School Nurses - A Look at this Complicated Position

The education, experience and job description can vary at each school and grade level for school nurses. It requires patience, a love for the medical world and hard work. There are many things that people may not know about school nurses, including the following

Typical Day

The first step is to realize that there is no such thing as a typical day for a school nurse. Walk into work well rested and ready for whatever may come your way. It depends on the state laws, but one school nurse can reasonably be expected to be available for over one thousand students. Of course, you're more likely to see about 50 children per day out of the thousand. But with that large amount of children, new and unusual things will come up quite often.

Role of a School Nurse

A school nurse is well rounded, because they must play a number of different roles. They must play the role of a typical nurse for students and the staff, act as an educator when students have health questions, work with disabled children, administer medication, communicate effectively with parents when necessary, and act as a counselor for children who are experiencing emotional problems.

School Nurses Are Sometimes Overworked

The role has been more and more stressful and more and more in demand as nurses are given a larger work load than they should have to handle. This is particularly true in areas with a lower median income. These areas may not be able to hire the ideal staff. Also, children in these areas have been known to go to the school nurse more often because their parents can't afford a regular doctor. It’s important to bring up any concerns to employers and parents of the children.

The Real Challenges

While the children may be gross or frustrating at times, they are generally not a major concern compared to frustrations of parents and the administration. Parents may complain about certain treatment methods or the resources that the school nurse is given. These complaints must be taken seriously and can cause a delay in treatment for other children and even incorrectly put a nurse up to be punished. When the nurse explains her needs to the administration, she is often met with responses about the budget. It’s important to not only be competent in health care to be a school nurse, but also work well with others and have leadership skills.

Salary Expectations

While there are some serious struggles of the job, it is a fulfilling way to make a living. Most school nurses make anywhere between $28,000 - $49,000 a year. It is recommended for a school nurse to have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree. Many school nurses often continue their education in things like radiological studies. By having the experience and knowledge of a nurse, it can be easier to get into other medical fields.

School nurses work hard and deserve our respect. It's a job that will make you feel good about yourself while still paying the bills. If you're considering a career in nursing, look into being a school nurse to help every day.