School nursing for inexperienced RN?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I have been desperately seeking a job for the last several months. It is a tough economy right now and I have been applying for anything and everything, even jobs that are not nursing related.

I received a phone call for an interview as a school nurse and I am so excited about this possibility. I'm just a little worried because of lack of experience. I graduated a year ago but only have 9 months experience in an orthopedic clinic. I was mainly on the phones but occasionally did patient wound care like staple removal, etc.

I'm desperate for job and this position sounds appealing to me, but I wonder if they noticed on my resume that my experience was only 9 months. Any thoughts?

Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I definitely think your concern is legitimate. While I was doing my pedriatric rotation in nursing school, I was place in a middle school with a school nurse for a few days. This particular school had numerous kids with CP and other disorders. One day, the LVN that was the one to one caregiver to a child with a vent called frantic that the child was blue. The school nurse (who had previous ED experience) had to spring to action & grabbed the Ambu bag until the paramedics arrived. The vent had malfunctioned and hadn't alarmed. The point is I think a school nurse should be somewhat experienced to deal with these situations. I am also a new grad & not sure I would be able to handle it. Perhaps if you get really great training??? I know its impossible to get a job right now so if you have an interview, definitely go & do your best! Just be honest about your experience & ask about their training!

Good luck!

Specializes in Critical Care. CVICU. Adult and Peds PACU..

I had a friend go straight into school nursing after graduation. It's a lot of making sure the kids are up to date with their immunizations, and helping out with sports injuries (sprains, falls, scrapes, etc) you may occasionally get a bloody nose.

Maybe look around for continuing education classes on school nursing or a school nurse book

http://www.amazon.com/School-Nursing-Comprehensive-Dr-Selekman/dp/0803614039

Good luck!!!

Specializes in LTC.

Post this in the school nursing forum. I worked as a school health aide. I would say that your assessment skills need to be sharp. Sometimes it is really hard to tell what is wrong with kids. I would take it but I would definitely make sure of a good and thorough orientation.

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

I am surprised that the school is considering a nurse without pediatric experience. I did school nursing for 2 years at an elementary school level. Our school district is very strict that a minimum of 1 year of pedi experience and 1 year of general medical is required. It's not just tummy aches and bloody noses. I had kids with seizures multiple times and had to monitor until EMS arrived (one kid arrested)...several head injuries, many falls off the playground with sprains and a few broken wrists and arms, high fevers, child abuse..with calls to Child Protection, head lice, several gashes with calls to EMS and sutures, lots of diabetic kids with blood glucose levels, asthmatics with kids in for nebs, one very scary kid with a bee allergy and another emergent call for EMS...! can you say EPI PEN....one concussion, and then there is buckets of vomit..all mixed in with the malingers who come down to the clinic and try to con you in to letting them stay there because they are "so sick"...actually, they are the funny ones....this is not an easy job...you have to keep track of the kids immunization records, sure, but thats like only a small fraction of what you do...it's great, but be prepared. Also, one more word...parents...to anyone who has ever worked peds, you know what I am talking about and I don't have to elaborate..

I just want you to know what to expect...which is to expect the unexpected!!!!!!!! :eek:

On second thought, I really do not think this would be appropriate for an inexperienced RN. There were some really hairy days...maybe this school district has two nurses or something, but where I was this was something you really had to had to be on your toes. I had 8 years of PICU experience when I went to school nursing.

Specializes in Intermediate care.

Personally, for myself i would not take it. I don't see me doing anything other than hospital/bedside nursing. I feel like if i were to settle for something i would lose my "bedside" skills i learned in nursing school.

Like, when iwas hired i was a new grad and the other nurse that got hired with me had 10 yrs of experience as an RN but took off for another 10 years to raise her children. She came back to nursing with 10 years off. Her orientation had to be lengthened and mine had to be shortened. Not bragging at all...i'm just saying it was FRESH in my mind. She turned out to be a great nurse.

I dont know, maybe going to get my head bitten off for this one? but its just how i feel personally. if you see yourself in this position, and not in anything else i say go for it :yeah: i think it would be interesting job!

If you decide to take it, find out what kind of support and mentoring you will be getting? If you need help or a second opinion, will another experienced RN be available to take your call?

Specializes in School Nursing.
If you decide to take it, find out what kind of support and mentoring you will be getting? If you need help or a second opinion, will another experienced RN be available to take your call?

I will definitely ask those questions at the interview next week. I really do want this job because I feel it would be the perfect fit for me. I've always been interested in Public health and community health. I would love to counsel, educate, locate resources, and be a child's advocate. I have always related very well to children and have been told by many people (adults) that I am a good listener, non-judgmental, and have a calming effect. I understand about the lack of nursing experience but I plan on reviewing all my nursing notes from school, getting books on first aid and school nursing, and watching videos to brush up on skills. Is this being too naive?

Do you have any suggestions for things to ask at the interview and/or things I should review and become familiar with beforehand? Thanks!

