Would I be in over my head? - long

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Today I interviewed for a school nurse job that splits between a middle college and a magnet arts school. Basically, they have no system. No nurse to guide me. No policies. ...NOTHING! It would basically be "here are the keys, I don't know what papers are necessary, holler if you need us but we probably can't help."

Obviously the first thing I would do would be to find out if this is legal. Can two schools 30 minutes apart share a nurse? We are talking more than 200 kids on total. I guess administration holds down the fort at which ever school is nurse less that day.

Second step would be to find a mentor. I was thinking about getting in contact with the school RN I had a clinical with, but I'm doubting that she will remember me. I went one day a week spring 2014. I'm sure a nurse around here would be nice enough to guide me.

Not only running the nurse's office but they want me to do seminar-y things for the kids and staff now and then and also come up with and take some of the kids on field trips... my first thought was take them to help out at the cardiopulmonary rehab exercise class at the local hospital and see what smoking can do to you.

I asked them what they expected to be accomplished in the first year and they were very vague...I guess because it is a newer school and they are still finding their way also.

I am a go-getter and feel semi confident that I can slowly put this together but I want to be realistic. I do feel as if this is a job for someone who has a few school nursing years under their belt but I can't deny the fact that I love the freedom it offers and it follows my kids' school schedule. And the whole idea of being part of a community is so alluring.

Sorry this is so long but any input would be greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Are these two school independent, with no district?? If they are part of a district, there are likely policies in place, even if the people who hired you don't know what they are. IF there aren't policies, you need to FOLLOW your state's BON (do this anyway). Your area should have a local chapter of the National Association of School Nurses, which is where you should pull best practices from, if there are no policies in place.

In the state of Texas, there are no regulations when it comes to schools and their usage of nurses. It's up to the school's administrator if they want to have a nurse on staff or not, and it is not uncommon for schools to share a nurse, so that in and of itself isn't too disturbing.. but given that you have no training, it may be too much.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Look like you've already come up with a good template to start with. I'd go with that. Good luck.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

With some digging around, I actually found out that per CT regulation 10-212-2B, they should not even be looking at hiring me:

Each nurse or nurse practitioner shall have at least the equivalent of one year full time working experience as a registered nurse within five (5) years immediately prior to employment as a school nurse.

Bummer. It was overwhelming and exciting idea that I was looking forward to potentially tackling. I guess I should email them that.

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