Staying or Going?

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Judging from the post a few posts down titled "Tired of being the bad guy" I can tell it's been a mess of a year for everyone, not just me and not just Texas. I didn't think I would make it through this year but have talked to my admin team and put a few things in place to at least try to make it survivable until the end of the semester (which is MID-June for us this year ?). I am so very grateful for the vaccines rolling out, but I don't believe there will be enough time between now and August to make a difference in schools. With that in mind, I am curious how many school nurses will be returning to this craziness next year? And if you are, have you been incentivized in any way? 

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

Definitely staying. I did hospital nursing for 9 years, and I truly love what I do. Working with my spouse is my incentive, I guess ?. 

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I'm staying, but it's because I'm a bit trapped.  I'm a single parent, and I need to be close to home, and to have the same schedule as my daughter, who is 11.  

I really miss working PM and overnight shifts, and will never be a morning person, but for now, the lousy pay, entitled parents, etc. are winning because I need the peace of mind that my child is never home alone at night.  

I have gotten way closer to the other staff in the district, so that is one upside, at least. 

 

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I'll be staying in school nursing. Can't beat the schedule and I get to work at a Summer camp with my kids attending and they love it! 

Maybe when they are grown (currently they are 16, 13, and 13) I will have a different part time job in the summers or maybe I will enjoy leisure time.

I started in school nursing in 2012 when I was 31. I got on the teacher contract with a certification in school nursing in 2017 when I was 36. I've built up my graduate credits and next school year I'll be on the top tier of pay and I'm going to ride that out until retirement. We'll see what kind of incentives they are offering at that time for retirement at 60ish. Twenty years to go.....

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I'll be back. This has been a tough year all around but I was/am proud to be part of the solution.  Love my job and I am looking forward to seeing more kids next year.   I should add that I feel I am well supported and well compensated and I thank my lucky stars for that everyday and would never want to give it up.

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Specializes in Geriatric Home Health, High School Nurse.
Just now, arlingtonnurse said:

I should add that I feel I am well supported and well compensated and I thank my lucky stars for that everyday and would never want to give it up.

I think that is one of the main things that is tripping me up.  I am working really hard and doing a TON of extra stuff that hasn't even been asked of me and getting so little financial return.  I feel a little guilty saying it, but it definitely plays into my decision making.  Well that and the fact that I feel like I have aged 72 years in the last 12 months!  I am just TIRED!  Hoping Spring Break will revive me to make it through to the end of the year. ?

It tears me up a little to think of leaving my school where I have built so many relationships with the kids (some have taken a LONG time to build) and been able to make positive change for our school community, but I am struggling to keep up with all the other areas of my life.  Like when I get home to my own teenagers, I am spent!  I feel like they aren't getting the best out of me anymore.  Hello guilt...again!  

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I plan on staying. It's only my second "full" year. We've dealt with covid, snow days becoming "remote" days, staff freaking out, being pulled to the vaccine clinic and contact tracing when kids were all remote....definitely an adventure.  But I still am appreciating the job both in and out of work.  After cooking up a storm on Christmas Day for just hubby and the kids, I fell asleep on the couch.  When I woke up, I had this amazing feeling knowing I didn't have to go work a shift in a few hours!

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I’m torn and honestly feel trapped. I’m not sure what to do honestly. This is my 7th school year as a school nurse. I’m only 41 so I am no where near close to  typical retirement. I have been a RN almost 18 years now.

As a divorced Mom with one young child 4th grade still at home I love summers off, I love the 2 week Winter break, 1 week Spring break. I love no weekends, no holidays, no nights, no call, no overtime. I LOVE the fact that it’s close to my home. No other nursing job will put me that close to my home. It’s important to me since I recently had to move in with my almost 80 year old Father. 

However, I feel I am selfish for staying in school nursing for those reasons.

I do love the children, but I do not love the uncooperative parents, administrator who put expectations on me like monitoring security camera, checking kids in late and out early when Secretary is not there and she is gone A LOT. I do not love teachers who undermine me. 
 

I just don’t know what else to do.

I have thought about leaving nursing altogether. I am not really sure I even want to be a nurse anymore. 

Interviewing completely stresses and intimidates me. 

 

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Specializes in School Nursing.
19 hours ago, peaceful2100 said:

I’m torn and honestly feel trapped. I’m not sure what to do honestly. This is my 7th school year as a school nurse. I’m only 41 so I am no where near close to  typical retirement. I have been a RN almost 18 years now.

As a divorced Mom with one young child 4th grade still at home I love summers off, I love the 2 week Winter break, 1 week Spring break. I love no weekends, no holidays, no nights, no call, no overtime. I LOVE the fact that it’s close to my home. No other nursing job will put me that close to my home. It’s important to me since I recently had to move in with my almost 80 year old Father. 

However, I feel I am selfish for staying in school nursing for those reasons.

I do love the children, but I do not love the uncooperative parents, administrator who put expectations on me like monitoring security camera, checking kids in late and out early when Secretary is not there and she is gone A LOT. I do not love teachers who undermine me. 
 

I just don’t know what else to do.

I have thought about leaving nursing altogether. I am not really sure I even want to be a nurse anymore. 

Interviewing completely stresses and intimidates me. 

 

I hear you there. I'm leaving my current school nursing job because my husband took a job on the other side of the state. I'm tempted to work at Costco for a while. I did apply for an Occupational Health Nurse position, but I also know how good I have it at my current job and I'm not excited to look in a hospital or other setting where nights and weekends (and summers) will be expected.

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Specializes in School Nursing/Med-Surg.

I'm trying to hang in there and stay for at least another school year. This was my first year as a school nurse, and a crazy one at that d/t covid. Still, even the worst days in the school setting were FAR better than a normal day at the hospital. Hopefully things start to cool down a bit soon! 

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Yes, I'm returning, and no I haven't been given any time bonus other than the one-time bonus all teachers got at the beginning of September.  We have had a few leave but the district believes the community has waiting people to help to fill it. 

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Staying with the district, but I'm up for a couple of transfers in the department that are not campus-based.  If I don't land any of those, I'm thinking about transferring from high school to elementary.  I had a baby recently and need the flexibility that this job provides... can't imagine going back to the hospital.  But whew... it's been a year ?

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We just received a bonus- which was awesome.  I've just given notice and accepted a position in a clinic which will allow me to work year round.  I no longer need summers off.  I will miss school nursing- but anxious to try something else!

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