School nursing and benefits

[2BS Nurse, BSN]

Hello,

I searched for this topic and didn't find a previous post. I know it obviously varies by state, but what is typical for a school nurse benefits (other than vacation days when the students are off)? Do most of you work during the summers? If not, are you still provided benefits? How does the payroll calendar work (9 months or 12)?

Thanks!

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

In my state (if you work for a public school) most districts allow you to "stretch" the paycheck out over the summer months, i.e. you get less money in each paycheck but there is no interruption in getting the checks. Benefits (per the contract, usu. the teacher's contract), continue as well.

I've worked some summers (at a summer camp) and I've taken some summers off - it all depends on your financial goals/situation.

[Csn2016, BSN]

I think it depends entirely how the school administration handles the 'position' for the school nurse. In my district the certified school nurse falls under the 'teachers contract' so I am part of the union, I am salary, I get all the same holidays/inservice days, open houses, and meetings as the teachers (the meetings are annoying because they NEVER apply to me and more often I am allowed to just do busy work in my office during those times). I receive full health benefits for myself and my family and I receive the same amount of PTO and sick time as the teachers.

I am paid year round (with extra on the days that I come in for that I am not contracted such as the middle of august for a week I come in for last minute kindergarten screenings-I get paid hourly for that since that is not in the other teachers contracts).

The other nurses in the district not hired as certified school nurses are hourly employees and are titled 'health aides', no sick time, no vacation time, paid for when they are here, and no health benefits.

[2BS Nurse, BSN]

I assumed a "health aide" didn't have to be a RN. Maybe this just depends on the district.

[Csn2016, BSN]

Quote

I assumed a "health aide" didn't have to be a RN. Maybe this just depends on the district.

In our district and the surrounding districts the 'health aide' has to be either an LPN or RN, they must have a professional nursing license.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

I think it depends on if you're hired by the school system or by the the health department. We used to have a health department nurse contracted and she would get all of the breaks off like us, but wouldn't get paid for it, so her pay checks were awful. I am hired through the school system, so I get paid during breaks. That said... I get a "salary" and it is broken up over 24 pay periods, that way I am getting paid over breaks. My spouse also works in the school system so we split our state insurance and pay next to nothing for it.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

As others said, depends.

I'm salaried. I get paid over a 12 month period (24 pay periods) so I am paid over breaks. I work 195 days per my contract. In my state, I also qualify for the teacher's retirement plan (pension - yay!) so I chose to pay into it.

I get all school holidays, including snow days.

I get a PTO pool of 8 days per year. If I have any remaining, 3 get rolled into a bank for use for any qualified leave that short term disability may not cover and if I have any time left after that, I get paid out at $100/day. And my school fully pays for our short term and long term disability insurance. My medical insurance is actually also pretty good.

[ihavealltheice]

In my state, it's all district by district. If you took a random survey of districts within a 15 mile radius of my district, there is a major difference in benefits, pay, time off, etc. So, it's best to ask the district that you're interviewing.

[2BS Nurse, BSN]

Yes, I've seen a big difference in pay too. The districts that cannot fill RN positions are paying $20/hr.

[ihavealltheice]

Just now, 2BS Nurse said:

Yes, I've seen a big difference in pay too. The districts that cannot fill RN positions are paying $20/hr.

Yep. It really is an insult. We have 2 middle to upper middle class towns nearby who pay their nurses between $17-22 per hour. In contrast, we have a very lower class district that pays close to $30 per hour...that's without certification...nurses that have their certification there make between 50-60K salaried.

My district gives all the normal benefits (health insurance, 403 B, dental, vision, 8 sick/PTO days. We are on the teacher's contract with an addition of having to work three days past the students' last day for Summer break. We get to choose if we want 24 or 26 pay checks.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Not in the union but get paid on par with teachers, same benefits 15 sick, (3 personal included) health, dental, state retirement. 5 days paid at regular rate in summer to prep for new incoming students; immunization upload, file review, 504 prep, teacher medical lists prep, prep for fall athletic season (review physicals and concussion testing)