School RN relocating to IL

Jolie, BSN · Feb 4, 2008

IL requires school nurse certification for one to use the title of "School Nurse". However, many districts employ RNs without such certification. They are usually considered "paraprofessionals" and are not placed on the same pay scale as teachers.

Our (shortsighted) school district actually fired a long-standing nurse who obtained certification, claiming that her new status made her less flexible. As if additional education is a bad thing? The reality was they didn't want to put her on the teacher pay scale.

EvelynRN-BSN · Feb 5, 2008

I am an experienced RN in the state of Maryland with an Associates Degree in Nursing and a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. Could you tell me what I should expect regarding School Health Nurse Pay in Maryland? It is in the southern maryland area. I was told that the hourly rate is non negotiable because they are funded by the state. And it is less than what I made as a New Grad over four years ago. And is less than half of my pay of what I make now. Scary, but I definately want to give this a try. I really think I will love it. Unfortunately, I was not hired in the county that I reside in and the county funds the pay for nurses and they are paid on the teacher scale.

I am moving from Maryland to Illinois this June. I have been a private school nurse for the past 11 years as an RN. I have learned that IL requires BSN + certification. Any idea if private schools require this also. Any info regarding average school nurse pay rate or websites on private schools in IL wopuld be helpful in my job search and relocation plans. My husband's job will probably take us to the Lake county/northern Cook county area. Thanks in advance. Maree

bergren · Feb 5, 2008

The Illinois Association of School Nurses sponsors a matchmaker site: http://www.iasn.org/pavail.htm

There is an RN job posted right now in schools in Kildeer Buffalo Grove which is up that way. And keep checking back - it pickings are a little lean right now.

In Illinois, only certified nurses can use the School Nurse title - it is part of state code, but there are jobs for RNs in schools - sometimes with certifieds, sometimes not. The pay is usually not great for the RN only jobs.

If I can offer a little unsolicited advice, many of the Chicago area districts hire RNs and call them health aides, but it is an RN job description. I would recommend not taking that position unless they change the title. It gives you a window into how you will be treated and respected. There are plenty of titles that do not strip you of your license.

Another warning - it took me three days to fill out my application for Illinois license. You have to list every boss and agency hospital whatever you ever worked in. In my 30 years of nursing, have live in 8 states where I worked as a nurse and... well, just be ready for an incredible hassle. My application was 33 pages long and cost me close to $400. You have to prove that no other state you had a license in ever brought action against you and in most states to give you that evidence costs between $30 - $60. I had heard California was the worst license, but it was nothing compared to Illinois.

Once you get here, sign on to the ILHHS school nurse list and the IASN lists and attend the conferences - it might be possible to get a job at one of them.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 5, 2008

I echo bergren's advice about the difficulty obtaining an IL license. I had been licensed in several other states and had also been an LPN before, so it took several months to get all the states to answer up and provide the info that IL required.

Another thing, I live in central IL and we have few to no school nurses.

RNquilter · Feb 6, 2008

Thanks for the good advice on the application. I read through it last night and you are both right. Looks like I better start now to even have a chance of finding a job for the fall since I'm moving in June. I also have been in several states and have never seen an application like this. Maryland is online with all this and they don't even send a paper license anymore.