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 School Nursing.

I plan to return next year.  This year has definitely been the most difficult I have had as a SN but I still would rather be here than back in the hospital.

No incentive.  I am on the teacher contract so unless the teachers also get an incentive I won't.    

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Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

I plan to return next year.  I switched to my dream school this past fall, and where my daughter will go to high school in 3 years.  My administrators are amazing, and I am looking forward to what a "normal" school year will eventually be without contact tracing.  I have 16 more years until retirement, and I hope I can make it!  I am on a teacher contract, and we don't get any kind of bonuses or incentives.  

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Specializes in Peds.

I will be returning because I love my job.  Have I loved it all this year?  No, for sure this is the hardest year ever.  We will have ups and downs and this year has, for sure, been a down but remember why you loved your job before this happened.  I am hoping we will have more normalcy next year but I am going to embrace it and move forward.  I do not miss hospital life at all.  Even though we are working many more hours than usual this year, it still does not compare to working nights, weekends and holidays at the hospital and missing time with my family.    

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Specializes in school nursing/ maternal/child hospital based.

After 6 years in school nursing, I put in my resignation letter, I won't be returning.  In fact, leaving nursing and going back to college full time to pursue my graduate degree in history. 

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On 3/14/2021 at 11:37 AM, 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 think the schedule is a reason why many people get into school nursing. Don't ever feel selfish or guilty for doing what is best for your family. 

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Specializes in School Nursing, Home Health.

Staying. 

But next school year will hopefully be my last bc my husband will be finishing school and working fulltime as a teacher 22/23 school year and I will be home with my kids more. 

They gave us all a bonus around Christmas. Honestly, my admin team is the best I've had in my 5 years here so having them makes it really easy to stay. 

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Specializes in Geriatric Home Health, High School Nurse.

I turned in my Intent to Return form yesterday...I am not returning. ? It was a very difficult decision, but I think this is what is best for me and my family.  It almost feels selfish, but I think this is something we as nurses put on ourselves too often.  I love my school and my kids.  This has been my favorite nursing role of my almost 20 year career, but at this point I want to be more present for my family than I feel this job allows.  I may look at doing PRN vaccine clinics or something like that for a while.  I truly believe I will return to school nursing, I just need a break.  Looking forward to new opportunities, but doing so with a heavy heart.  Goodbyes are tough.  

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Specializes in kids.
On 4/30/2021 at 7:29 AM, SchoolNurseK said:

I turned in my Intent to Return form yesterday...I am not returning. ? It was a very difficult decision, but I think this is what is best for me and my family.  It almost feels selfish, but I think this is something we as nurses put on ourselves too often.  I love my school and my kids.  This has been my favorite nursing role of my almost 20 year career, but at this point I want to be more present for my family than I feel this job allows.  I may look at doing PRN vaccine clinics or something like that for a while.  I truly believe I will return to school nursing, I just need a break.  Looking forward to new opportunities, but doing so with a heavy heart.  Goodbyes are tough.  

Please pop in here occasionally! Good Luck!!

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I'm out!  It's been a wonderful experience, but I'm going to do something else for a while. I like the school, but there is no way any individual school or district can compensate for the sorry state of public education or (complete lack of) COVID mitigation in this state. I'll keep my license up, but honestly not even sure I want to work as a nurse anymore. I'm going to wander around other options & locales for a bit.

Cracked me up that they posted my job in less than 24 hours (!)....I mean Sheesh, it takes like six weeks to order a box of gloves around here.

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