School RN or Occ Health?

[selburg3]

I have been a school nurse for 1 year and love many aspects of the job. However, I appreciate a busy workday, which is not the case here a large portion of the time.

I have been presented an opportunity to join Occ Health/Emp Health at the hospital through which I am contracted as a school nurse. My questions, essentially, are: What keeps you in school nursing? What do you dislike about school nursing? Any thoughts/experiences regarding Occ Health?

[Eleven011]

My first thought was instead of kids wanting to get out of school, you'd have adults trying to get out of work

Honestly though, I don't know much about Occupational Health, but what keeps me in school nursing is the schedule - summers/holidays/weekends off, and that I am where my kids are. And I do, most days, enjoy it :)

[Farawyn]

Occupational/Employee Health was the job for me. The One That Got Away. I worked at my old hospital's EHD for 5 years, PD and it was the best job I ever worked. I drew titres and blood for Pre Employment Physicals, administered vaccines, including flu season, health fairs, biggest loser, workman's comp, return to work teaching, helped out during outbreaks and fitness for duty, worked with the DOH and Infectious Disease...I got to see everyone, all the time, and I loooove my old co-workers, so it was a beautiful thing.

The hours were great. My office was run by RNs and NPs.

If I could go back there I would. I needed FT, tried to hold out, but a FT position didn't open up until 18 months after I left.

[tining, BSN, RN]

Say it with me - SCHEDULE, SCHEDULE, SCHEDULE

[selburg3]

Definitely! Although, the Occ Health position is four 8 hr days with no nights/weekends/holidays and 32 hrs/wk vs 27 hrs/wk at school. However, hrs/wk won't be a deciding factor.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

School= summers off, less pay, kids (you decide if that is a + or -)

Hospital= weekends off, holidays off, better pay, adults

I love this because of the kids, they really do make me happy, adults, not as much.