School nursing right after nursing school??

GreenWitch · Oct 3, 2004

I went straight from nursing school to school nursing. We did a rotation in the school setting and I loved it! I was so pleased to be offered a wonderful job just a few months after graduation!

I am interested in school nursing and wonder which of you pursued it right after nursing school. Did you wish you had more experience in a hospital setting first??
Or if you decided to switch from the hospital setting I would also like to know if you felt that experience made a big difference.
Thank you to all who reply.

Foxfour · Dec 7, 2004

I am interested in school nursing and wonder which of you pursued it right after nursing school. Did you wish you had more experience in a hospital setting first??
Or if you decided to switch from the hospital setting I would also like to know if you felt that experience made a big difference.
Thank you to all who reply.

I also went (excluding my 2.5 months of hospital experience) from nursing school nurse to school nurse. I loooove my job.:) A lot of people complain about the salary, but if you figure out the amount you get paid per hour, it comes out more than most of the hospitals. I could go on and on about all the positives of being a school nurse, but I have to get up early in the morning and go take care of my little ones (that's what I call the students-who you can help but come to love). There just so cute. I'm never go back to the hospital.

DDRN4me · Dec 7, 2004

I had many years of experience before coming into this position, but if you have some good mentors you'll be fine...the kids are the best!!! :mad:

Jeanine · Dec 7, 2004

I work with an excellent school nurse who came into the school right out of nursing school. After about 6 or 7 years, she went to the hospital to see if she was missing something. Fortunately for her (and especially us), the nurse who replaced her had to leave unexpectedly the next year. She jumped right back in!

Todie · Dec 10, 2004

Hi, do you have to be an RN to be a school nurse, or could you be a LVN (in TX). I was wondering about the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, but I don't know where to begin to find out.

I also went (excluding my 2.5 months of hospital experience) from nursing school nurse to school nurse. I loooove my job.:) A lot of people complain about the salary, but if you figure out the amount you get paid per hour, it comes out more than most of the hospitals. I could go on and on about all the positives of being a school nurse, but I have to get up early in the morning and go take care of my little ones (that's what I call the students-who you can help but come to love). There just so cute. I'm never go back to the hospital.

Foxfour · Dec 10, 2004

Hi, do you have to be an RN to be a school nurse, or could you be a LVN (in TX). I was wondering about the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, but I don't know where to begin to find out.

No, you don't have to be an RN. As a matter of fact, I've been turn down by schools due to the fact they were trying to save money and hire LVN's. You can find out about job openings by contacting school districts in your area. You might have a harder time with the school year being half-way over, but if you can't find an opening for the 2004-2005 school year then try again around April or May when all the nurses will sign on (or not) for another year. Good luck.

Todie · Dec 10, 2004

Thanks for the info, I will check into. I hope I'm not putting the cart before the horse b/c we don't graduate unil next June. But I wanted to check on it, as to know what to expect in the field that I want to pursue

WDW1971 · Jan 12, 2005

I have worked for 3 different school districts in the DFW area. It just depends on the district. I am not positive, but I think the policy in Texas is that each district must have 1 RN. Other than that, the decision on how to hire is up to the local district.

My first job was in the Dallas Public Schools. When I worked there, they only hired BSN's, but they did hire new graduates. That may still be the case. I quit working there after a couple of years just because I didn't like the some things about my school (including the distance to my home), but DPS did have a great nurse education program.

I worked in Coppell ISD for 2 years, and loved working at the high school there. It has been a few years since I left there (I moved to Fort Worth), but they had nurses (from LVN to BSN) on staff. I am not sure if the LVN's were on the same pay scale as the RNs or BSNs, though. It is possible they could have been on the aide's pay scale as an attempt on the district's part to save money. I really can't remember. But it is a great district to work in as far as pay and benefits go.

I also worked in Kennedale for 3 years, and I still sub in the nurse's offices there. Kennedale has 5 schools and only hires RNs. Some have their BSN and some don't.