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
i will definitely ask those questions at the interview next week. i really do want this job because i feel it would be the perfect fit for me. i've always been interested in public health and community health. i would love to counsel, educate, locate resources, and be a child's advocate. i have always related very well to children and have been told by many people (adults) that i am a good listener, non-judgmental, and have a calming effect. i understand about the lack of nursing experience but i plan on reviewing all my nursing notes from school, getting books on first aid and school nursing, and watching videos to brush up on skills. is this being too naive? yes i am afraid it is

do you have any suggestions for things to ask at the interview and/or things i should review and become familiar with beforehand? thanks!

as one who has actually done this job (go back and review my post)--this is just not about being a child advocate or relating well to children...will you be able to handle a child who is in full respiratory arrest?..run a code until ems arrives? manage a grand mal seizure (tonic clonic)...handle a concussion with loss of conciousness? diabetic ketoacidosis? if you are in a middle or high school, can you handle a drug overdose? a miscarriage? suicide attempt? these are all situations that happened to me or my co workers. this was just in a one school year time span, i didn't list the second year.

you definately need back up..i had 8 years of picu when i went in to this and had run many codes...but what was more important, i had developed that "sixth sense" of when things just didn't look right and something was about to go wrong.

if you do pursue this, please be honest at the interview about your lack of peds experience and your lack of acute care medical experience. it's only fair to the children. if you do get the job, at the very least...take a very intense

first aid course. our school district paid for the nurses to be basic trauma certified--that's how serious this job is..and pals is an absolute must...i certainly hope they require that.

the district i worked for required bls, pals and first aid. then they added the trauma. one year of acute and one year of pedi. experience.

good luck....by the way, i used to see about 40 kids a day...can you handle that volume? that is also something to think about. you have to assess, take care of the problem, and chart...and then go on to the next one...it's pretty fast paced..so your assessment skills have to be pretty good, sure most of the kids are find...but you don't want to miss that 1 that is not....

Specializes in School Nursing.
As one who has actually done this job (go back and review my post)--this is just not about being a child advocate or relating well to children...will you be able to handle a child who is in full respiratory arrest?..run a code until EMS arrives? Manage a grand mal seizure (tonic clonic)...handle a concussion with loss of conciousness? Diabetic Ketoacidosis? if you are in a Middle or High School, can you handle a drug overdose? A Miscarriage? Suicide attempt? These are all situations that happened to me or my co workers. This was just in a one school year time span, I didn't list the second year.

You definately need back up..I had 8 years of PICU when I went in to this and had run many codes...but what was more important, I had developed that "sixth sense" of when things just didn't look right and something was about to go wrong.

If you do pursue this, please be honest at the interview about your lack of peds experience and your lack of acute care medical experience. It's only fair to the children. If you do get the job, At the very least...take a very intense

First Aid course. Our school district paid for the nurses to be Basic Trauma certified--that's how serious this job is..and PALS is an absolute MUST...I certainly hope they require that.

The district I worked for required BLS, PALS and First Aid. Then they added the Trauma. One year of acute and one year of Pedi. experience.

Good Luck....by the way, I used to see about 40 kids a day...can you handle that volume? That is also something to think about. You have to assess, take care of the problem, and chart...and then go on to the next one...it's pretty fast paced..so your assessment skills have to be pretty good, sure most of the kids are find...but you don't want to miss that 1 that is not....

I do remember what you said in your previous post and appreciate your opinion and letting me in on your experiences. I am just trying to gather all of the opinions and information that I can because I really want to do this. I have contacted my nursing instructors from last year (since posting this question on Allnurses) to ask for their honest thoughts given my experience level and both think I am able to do this job. And most definitely, I was extremely forthright in my cover letter to the school district about my lack of experience. I'm not one to "beef up" my resume or claim to know something that I don't. If anything, I probably don't give myself enough credit. I'm am extremely cautious; almost to a fault. But thanks for your opinion and I will definitely take all of this into consideration. I have a lot of questions for the interview, including whether there will be any type of orientation, or at least a resource person.

Specializes in LTC.
I do remember what you said in your previous post and appreciate your opinion and letting me in on your experiences. I am just trying to gather all of the opinions and information that I can because I really want to do this. I have contacted my nursing instructors from last year (since posting this question on Allnurses) to ask for their honest thoughts given my experience level and both think I am able to do this job. And most definitely, I was extremely forthright in my cover letter to the school district about my lack of experience. I'm not one to "beef up" my resume or claim to know something that I don't. If anything, I probably don't give myself enough credit. I'm am extremely cautious; almost to a fault. But thanks for your opinion and I will definitely take all of this into consideration. I have a lot of questions for the interview, including whether there will be any type of orientation, or at least a resource person.

There are limited resources in school health, however if you have a "go to " person then you should be fine. I understand what the other posters are saying as well however how will you ever get experience if you don't have a chance to. If I were you I would take the job and see where it takes you. School nursing is a challenge but with the right mentor and guidance you will be fine.

Specializes in School Nursing.

Well I was offered the school nurse position. Don't know if it will be elementary or middle school as of yet. I am very excited but at the same time considering all of the advice I have received. In the interview, they did not seem overly concerned about my limited nursing experience. They are hiring nurses for most of their campuses and I don't know why. Is this a bad sign? There is one nurse per campus. Right now I am working at a clinic temporarily. It is a pleasant job. Routine, low stress, no patient contact whatsoever. It could go permanent. Have to decide by tomorrow. I'm terrible with these difficult decisions. School doesn't pay as much but summers and holidays off.

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