hi! this is my first time posting on here, so sorry if i don't format or use something correctly.
here we go- i graduated with my BSN in december of 2014. i got a job at a big teaching hospital on a med/surg unit and immediately HATED it. like, talking full fledged panic attacks before going to work. i switched to night shift thinking it'd be a bit slower-paced (and i was right) but i still really dislike the job...and working nights is not for me. i love the extra money but i feel like i never see anyone and i'm always asleep during the day etc. i really want to work in women's services in a clinic, but i've only got 8 months of experience as an RN and that's not very attractive to any potential employers. i applied to a few schools in my area and got a call from one of them. i went in for an interview this morning and they offered me the job on the spot. i of course asked for some time to think about it and i've got until Monday to figure it out.
so here's my reservations- 1. it's a high school and i'm only 22...im worried the kids might not respect me, but i also think i would be able to get a good rapport going with that aged kids...i could see it going either way. 2. there's over 3000 students on campus and i'd be the only nurse!! i was told there's a nurses aid, but she's really more of a clerical position and isn't a CNA or anything... 3. im worried about my experience...i only have 8 months experience as an RN and i'd be the only medical professional in the building...that's a little scary
so, what do you guys like about being a school nurse? what's your average day? how many students are in your school? how long were you a nurse when you were hired at a school? i feel like i hardly know anything about the position or what i would even be doing all day! i was told there's a 2 week training period to learn the documentation system/get acclimated. i'd just like to hear some input from people who already do it. thank you so much for reading and hopefully i get some responses!
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.
I also have to mention I don't see students with meds so that cuts down on my numbers. I have maybe 1-2 diabetic students that occasionally come to see me but they are all independent. This school is super lax on meds and students just all self-carry unless it's a controlled med.
I started school nursing when i was about 23 or 24. I worked with a special ed population for a while but soon moved into a public school where, though i had my own school, they had a tendency to float me around - including to the high school regularly. The biggest issue i faced was getting mistaken for a student if i didn't wear scrubs or a lab coat - sometime i'd still get mistaken when i did. The kids maybe did try to connect with me on a more peer level- i was happy to let them know that i was here for them, but that I was still their nurse, not their new bestie. I'd have the male students that would come in and try to flirt - that was shut down immediately. I'm not about that - you won't be seeing Nurse Flare on the 5:00 news for any of that nonsense!
You said you really want to work at a women's clinic. School nursing will not help get you there.
You are very young so some students may try to fool you, test you, or get mad because you won't send them home or whatever. Well they do that to all nurses but you have to stand your ground. You will be the only medical professional in the building so yes you will be in charge if anyone has any type of medical issue and how to handle that. You need to have excellent assessment skills. You need to be able to handle someone having a heart attack, anaphylactic reaction, concussion, broken bone, and a zillion other things until paramedics or parents arrive because you're it. Thankfully school is a generally healthy population but things like that have and do occur occasionally. How comfortable you are with that?
If you think school nursing is not stressful, think again. It's a different kind of stress than the hospital but it's still stress. You have to deal with parents and teachers that aren't always easy to work with and like telling you what to do as well. Unless you have always wanted to be a school nurse then I'd suggest passing this up. Esp if you're only using this job offer to escape something else. What are you going to do if you don't like this either? See here you'll be at the end of the school year in 8-9 months but you only have 8 months acute care experience before that so now if you want to find something else quite frankly you're going to have trouble because you look like a job hopper with very little experience. That's something to consider. We've all had to pay our dues working in positions we don't love but it builds a good foundation for something better. Can you switch floors where you are? That may be an option. As you gain more experience you'll have less anxiety!
I'm not trying to necessarily talk you out of this. I'm just going by the things you have said that make me this this might not be in your best interest.
Hey guys so here's my update: I decided to take the job. I spoke with my interviewer and she assured me I wouldn't be traveling to other schools in the district and that was an important factor for me. While I believe my passion is for women's health, I really do think i'd enjoy school nursing from reading various posts on here. I really wish I could stay at my current job for a full year before moving on, but honestly, it's been horrible for my mental and physical health and I feel i need a change of pace (my SO is super supportive of the job switch for this reason). I've considered going and getting a teaching certificate in the future to maybe be able to teach health so maybe this job would be a gateway to that. I'm still figuring out exactly what I want to do, but i'm really hoping this job is a good fit. the staff i have met so far seem happy to be working where they are and very welcoming. i really appreciate everyone's feedback on here. thanks
Specializes in Med-Surg, Home Health, Hospice, School.
I started school nursing when i was about 23 or 24. I worked with a special ed population for a while but soon moved into a public school where, though i had my own school, they had a tendency to float me around - including to the high school regularly. The biggest issue i faced was getting mistaken for a student if i didn't wear scrubs or a lab coat - sometime i'd still get mistaken when i did. The kids maybe did try to connect with me on a more peer level- i was happy to let them know that i was here for them, but that I was still their nurse, not their new bestie. I'd have the male students that would come in and try to flirt - that was shut down immediately. I'm not about that - you won't be seeing Nurse Flare on the 5:00 news for any of that nonsense!
How long have you been doing school nursing, Flare? Are you still at the high school?
thanks
coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN
1 Article; 709 Posts
I also have to mention I don't see students with meds so that cuts down on my numbers. I have maybe 1-2 diabetic students that occasionally come to see me but they are all independent. This school is super lax on meds and students just all self-carry unless it's a controlled med.