There are many people interested in the nursing profession wanting to know how to become a school nurse. In order to meet this demand, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to educate you on the requirements, duties, personality, and outlook.
Requirements
Before you can apply to be a school nurse, you most obtain your nursing degree. It is important that the degree is from an accredited institution and you’ve obtained your RN license.
Acceptable Credentials
- Registered Nurse (RN), Bachelors In Nursing (BSN) (Required By Most States), School Nurse Certificate
- Registered Nurse (RN), Associates Degree In Nursing (ADN), School Nurse Certificate
* Many schools are now only accepting candidates with a Master’s degree (Research the schools you’re interested in before going through any program).
* There has also been rare exceptions where LPNS and PhDs have been practicing as school nurses in various school settings.
Exams
- In order to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN), you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
- It is also recommended that you take the School Nurse Certification Exam issued by the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN).
Work Environment & Job Duties
- Most school nurses work in both public and private elementary and secondary schools.
- They are responsible for educating attendees of the school, staff, and guardians on health-related topics.
- During the school’s hours of operation, they are responsible for attending to the students in non-emergency situations.
- Emergencies out of their control are monitored using their expertise and training while they wait on emergency personnel to arrive.
- They are in charge of supervising prescription plans to students during school hours, while also keeping an eye on signs of abuse.
- Promoting healthy activities as well as advising the school on how to maintain a healthy environment will be part of their leadership duties.
- Counseling for health-related issues is also expected from school nurses as well as directing students to the appropriate agencies for their treatment.
- They are responsible for attending to illnesses and injuries as well as writing excuses and passes for students.
- School nurses also must attend to students with mental disorders, chronic illnesses, and those with physical disabilities.
- It is their responsibility to be up-to-date on state health regulations along with any laws requiring compliance in the health-field.
- All immunizations as well as distribution of medicine must be supervised by the school nurse.
School Nurse Personality
Even if you’ve worked many years as a nurse, it’s important to determine whether you have the personality for school nursing or not. To be a successful school nurse, you must be very tolerant of children. At times you will be dealing with children that lie, act very rude, and engage in aggressive behavior. Many children will be seen without the presence of another adult which can lead to them being disrespectful and uncooperative. As a school nurse you must be able to maintain a calm demeanor, maintain authority, and problem solve on a daily basis.
School Nurse Job Outlook
Nursing is a profession that is in high-demand across the world. With the rising population, hospitals and places providing health-care are becoming overwhelmed with the rise in demand for timely health services. All nursing professions as well as specialized fields within the world of nursing are expected to grow in demand over the next decade.
* If you are interested in how to become a school nurse, it is highly recommended that you get a few years of clinical experience under your belt before applying for a school nurse position because of the preference towards those with experience.
School Nurse Salary
School nurse salaries range anywhere from $30,000 to $70,000 with the median being close to $45,000. School nurses typically don’t get paid as much as nurses working in hospitals because of the difference in physical demand and duties. There are exceptions to this rule, and there are many school nurses making much more than they did when they worked in a hospital. School nurses can expect a competitive salary along with strong job security in the upcoming years.
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