One of the best things I can recommend if you want to get into school nursing is to sign up to substitute. Many districts will hire their substitutes on full-time when positions come open.

GreenWitch · Jan 12, 2005

I have worked for 3 different school districts in the DFW area. It just depends on the district. I am not positive, but I think the policy in Texas is that each district must have 1 RN. Other than that, the decision on how to hire is up to the local district.
My first job was in the Dallas Public Schools. When I worked there, they only hired BSN's, but they did hire new graduates. That may still be the case. I quit working there after a couple of years just because I didn't like the some things about my school (including the distance to my home), but DPS did have a great nurse education program.
I worked in Coppell ISD for 2 years, and loved working at the high school there. It has been a few years since I left there (I moved to Fort Worth), but they had nurses (from LVN to BSN) on staff. I am not sure if the LVN's were on the same pay scale as the RNs or BSNs, though. It is possible they could have been on the aide's pay scale as an attempt on the district's part to save money. I really can't remember. But it is a great district to work in as far as pay and benefits go.
I also worked in Kennedale for 3 years, and I still sub in the nurse's offices there. Kennedale has 5 schools and only hires RNs. Some have their BSN and some don't.
One of the best things I can recommend if you want to get into school nursing is to sign up to substitute. Many districts will hire their substitutes on full-time when positions come open.

Where can I find a substitute nurse? That would be a great help when I have continuing education meetings to go to. There have also been several days I have been ill, but I had to work anyway because there is no one to take my place!! I'm in a school of 1200 students...and something is always happening!

WDW1971 · Jan 12, 2005

Where can I find a substitute nurse? That would be a great help when I have continuing education meetings to go to. There have also been several days I have been ill, but I had to work anyway because there is no one to take my place!! I'm in a school of 1200 students...and something is always happening!

Will your district pay to have a nurse substitute in your clinic? I don't know if all districts will, but most around here will. The trouble is that not many nurses want to substitute. The district I work for pays $80 a day for professional subs. Same as for a substitute teacher, but much less than half of what I made per day full time. It is okay, though, since I am not the primary income source for my family and for occasional work to which I can always say "no" to. But I know that many districts don't pay that much. If I were getting much less than that a day, I probably wouldn't do it. But I am lucky in a way that I can sub in the clinics. I can't even imagine trying to substitute in a classroom full of kids at $80 or less a day.

One option for finding some nurses is to have your school or district put out some kind of notice that you are looking for LVNs/LPNs/RNs to substitute in the school clinics. There might be some stay-at-home parents who are also nurses who wouldn't mind filling in and earning some extra money now and then. Another option is to try to find some retired nurses who want to work occasionally. It is definitely not easy finding substitute nurses.

Todie · Jan 12, 2005

Thanks for the info, I woul hate for the pay to be much, much less though. But, I know that is the area I want to work in. I don't know if daycares or private school hire LVNs. I do plan on going on to be a RN but in the meantime I have to work..

I have worked for 3 different school districts in the DFW area. It just depends on the district. I am not positive, but I think the policy in Texas is that each district must have 1 RN. Other than that, the decision on how to hire is up to the local district.
My first job was in the Dallas Public Schools. When I worked there, they only hired BSN's, but they did hire new graduates. That may still be the case. I quit working there after a couple of years just because I didn't like the some things about my school (including the distance to my home), but DPS did have a great nurse education program.
I worked in Coppell ISD for 2 years, and loved working at the high school there. It has been a few years since I left there (I moved to Fort Worth), but they had nurses (from LVN to BSN) on staff. I am not sure if the LVN's were on the same pay scale as the RNs or BSNs, though. It is possible they could have been on the aide's pay scale as an attempt on the district's part to save money. I really can't remember. But it is a great district to work in as far as pay and benefits go.
I also worked in Kennedale for 3 years, and I still sub in the nurse's offices there. Kennedale has 5 schools and only hires RNs. Some have their BSN and some don't.
One of the best things I can recommend if you want to get into school nursing is to sign up to substitute. Many districts will hire their substitutes on full-time when positions come open.