Has anyone been able to get into a school nursing job with a contract? I ask because I filled out an app for the job (in my state, school nurses are state department of health employees) and they actually called me for an interview. I’m so very very close to the end of this nightmare, have no stips that would interfere with the job (or heck any job for that matter). I don’t know if they’ve looked at the license (there’s the public discipline on there). The app did not ask anything about prior license suspensions etc. I’m just quite tired of interviewing, getting my hopes up and then, screechh...nope...no job for you.
I dunno. I have my BSN. The job description looks to be a supervisory sort of thing. I guess I qualify. I wonder if they’ve just looked at “oh an application, yayyy, let’s interview her!!” I can’t help but worry if it’ll be another kick to the curb because of the dumb contract.
I may get in there and decide it’s something I totally do not want to do also. So there’s that....
I don’t have experience in school nursing. So there is that. But they knew that when they chose to interview me.
And as far as the recovery thing, that’s been my whole thing...I got stuck in this tar pit over a mental health issue. That’s something you maintain, not recover from. Having “recovery” in the traditional definition shoved at me for the last 5+ years has been part of what is difficult for me to define in an interview without vomiting ? personal info. I am not an addict/alcoholic and when people see contract, that tends to be the immediate go to. So I come off as very uncomfortable and insecure.
One of the people interviewing me was very familiar with IPN, so I got the “thanks for your honesty” bit. I bring it up in the interview because, it’s gonna come out anyway so I may as well...usually at the end after I sold myself on my skills and abilities. Problem with this is, I don’t think I really have the skills.
Like I said, It’s okay if it’s a no go. I’m good with that. I’d honestly prefer the OR.
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
1 hour ago, catsmeow1972 said:
I Problem with this is, I don’t think I really have the skills.
Like I said, It’s okay if it’s a no go. I’m good with that. I’d honestly prefer the OR.
Cats, you have a lifetime worth of skills. Many of us bring weird stuff to the school nurse table. There are ER nurses, OB nurses, med-surg nurses who've grown weary of the bedside. I have limited acute care and a ton of public health experience. I suspect but cannot prove your lived experience (all of it) would make you an asset here. One of the things we're struggling with in school nursing is an adequate, comprehensive approach to the mental health needs of our students, and those needs are great and manifesting themselves at younger and younger ages. You may well have something desperately needed at that school.
While I’ve been overthinking this whole thing (anyone surprised at that, raise your hands..I didn’t think so) I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m going to feel inadequate at anything I go to do. I’ve effectivly been out of nursing for over 5 years, since this damn thing started. Sure I’ve worked, but the first job was a cross between a daycare center and a fast food joint run by Hitler. I spent most of the time dodging bullets from the wanna be “manager” who was intimidated by the fact that I had the credentials to run the department (and be her supervisor.) I just had neither the desire nor the ability (remember ball and chain of contract) This was a place that hired lots of contract people because anyone with any other option would run away quickly. I stayed until they fired me because I had no choice. Guess who had a hand in firing me? Next job I was so far out of my comfort zone, I might as well have been in Siberia. I was supposed to be an experienced nurse but I was scared AND dragging the contract AND still intimidated by the existence of the darn thing, terrified of screwing it up. All that reasonably makes it hard to settle into a new type of nursing.
So now, I’m close to the end, a whole lot stronger and not intimidated (mostly disgusted and annoyed) by them. Kinda of a “go ahead, mess with me when I haven’t done anything to warrant it” attitude. All that is left is the fact that I haven’t really been in the field in while in a good place in my head in so long. I feel like I’m skydiving and ready to jump out of that plane. Don’t know if that parachute is going to open....
Cats, I did school nursing for anyone year about a decade ago. I managed to get hired with only NICU experience at the time which boggles my mind, but it opened the door to get me into peds. And your comment about practically working for a daycare had me howling...because after I had to quit PACU when I was reported and wasn't allowed to work as a nurse, the only job I could find was actually in a daycare for a hair above minimum wage. Oh my god, I thought it would be decent because I had a lot of peds experience, but it was the worst job! I was more anxious in that position than any job in nursing. Caring for 10 three year olds, half who weren't potty trained, and having to "educate" them, write "lesson plans", etc. was the hardest work I've done for so little money. School health wasn't bad though...it was a big learning curve, but it was enjoyable. Best wishes to you!
I did get an official “thanks, but no thanks” call today on the job. Like I said before, that’s really okay. She said they really wanted someone with more pediatric and case management experience. Well, they knew I didn’t have that when they interviewed me but okay. At least they notified me. Give them points for that.
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
16 hours ago, catsmeow1972 said:
I did get an official “thanks, but no thanks” call today on the job. Like I said before, that’s really okay. She said they really wanted someone with more pediatric and case management experience. Well, they knew I didn’t have that when they interviewed me but okay. At least they notified me. Give them points for that.
catsmeow1972, BSN, RN
1,314 Posts
I don’t have experience in school nursing. So there is that. But they knew that when they chose to interview me.
And as far as the recovery thing, that’s been my whole thing...I got stuck in this tar pit over a mental health issue. That’s something you maintain, not recover from. Having “recovery” in the traditional definition shoved at me for the last 5+ years has been part of what is difficult for me to define in an interview without vomiting ? personal info. I am not an addict/alcoholic and when people see contract, that tends to be the immediate go to. So I come off as very uncomfortable and insecure.
One of the people interviewing me was very familiar with IPN, so I got the “thanks for your honesty” bit. I bring it up in the interview because, it’s gonna come out anyway so I may as well...usually at the end after I sold myself on my skills and abilities. Problem with this is, I don’t think I really have the skills.
Like I said, It’s okay if it’s a no go. I’m good with that. I’d honestly prefer the OR.