Tired of School nursing?

GdBSN, RN · Sep 27, 2022

I can identify with everything you are saying. Yes to feeling bored.

I'm 8 years into school nursing with 7 years left until retirement. Over the Summer I looked at other nursing jobs, but I really like the school schedule. So, I guess I'm here for 7 more years. ?

Avill, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2022

Point proven about being more mature in your career LOL!!

I am taking a break from full-time work come next August (husband will be done with school and start working full-time) but an opportunity has come up where I could be doing something else for a bit.

I have to admit I'm scared of change, I'm comfortable at the schools. Just not fulfilled anymore.

k1p1ssk, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2022

I often wonder about what else I might be doing, but I don't think any other nursing specialty has a schedule like ours. Are there opportunities in your area to become involved in school health administration? This may afford you similar hours but with a sense of career advancement as well!

Supernrse01, BSN · Oct 13, 2022

I have been a nurse for almost 22 years, 13 of them as a school nurse. There are plenty of days that I long to be doing something else, like something else entirely but at this point, I'm staying right where I am. My husband is a teacher, my daughter is out of school, and my son is in High School. I would be crazy to leave now. Plus, I'm not really sure what I want to do when I grow up ?

dreamtobRN · Oct 16, 2022

I really have no way to express it makes me feel to hear a person who made it into nursing school express how bored she is. I've wanted to be a nurse since I was 12. IWhen I graduated for high school I met someone. HE was brutal never would he let me ever go back to school and threatened to take my kids. I got strong enough to leave and he took my kids. My life is a hell whole, I worked full time to suport my family and taking classes. I completed all my pre-req but I cant get into nursing school. I would do anything to be able to say Im bored with nursing school.

Avill, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2022

Thank you for all that replied!

To answer the first question - no there isn’t a way to advance in this role.

Also , just so you guys know , I’m finishing up the school year and then going part-time for a bit. My kids are small and my husbands work situation will change come Summer so I’ll do part-time.

I’m also seriously thinking of going back for my Nurse practitioner degree. School nursing will forever be near and dear to my heart ❤️

Avill, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2022

1 hour ago, dreamtobRN said:

I really have no way to express it makes me feel to hear a person who made it into nursing school express how bored she is. I've wanted to be a nurse since I was 12. IWhen I graduated for high school I met someone. HE was brutal never would he let me ever go back to school and threatened to take my kids. I got strong enough to leave and he took my kids. My life is a hell whole, I worked full time to suport my family and taking classes. I completed all my pre-req but I cant get into nursing school. I would do anything to be able to say Im bored with nursing school.

Just want to clarify and say I was never board during nursing school , this was referring to my job as a school nurse z

Im also very saddened to hear about your situation and I hope you get your kiddos back. Abuse (no matter what form ) is NEVER okay.

As far as your nursing school endeavors , there are many nurses that took them years to get into nursing school. So hang in there and maybe look into several different programs or re-do classes if you Can to bring up your GPA.

You may want to look under the nursing student forum for more support.

Best wishes for you

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Oct 17, 2022

On 10/13/2022 at 10:49 AM, Supernrse01 said:

Plus, I'm not really sure what I want to do when I grow up ?

??

17 hours ago, dreamtobRN said:

I really have no way to express it makes me feel to hear a person who made it into nursing school express how bored she is. I've wanted to be a nurse since I was 12. IWhen I graduated for high school I met someone. HE was brutal never would he let me ever go back to school and threatened to take my kids. I got strong enough to leave and he took my kids. My life is a hell whole, I worked full time to suport my family and taking classes. I completed all my pre-req but I cant get into nursing school. I would do anything to be able to say Im bored with nursing school.

? I hope things work out for you!

cowboysandangels, BSN · Oct 19, 2022

I have been a school nurse for 8 years and I am feeling a bit burnt out. The school I work for houses all the medically complex students for our district. I am constantly running from student to student that is having a seizure between tube feeds and catheters. The adrenaline level skyrockets and I am exhausted when I get home. Any ideas on how to not get so burnt out? Too tired to work out or even relax because if I try to cozy up and read after work I am snoozing within a minute.

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2022

I've been a school nurse for over 20 years and I completely understand the boredom, burn out and exhaustion day after day.

If you're bored (and that doesn't always mean not busy but just not challenged enough) or burnt out I'd suggest one of three things. The first is adding some different duties/activities at work than you are currently doing such as asking to teach some extra classes as like a guest speaker to educate the students on a healthy heart, nutrition, wellness, germs, dental hygiene, etc and/or starting a wellness club or wellness/exercise challenge for students and/or staff. Join a staff appreciation committee of some sort or the PTO and help with activities. If that doesn't float your boat (or you've been there done (or doing) that, if possible see if you can change schools. Sometimes going to a bigger or smaller school, an older or younger school population (like middle or high school), etc can give you new challenges. Then the third thing is to find a new job. Seriously, life is too short to be stuck in a job you aren't fulfilled. Also, because you have a lot of school nurse experience it won't be as hard to get back in if you decide you want to do that again some day. I have done all of the above. I even tried to find a new job again last year and the one I wanted didn't pan out (even with the so-called shortage ?) so I ended up changing schools again. I'm happy where I'm at right now.

As far as being exhausted, you have to take care of yourself. Make sure you get lots of rest, eat healthy, do something fun for yourself on your off time and if needed, find another job or school. We delegate tube feedings and catheterizations in our district to trained aides. Not sure if that's possible for you but you have to speak up and tell whomever that's in charge of your job that you are exhausted with how things are going and see if there is some solution. Also, tube feedings and catheterizations are not emergencies. You don't have to be there at 10 am on the dot. It's not a hospital where you are going to get in trouble, audited, dinged or whatever for being 15 min late. You can also ask the teachers or aides to go ahead and get the student set up for you (have them in the right place laying in the right position, access to whichever body part you need, supplies out and ready, etc so when you get there they are ready to go. That's not unreasonable. If you feel you aren't in the right position for you emotionally, mentally, etc then find a new job. Just being the only medical person in the building can be super stressful so find something different if you aren't happy where you are. Even if you're running your tail off in the hospital it's only 3 days a week instead of 5!

A lot of us older school nurses are kind of "stuck" because we have been here long enough we have built up a semi-decent retirement, know we can do this job and all the ins and outs, our family likes and is used to us on this schedule, and we don't have recent hospital experience and older so not as easy to find a new job. So if you aren't happy or see yourself happy doing this long term then don't just stay for the convenient schedule!!

And for those that are stuck and not always happy just look at all the positives of your job or make a list and look at it daily. And read the other posts of challenges other nurses are facing in many other jobs we don't have to. Sometimes perspective is all you need to keep on going!

Avill, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2022

On 10/29/2022 at 3:33 PM, RatherBHiking said:

I've been a school nurse for over 20 years and I completely understand the boredom, burn out and exhaustion day after day.

I agree with all you have said. I’m in a slightly different boat because my husband finishes his degree up in June, so I can officially leave the school system shortly after that.

im basically sticking it out unless I can get a remote job just so I can get experience I that. I have high hopes I will come January .

Best to all of you ❤️