist.
I loved my job there, coworkers, the children, and the doctor I worked with. However, I wanted to be at home more often with my 8 month old daughter. Therefore, I took this position and a $14K pay cut along with it. Yes, money isn't everything but it has weighed heavily on my mind.
Recently, I've found myself looking at the job postings for the local hospitals. I'm not sure why. Today, I found a listing for a night shift position at one of the hospitals on the pediatric unit and cross training in the mother/baby unit. I am contemplating applying for this job but am afraid I am prematurely wanting to jump ship before giving it more time here at the school. But then I also think, when you know..you know.
Sorry for this long post but I just need some guidance and advice on where to go from here. I feel lost and unsure what to do. I don't know how night shift would be with having a family, plus the hospital the position is at is also a 30 minute commute. However, I don't want to be somewhere just because of the amount of time off and not feel like I have a satisfying career.
Thanks for taking the time to read!

What did you decide? Are you still school nursing or did you leave?

DenverRN · Sep 10, 2021

This thread is several years old so not sure if anyone will read this...but I’m just curious what ended up happening!! Did you leave? Did you stay? Are you happier now?

I am new to school nursing too, and I thought I would love it. I’m sad that I don’t. Partially I switched to have “good hours” but my school is 25 miles away and with traffic it takes almost an hour- and I’m at a charter school so the day last 8.5 hours (then add the commute ?). The job itself is OK, but I am getting tired already of the admin work and kids that just make excuses to go home. I do love the coworkers and most kids though!!

I was a floor nurse before this; and switched to PRN. I still have that job and try to do a couple weekend shifts per month. I am thinking about leaving the school and just doing PRN now because it pays so well. But disappointed and ashamed about leaving.

just wondering if I could get an update on your situations! Thank you for “listening”

k1p1ssk, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2021

@DenverRN, don't feel badly for leaving! I have left jobs due to the commute/admin work, too, even though I loved a majority of my patients and co-workers. But, if you are leaving work and feeling exhausted and unfulfilled, or feeling that way before you even get to work, then it may be time to leave. Perhaps another school opportunity closer to home will pop up soon, and once your commute shortens, the admin and annoying students will feel less so? I feel like its all about balance.

Good luck!

RuralMOSchoolRN, ADN, RN · Sep 29, 2021

@DenverRN I totally get it! I started school nursing so I could be around for my kids. BUT the whole reason I went into nursing was the excitement (I worked at a Level 1 Trauma ED out of nursing school).

For sure having more paperwork than nursing tasks and the lower level of nursing can be tough some days (like handing out Tylenol, bandaids, etc). Then you get a compound tib/fib fracture on the second day of school and the staff is so happy YOURE there to take care of everything. Or you get a depressed 8th grader finally open up to you after about 50 office visits for "nothing".

I'm still in the busy part of the year with immunization reports, hearing/vision screenings, preschool height/weights, etc. but when it slows down I'll do a ton of CEUs, pull a couple of my "regulars" in for mental health check ins, and maybe read a chapter of a book while eating a lunch that doesn't get interrupted. Goals! LOL.